Vessel Transport

Revisions to Oil Spill Regulations

The Maine Oil Spill Advisory Committee held a hearing to review proposed revisions to the state's regulations related to oil terminals and vessels transporting petroleum products. The proposed revisions contain several references to vessels transporting petroleum products on the state waterways. AWO's major objection to the Maine regulations relates to a proposed requirement that vessels stay 12 miles offshore, except when approaching Maine's ports. This requirement has been modified to read, "it is the express desire of the state for all vessels to remain 12 miles offshore, except when prudent navigation dictates otherwise."

Enhancing Hazardous Materials Transportation Security

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued an interim rule requiring, among other things, that each owner, operator, master, agent, person in charge, and charterer of a vessel transporting hazardous materials ensure that vessel personnel required to have a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document by 46 CFR parts 10 and 12 possess a license, certificate or document, as appropriate. Compliance is required as of June 4, 2003

Kirby Corporation to Present

Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) announced that Joe Pyne, Kirby's President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Stephens Inc. Fall Investment Conference on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. eastern time. The Stephens conference is being held in New York. A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available to the public and a replay will be available after the presentation by visiting Kirby's website at http://www.kirbycorp.com/

Kirby Reports Impact of Hurricane Ike

Kirby Corporation announced that no personnel were injured and no boats or barges suffered any material damage due to Hurricane Ike which struck the upper coast on September 13. Joe Pyne, Kirby's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, " is our most significant operating area and is also home to almost 50 percent of the US Petrochemical facilities. We had 303 barges and 83 tow boats in when Hurricane Ike passed through the area

Joint Venture Impresses Military

The ship HSV-X1, better known as the "Joint Venture", played an integral part in the largest joint exercise ever undertaken by the US military, involving more than 13,500 military personnel and hundreds of ships and aircraft throughout the United States. The war games, known as Millennium Challenge 2002 (MC02), are a congressionally mandated, Secretary of Defense directed, large-scale joint field exercise, utilizing United States Army, Navy, Marine, and Special Operations Command personnel

Has the Fast Cat Come to A Halt?

Long hailed for its innovative "fast cat" vessels that were developed by Robert Clifford and Phil Hercus in the 1980's Incat Australia delivered not a new cat last month, but news of an impending bankruptcy. Could this be the end of the fast cats that have dominated the aluminum shipbuilding world for the past 20 years? During the first week of March the Hobart shipyard admitted that it was suffering from financial difficulties, and responded by laying off several hundred employees

United Seamen’s Service Marks Anniversary

The world and the American maritime industry have changed dramatically since one of America's darkest hours, World War II, when United Seamen's Service was born to aid exhausted, wounded and battle-traumatized merchant seafarers in faraway places and unsafe harbors. It was 1942, 65 years ago, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the maritime unions and management recognized the need to provide havens and facilities in more than 125 worldwide locations for rest

United Seamen’s Service Marks Anniversary

The world and the American maritime industry have changed dramatically since one of America's darkest hours, World War II, when United Seamen's Service was born to aid exhausted, wounded and battle-traumatized merchant seafarers in faraway places and unsafe harbors. It was 1942, 65 years ago, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the maritime unions and management recognized the need to provide havens and facilities in more than 125 worldwide locations for rest

Marine Transport Lines RRF to Relocate S.C.

Marine Transport Lines' Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ship management group, a unit of Crowley Maritime Corporation's petroleum services segment, is relocating from Secaucus, N.J., to offices in Charleston, S.C., effective July 1. Previously at 100 Lighting Way, Suite 402 in Secaucus, Marine Transport Lines RRF Group will now be managed from 2075 Thompson Avenue, North Charleston, S.C., 29405.The main telephone number for the Charleston office is (843) 747-8045.

Australia Maritime Transport Security Bill Introduced

The Maritime Transport Security Bill has been introduced in the Australian Parliament. When introducing the bill, John Anderson, Minister for Transport and Regional Services, discussed (on pages 19637-19639 of the Hansard) the threat posed by terrorism and the importance of seaborne trade. As proposed, the bill would establish a regulatory framework centered around development of security plans for ships and other maritime transport operations