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Narragansett Bay News

12 Oct 2021

Racing for 30GW—and a Piece of the US Offshore Wind Pie

© DJ / Adobe Stock

“30 by 30” is the rallying cry for all concerned with the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind business. In Spring 2021, the Secretaries of Energy, Interior and Commerce resolved to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of electricity generated from offshore turbines by 2030. Consultants McKinsey, in a recent article frame the value proposition for this clean fuel source, writing: “During the industry’s 30-year evolution, costs have fallen so sharply that offshore wind now compares favorably with competing energy sources.” For vessel owners, renewable energy brings opportunity.The thrust of near-term U.S.

29 Jun 2021

URI Unveils Name of New Research Vessel

An artist's rendering of R/V Narragansett Dawn. (Courtesy Glosten Associates)

The National Science Foundation’s new Regional Class Research Vessel that will soon call the University of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay Campus home has a name: Narragansett Dawn.Graduate School of Oceanography Dean Paula S. Bontempi announced the name of the new $125 million vessel after a nationwide competition and approval from the NSF.“Narragansett Dawn acknowledges the Indigenous peoples’ histories, ancestors, and perseverance in our communities today,” said URI President David M. Dooley.

21 Apr 2020

Reinauer Group Ramps Up for the Business of Offshore Wind

Photo: Courtesy Senesco

The promise of a vibrant U.S. offshore wind business has been long in the making. While questions remain on timing and pace, there is renewed confidence in the offshore wind sector, particularly in the northeast United States (global pandemic notwithstanding). Investment in the sector had escalated to start 2020, embodied best by Reinauer Group and its WindServe Marine unit, which when combined with its Senesco Marine boatbuilding and logistics hub give its an ‘ A-to-Z, soup-to-nuts’ enviable position to build…

11 Oct 2019

SHORTSEA SHIPPING: All the Right Moves (Finally)

The Baton Rouge-NOLA container on barge service / (CREDIT: Port of New Orleans)

Marine Highways Gain Traction in the Intermodal Supply Chain.In the United States, landside infrastructure is at a crisis point. Congestion at the big hub ports, exacerbated by imperfect intermodal interfaces with surface transport serving cargo hinterlands is at the heart of the matter. As politicians bicker over a possible infrastructure package, the Highway Trust Fund, funded by taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel, has continued its downward journey towards further deficits (now $144 billion). And, where countless U.S.

16 Oct 2017

Tall Ship Runs Aground in Newport Harbor

The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, an educational tall ship homeported in Newport, R.I. is grounded Sunday, October 11, 2017 in Newport Harbor after the ship lost power and hit multiple other boats near Perrotti Park. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

U.S. Coast Guard Station Castle Hill established a safety zone in Newport Harbor, R.I., Sunday night after a tall ship lost power and hit multiple other vessels before grounding near Perrotti Park. No injuries or pollution have been reported. The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, an educational tall ship homeported in Newport, was leaving Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival with 12 crewmembers aboard when it lost power and began to drift. A 911 dispatcher alerted Coast Guard watchstanders to the incident at about 6:15 p.m.

13 Jun 2017

Moose Boats Bags Rhode Island Fireboat Order

Image: Moose Boats

Newport, R.I. fire department orders emergency response vessel from California boat builder Moose Boats. Moose Boats, a boat designer and manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area, said it was awarded a contract from Newport Fire Department in Rhode Island for the construction of a M2-38 aluminum catamaran CBRNE emergency response and recovery vessel. The vessel will be powered by twin Cummins 425hp turbo diesel propulsion engines coupled to Hamilton water-jets.The M2 catamaran will be equipped two completely independent fire pump systems each flowing in excess of 1…

06 Dec 2016

Digital Technology Enhances Marine Communications

On a warm summer morning last July, boat owners and passersby were drawn to a craft not often seen in the sleepy harbor of Wickford, Rhode Island. Tied up at the dock was the new, 37-foot, Multi-Mission Interceptor (MMI) recently produced by SAFE Boats International, where it was making a stop along its promotional run down the east coast. The craft features a sleek, state of the art design and is fully equipped with best-of-breed technology and products from a variety leading marine companies, including Mercury Verado outboard engines, Raymarine navigation system, SHOXS Shock Mitigating Seating and FLIR gyro-stabilized multi-sensor imaging systems, to name just a few. For critical communications, SAFE Boats partnered with David Clark Company of Worcester, Massachusetts.

11 Sep 2016

GD Bluefin-21 AUV Launches Bluefin SandShark Micro-Underwater Vehicle

The General Dynamics Bluefin-21 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) successfully launched multiple Bluefin SandShark micro-autonomous underwater vehicles (M-AUV) Underwater vehicle (M-AUV as part of several capability demonstrations at the U.S. Navy sponsored 2016 Annual Naval Technology Exercises (ANTX) in Newport, R.I. Through several ANTX demonstrations, the Bluefin SandShark M-AUVs surfaced and functioned independent of the heavyweight-class Bluefin-21. In one mission scenario, the Bluefin-21 simulated data collection and transfer of target imagery and other information to two Bluefin SandSharks. Those Bluefin SandSharks then surfaced to communicate with a Blackwing unmanned aerial vehicle.

