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Kings Bay News

27 Mar 2024

US Coast Guard Cutter Sea Dog Damaged

(File photo: James Kimber / U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sea Dog (WPB 87373) sustained damage during the crew’s inbound transit from sea to the St. Marys River, Monday, the Coast Guard (USCG) said.The damaged cutter moored in Fernandina Beach, Fla., with assistance from additional Coast Guard assets and a commercial towing vessel, the USCG said.There were no reported injuries, damage to other vessels or environmental impact, and navigation remains unaffected, the agency added, noting the incident is under…

18 Jul 2023

USACE Awarded a Slew of Dredging Work in the First Half of 2023

(Photo: Dredging Contractors of America)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is snapping back from the doldrums of COVID-19, wrapping up a strong first half of 2023 with a slew of awarded dredging work.“The federal government is no different from state and local governments, nor the private sector when it comes to COVID-19 work related recovery and USACE is not an exception,” said William P. Doyle, CEO of the Dredging Contractors of America. “The Army Corps has been steadily issuing contract awards since February, and that’s on the award side.

12 Oct 2022

Great Lakes Announced $143.5 Million in Dredging Contracts

(Photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock)

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, on Wednesday announced the receipt of several major dredging awards totaling $143.5 million with open options pending award of $102.9 million.The awarded work includes:South Atlantic Division Regional Harbor Dredging 2023 Project (Maintenance, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, $26.6 million)Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point, Contract 2 Project (Coastal Protection, New York…

16 Feb 2021

Fairbanks Morse Opens Service Center in Florida

(Photo: Fairbanks Morse)

Engine manufacturer Fairbanks Morse has opened a 8,000-square-foot Mayport Service Center in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., as part of the company’s aim to expedite aftermarket services to military and commercial maritime customers across the U.S.The facility represents a $350,000 investment and places Fairbanks Morse in closer proximity to core customers such as Mayport Naval Station, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, and other U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard installations, the company…

11 Jan 2021

Great Lakes Announces $60.9 Million in Dredging Contracts

(Photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation)

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation on Monday announced the receipt of several major dredging awards in Georgia and Florida totaling $60.9 million which will be included in the year-end 2020 backlog number.The awarded work includes:North County Comprehensive Shore Protection Project (Coastal Protection, Florida, $21.2 million)U.S. Naval Station Mayport and Jacksonville Harbor Maintenance Dredging Project (Maintenance, Florida, $21.2 million)U.S. Naval Station Kings Bay Entrance Channel Maintenance Dredging Project (Maintenance…

10 Sep 2020

Sensor Systems Improve Marine Navigation Near US Naval Bases

A Coast Guard ATON (Aids to Navigation) buoy in Kings Bay, Ga., that will house one of the new PORTS current meters. (Photo: NOAA)

Maritime navigational safety near two U.S. Navy installations in Kings Bay, Ga., and Portsmouth, N.H. has been improved thanks to new Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems, also known as PORTS, installed by NOAA and the U.S. Navy. They are the first new PORTS in two years, and the 34th and 35th in the nationwide network.The system near Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, the East Coast home to America’s Ohio-class submarines, is an integrated series of sensors which will provide critical real-time information on oceanographic and meteorological conditions.

22 Mar 2018

Exhaust Economizers: A Silent Contributor to Green Technology

Next generation economizers are being introduced by Ulmatec Pyro. This will carry on the history of 35 years of heat recovery from ship’s exhaust – a technology that’s still unknown for many in the marine industry. You can’t ignore waste energy recovery systems if you want to participate in discussions about efficient marine designs. That statement is based on the fact that most diesel engines on board a vessel still operate on an efficiency scale in the 30 percent range. The remaining 60-70 percent represents losses, converted into heat.

14 Jun 2017

US Navy: Bigger is Better, but at What Cost?

U.S. Navy forces and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force routinely train together to improve interoperability and readiness to provide stability and security for the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Z.A. Landers)

The U.S. Navy has a balanced fleet, but it wants to grow bigger and better. Will the budget allow both? Maritime Reporter's March 2017 cover story on the U.S. Navy was all about the numbers. There exists several plans to grow the fleet beyond the current number of 308 ships, the Mitre recommendation of 414 ships, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment 340-ship proposal, and the Navy’s decision to grow the fleet to 355 ships, and the Trump administration’s 350. With so many numbers being bandied about, there are even more suggestions on how to get there.

