U.S. Revives Cold War Submarine Spy Program to Counter China
On a windswept island 50 miles north of Seattle sits a U.S. Navy monitoring station. For years, it was kept busy tracking whale movements and measuring rising sea temperatures. Last October, the Navy gave the unit a new name that better reflects its current mission: Theater Undersea Surveillance Command.The renaming of the spy station at the Whidbey Island naval base is a nod to a much larger U.S. military project, according to three people with direct knowledge of the plans:…
Nergård Havfiske Orders $57M Stern Trawler from VARD
Shipbuilder VARD said Friday it had secured a new contract to design and build one stern trawler for Nergård Havfiske, the fishing arm of the Nergård group in Norway. The contract value is in excess of NOK 500 million (~$57,35 million)."The VARD 8 02 trawler design is a well-proven design that VARD has continuously developed to meet the latest demands for fish health management, efficiency, and environmentally friendly operations. With a high focus on quality of catch, safety of crew…
World First: Retrofitted VLGC Runs on LPG
BW LPG said the week-long sea and gas trials have kicked off for very large gas carrier (VLGC) BW Gemini, which has been retrofitted with pioneering liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuel propulsion technology. The shipowner said the 2015-built BW Gemini achieved "a historic milestone" as the world’s first VLGC to be fueled by LPG, after its main engine was retrofitted from a MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.2 type to a MAN B&W 6G60ME- LGIP dual-fuel type capable of operating on both LPG and traditional fuel oil."The retrofitting process at Yiu Lian Dockyard in Shenzhen…
Volvo Penta, ABB, Chalmers Collaborate on Fast Charging-at-Sea
Volvo Penta has announced that it is to complete a feasibility study together with ABB in Sweden and Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg to evaluate technology concepts that can meet the challenge of providing fast charging of electric vessels.“While all-electric boating remains in its infancy, for this exciting new transport system to be a success and grow, a network of fast charging stations needs to be developed,” says Niklas Thulin, Director Electromobility, Volvo Penta.
IOMAXIS Awarded $245 Mln Contract to Support NRL
IOMAXIS, provider of technologies and mission-focused solutions for the intelligence, defense and civilian government markets, said it has been awarded a seat on an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract valued at up to $245 million to give technological support and assistance to the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Through opportunities under this contract, IOMAXIS will provide research, development and technical support to strengthen the NRL’s initiatives in defense, intelligence and security technologies. “We are honored to have this opportunity to work with the Naval Research Laboratory,” said Dennis Kelly, CEO of IOMAXIS.
INSIGHTS: Steve Candito, President, Foresea Consulting
Steven Candito is the Founder, President and CEO of Foresea, which provides advisory services including strategic planning, regulatory compliance and crisis management to the maritime and environmental communities. Previously, Candito was President and CEO of NRC. He has extensive experience with OPA 90 compliance issues with particular focus on vessel owner and insurance matters. Before that, Candito was an attorney with Haight Gardner Poor & Havens, specializing in maritime and environmental law. Candito has also served as a marine engineer aboard Exxon USA’s domestic tanker fleet. He is a graduate of Hofstra University School of Law and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
MacGregor Launches Compact Pusnes RamWindlass
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, continues to add to its market-leading Pusnes product range and its latest introduction is a Pusnes RamWindlass. The new windlass is based on a chain-jack design and employs similar technology used in MacGregor's successful range of Pusnes RamWinches. "The Pusnes RamWinch is well known in the industry for its compact size and low weight. It can be found on most of the spar platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and also on several other types of floating production units," says Torbjörn Rokstad, Director, MacGregor Pusnes Mooring Systems. Current RamWinch designs have a main cylinder that extends below the winch foundation plates to exert the stroke or 'jacking' movement and each stroke moves the chain two links at a time.
APR Labs Greener Method of Propulsion
In 2006, Aries Propulsion Research Labs (APR Labs) introduced a new method of propulsion technology labeled Omni-Directional Propulsion (ODP). The method was created by designer Chris B. Hewatt and was first published on the United States Patent and Trade Organization (USPTO) Web site as publication 20060230847. APR Labs says that this unique design has been gaining attention in the transportation industry, but could have its greatest impact on the marine industry because it creates movement without propellers.
Austal Chief Predicts Fast Ferry Pick-Up
Austal Ships' Managing Director, Mr Bob McKinnon said he believes after a period of low activity within the fast ferry market, there are now signs that the market is on the rebound, coming primarily from three principal sources: existing fast ferry operators attracted by new technologies; the growth and emergence of new markets; and the use of fast ferry technology in new roles such as military applications. McKinnon presented his thoughts at Ausmarine 2002, an international marine industry conference being held in Fremantle, Western Australia. McKinnon said that diversification of the customer base would almost certainly result in a more diverse range of fast ferries being delivered over the next few years.