Interview: Brendan Smith, President, Seaward Services
Brendan Smith brings more than a decade of maritime experience to his role as president of Seaward Services, a marine services company specializing in the operation, maintenance and repair of government and privately owned vessels. The company is part of the Hornblower Group.During his 6.5 years with the U.S. Navy, he served aboard the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe, and his roles included chemistry and radiological controls assistant (CRA), quality assurance officer (QAO) and combat operations instructor.
Autonomous Vessels: FAU Gets $1.25m for Research
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has been awarded a $1.25 million grant by the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR) to undertake research in support of autonomous unmanned marine vehicle platforms for coastal surveillance, coastal surveys, target tracking and protection of at-sea assets. The five-year project will entail developing unmanned surface vehicles that serve as “motherships” for unmanned underwater vehicles and aerial drones…
Golar LNG Announces Q1 Results
Golar LNG reports its highest ever quarterly net income at $53.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, as compared to $36.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2006. These results include the gain on the sale of newbuilding DSME Hull 2244 of $41.1 million. Operating income was also increased at $58.6 million for the first quarter as compared to $40.4 million for the fourth quarter. Revenues have been negatively impacted by a generally weaker spot market for trading LNG ships during the first quarter. Two of Golar's six vessels exposed to the spot market were fixed throughout the period at good rates, but this was offset by two of the other vessels suffering extended periods of idle time.
Navy Conducts First Escape Exercise From Nuclear Sub
Seven personnel practiced locking out from the attack submarine USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) and ascending to the surface wearing special suits that are designed to enable a free ascent from a stricken submarine Dec. 2 during ESCAPEX at the Navy’s Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility in Ketchikan, Alaska. While several foreign navies practice the maneuver routinely, the U.S. Navy had not conducted it in more than three decades, and never from a nuclear-powered submarine. The Navy’s renewed interest in submarine escape comes as U.S. submarines operate more frequently now in shallow coastal waters, said Submarine Development Squadron (CSDS) 5 Commander Capt. Butch Howard, who oversaw the exercise.