06 Sep 2016

This Day In Naval History: September 6

Poster courtesy of Lockheed Martin

1861 - USS Tyler and USS Lexington, support Gen. Ulysses S. Grants Army operations against strategic Paducah and Smithland, Ky. The ships mobile firepower assists in the capture of the cities, helping to preserve Kentucky in the Union. 1918 - In the first use of major-caliber naval guns in a land offensive, a U.S. naval railway battery of five, 14-inch guns begin long-range bombardment of German forces near Soissons, France. 1930 - USS Grebe (AM 43) arrives at Santo Domingo with supplies and medicines for victims of a hurricane three days prior.

23 Aug 2016

Grand Bahama Shipyard Adds Four Executives

Ian Edward Ross (Photo: GBSL)

Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL), a Caribbean shipyard providing retrofit, refurbishment and revitalization to cruise and commercial vessels, has added four new positions to its executive team in 2016. Taking up the new executive positions are Ian Edward Ross, Don Keirce, Charles Nugent and Adrian Baboi. Ian Edward Ross joined GBSL July 2016 as VP of HSSEQ, bringing with him over 25 years’ practical experience delivering strategic and operational support to major organizations in the oil and gas, power generation and heavy construction and fabrication industries.

13 Jul 2016

This Day In Naval History: July 13

Richard Byrd (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress)

1812 - The frigate, USS Essex, commanded by Capt. David Porter, captures the merchant brig, Lamprey, in the Atlantic. 1854 - The sloop of war, USS Cyane, bombards San Juan del Norte (Greytown), Nicaragua, in retaliation for ill-treatment of U.S. citizens. Marines and Sailors also seize weapons and powder in retribution for an attack on U.S. Consular officials for U.S. refusal to pay reparation. 1939 - Rear Adm. Richard Byrd is appointed to command the 1939-1941 U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition. Under objectives outlined by President Franklin D.

13 Jun 2016

This Day In Naval History: June 13

Sketch by LCDR. DeLong of Jeannette stuck and sinking in the ice in June 1881. US Navy image

1881 - The bark-rigged wooden steamship Jeannette sinks after she is crushed in an Arctic ice pack during the expedition to reach the North Pole through the Bering Strait. Only 13 of her crew survive out of 33. 1900 - During the Boxer Rebellion, the International Relief Expedition turns back near Anting, China, and moves to Sanstun after the Tientsin-Peking railroad is cut by the Boxers, whose anti-foreign mantra grew to burning homes and killing foreigners as well as Chinese Christians. In total, 56 Marines and Sailors receive the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Rebellion.

27 Mar 2016

2015 USFFC Fleet Sea, Shore Sailors of the Year

Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Adm. Phil Davidson announced the 2015 USFFC Fleet Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year during a ceremony hosted by the Hampton Roads Navy League at the Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk, March 24. Aviation Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (AW/SW) Tinisha Franklin, a native of Brooklyn, New York, stationed aboard aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) was announced as the 2015 Sea Sailor of the Year and Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class (AW/SW) Brian McGarrigle, a native of Clearwater, Florida, stationed at Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 40 (HSM-40) as the Shore Sailor of the Year. "For the Shore Sailors of the Year standing behind me…

28 Feb 2016

NNSY Completes USS Maryland's Overhaul

Norfolk Naval Shipyard successfully completed USS Maryland's (SSBN 738) engineered refueling overhaul (ERO) on Feb. 24. EROs are complex, major shipyard availabilities that extend a submarine's service life. In addition to being refueled, nearly all of the ship's systems were overhauled or modernized. Modernization work included replacement of distilling plants with a reverse osmosis unit, installation of an upgraded 500 kilowatt motor generator, electric power plant work, and LAN upgrades. The project team met several key milestones on this overhaul, including setting a new best for the shipyard in safety performance on an SSBN availability…

03 Dec 2015

USN Installation Excellence Award Winners

The Navy's annual Installation Excellence Award winners were announced today by Commander, Navy Installations Command. This installation excellence award program recognizes the Navy's top three large and small installations, and rewards installation performance consistent with the command's strategic goals and Office of the Secretary of Defense criteria for the DoD-wide Commander in Chief Installation Excellence Awards. 1st Place: Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island (led by Capt. M. K. 2nd Place: NAS Lemoore (led by Capt. M. G. 3rd Place: Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay (led by Capt. J. W. 1st Place: NAS Whiting Field (led by Capt. 2nd Place: Naval Air Facility El Centro (led by Capt. W. C. 3rd Place: Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg (led by Capt.

04 Sep 2015

Russian Spy Ship near US Nuke Submarine Bases

Fox News and the Washington Free Beacon reported the presence of a  top Russian spy ship off the coast of Kings Bay, Georgia and is capable of cutting undersea cables. The Pentagon responded to the media reports that it was closely being monitored by defense agencies but declined to give a location of the Russian vessel. "The U.S. intelligence ships, aircraft and satellites are closely watching the Russian military vessel in the Atlantic that has been sailing near a U.S. nuclear missile submarine base and underwater transit routes," say Pentagon officials. The Russian research ship Yantar has been tracked from the northern Atlantic near Canada since late August as it makes its way south toward Cuba.

23 Jun 2015

US Navy Picks First Female Submariners

The U.S. Navy has selected more than three dozen female enlisted sailors to qualify to serve aboard a submarine in a historic first for the sea service as part of a plan to more fully integrate women into the undersea force. The 38 selected female sailors are only the first step in a long-term plan approved by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert to integrate the US Navy’s submarine force and provide opportunities for women to serve in all missions, the US Navy News Service said in a statement. “Applications from women… were received for the initial application period to fill four chief petty officer… and 34 rating conversion positions… across the two crews of the USS Michigan (SSGN 727),” the statement said.

13 Mar 2015

US Navy Sub’s Motor Generator Restored

USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740). (U.S. Navy photo by Rex Nelson)

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) has completed the restoration of the motor generator set for the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) on February 23 – three days ahead of schedule, the U.S. Navy reported. PNSY was already restoring a motor generator set for Rhode Island, a process that typically takes 12 to 18 months, when Trident Refit Facility (TRF) Kings Bay informed the shipyard they wanted to replace the motor generator set during the upcoming availability, 10 months earlier than the regularly scheduled overhaul.

14 Feb 2015

Road Show Scouts Female Submariners

Capt. Rod Hutton, deputy commander for the Enlisted Women in Submarines Task Force, led the Enlisted Women in Submarines Road Show to different military bases in the San Diego area Feb. 9-11. The road show is spreading the word that the submarine force is now open to female enlisted Sailors from E-1 to E-8. Speakers discussed how junior female Sailors could convert to rates in the submarine force and the type of candidates the force is seeking. In addition, they provided an insight of the lifestyle aboard submarines. "Up until 21 January all the enlisted billets in the submarine force were previously closed to women," said Hutton. Currently, more than 60 female officers are serving throughout the Navy's 76 submarines.

13 Jan 2015

Campbell to Lead BAE Systems’ Ship Repair Business

Joseph Campbell (Image: BAE Systems)

BAE Systems has named Joseph Campbell as vice president and general manager of the company’s Ship Repair business, effective Jan. 14. Campbell succeeds Bill Clifford, who will retire after a successful 46-year career in the U.S. Navy and the private sector. Campbell will be responsible for leading the strategy, operations and financial and business performance of Ship Repair, including the commercial shipbuilding operations. He previously served as vice president and director at American Systems Corporation, where he was responsible for undersea warfare and naval combatant programs.

30 Sep 2014

HII Appoints Brenton as Corporate Director

Kevin Brenton is HII’s corporate director of customer affairs for submarine programs. Photo by Chris Oxley/HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today that Capt. Kevin Brenton (U.S. Navy, Ret.) has joined the company as corporate director of customer affairs for submarine programs. Brenton served most recently as deputy director of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, overseeing strategic weapons systems. He began his new position on Monday. "Kevin brings a wealth of leadership and maritime experience to our company, and he is going to be an excellent fit for our team," said Marty Chanik, HII's corporate vice president, customer affairs for Newport News Shipbuilding.

11 Sep 2014

GD Electric Boat Gets Potential US$1.5-Billion Navy Contract

The Department of Defense informs that General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is being awarded a $234,229,426 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for design agent, planning yard, engineering and technical support for active nuclear submarines. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $1,537,500,654. affordability/cost reduction technical support. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut (73 percent); Bangor, Washington (9 percent); Norfolk, Virginia (6 percent); Newport, Rhode Island (4 percent); Quonset, Rhode Island (3 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (3 percent); and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2015.

21 Mar 2014

NASNI Builds Navy’s First Submarine FiFi Trainer

Nick Lugue Jr., a welder with Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, welds a new firefighting trainer into place at Naval Air Station North Island. The trainer is the first of four new trainers the Navy is building that will simulate potential fire hazards aboard submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Todd C. Behrman)

Smoke bellows out the ventilation ducts. The glow of the blazing fire emanates down the passageway. Firefighters move with precision and purpose, pausing to unleash a torrent of water towards the fire as they kneel before it. Such was the scene at the Navy’s first submarine firefighting trainer, located at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) Oct. 29. Commander, Navy Installation Command (CNIC) approached Kidde Fire Trainers almost one year ago in response to the incident on the USS Miami, in which a fire caused over $400 million of damage to the submarine.