18 May 2015

Spaniards Sparkle in Volvo Ocean Race

Spanish boat MAPFRE led the Volvo Ocean Race fleet out of Newport, Rhode Island, and into the most challenging of the remaining three legs through the North Atlantic, reports AFP. Newport was the only North American stopover on this year's race, which ends in June in Goteborg, Sweden. The stopover has been so successful that race officials have changed their normal protocol and offered the Newport organizers an exclusive two-month window to seal a deal on the next race as the only North American stopover. During the 12 day stopover, the race village at Fort Adams State Park saw 125,000 fans come through and participate in the various events taking place. That number is five times the population of Newport and five times the number of visitors that last U.S.

11 Mar 2015

Senesco Invests in New Welding System

PEMA WeldControl 200 Create (Image courtesy of PEMA)

Senesco Marine Shipyard on the U.S. northeast coast has invested in a more productive and efficient welding system, concluding a deal with Pemamek to deliver a PEMA Welding Portal for the welding of double bottoms and subassemblies. Senesco Marine, a Reinauer Transportation Company, is a shipyard for new construction and vessel repair in the Northeast, consisting of 26 acres of Narragansett Bay waterfront property. To further boost its fabrication capability, Senesco trusted in PEMA’s welding automation technology and made a deal of a twin robot welding gantry.

13 Aug 2014

Woods Hole Group Clinches Multi-Year O&M Contract

Woods Hole Group will be working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services for the operation and maintenance of Physical Oceanographic Real Time System along the East Coast of the USA, and along the Gulf of Mexico coast in Texas and Louisiana. NOAA PORTS® is a network of sensors in ports and harbors providing access to information improving maritime commerce and safety. * Houston-Galveston, TX (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ports/index.html?port=hg) Woods Hole Group also was awarded the five year Operation and Maintenance Contract to support four NOAA National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) stations in Texas.

23 Jul 2013

Nixon Named Director of R.I. Sea Grant

Dennis Nixon

Earlier this month, Dennis Nixon was named director of the Rhode Island Sea Grant, one of 32 programs that make up the National Sea Grant College Program, which is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Nixon spends much of his life near the ocean. As a longtime Jamestown resident, Nixon is never more than minutes away from Narragansett Bay. As associate dean of the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, he is just as close to the waves when he’s in his office. Nixon has been teaching at the University of Rhode Island for 37 years.

20 Jun 2013

NV Charts Debuts New Northeast Regional Chart

One of the most popular boating and cruising areas on the U.S. East Coast, the region from Long Island, New York to Nantucket, is now available in improved format and readability from NV Charts. Region 3.1: Rhode Island to Nantucket Sound, including the waters from Watch Hill, R.I. to Chatham, Mass., on the lower end of Cape Cod, includes Nantucket, the Elizabeth Islands and Buzzard’s Bay, Block Island, Block Island Sound and all of Narragansett Bay. The nv charts Region 3.1 set is provided in paper and digital format for sailors…

06 Jun 2013

SSV Oliver Hazard Perry Scheduled for Newport Appearance

Recent aft view of the hull of SSV Oliver Hazard Perry at Senesco Marine in North Kingstown, R.I. (Photo Credit Rod Smith)

Fundraiser, dedication ceremony and public visits to highlight ship’s visit over July 4 weekend. It’s not just Rhode Island but the whole of North America that is watching as the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry becomes a reality. The 196-foot, three-masted, square rigged tall ship, currently under construction and designated by the legislature and the Governor of Rhode Island as the state’s official “Sailing Education Vessel,” is well on its way to becoming the largest civilian sail training vessel in North America and the first oceangoing full-rigged ship to be built in the U.S. in over 100 years.

17 May 2013

Kraken Completes U.S. Navy Sonar Trials

NUWC’s REMUS 600 AUV fitted with Kraken’s AquaPix InSAS

Kraken Sonar Systems Inc. announced that its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, Rhode Island was successful. NUWC Division Newport is one of two divisions of the U.S. Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center. Its mission is to provide research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, undersea offensive and defensive weapons systems and countermeasures.

27 Feb 2013

FarSounder Moves to New Global Headquarters

FarSounder, Inc. announced the move to their new Global Headquarters in Warwick, Rhode Island. The move enables consolidation and expansion of their corporate and sales offices, R&D, and manufacturing into one facility. The company's stand-alone building will allow on site incorporation of their Acoustic Tank Testing Facility. “We are excited to move into a facility that supports our plans for the future”, stated company CEO, Cheryl M. Zimmerman, “This move provides a permanent home, as well as an effective manufacturing environment, for our expanding product line”. With proximity and access to international airports and to the Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor…

27 Jun 2012

Off the Radar, But Very Much on the Ball

Senesco Marine Steps Out Into the Broader Commercial Build and Repair Markets. The largest mid-tier yard in the U.S. Northeast touts deep experience and high standards. Suddenly, operators have another viable choice for newbuild and repair work. After being off the radar for perhaps as many as 12 years – during which the yard was itself quite busy primarily servicing internal Reinauer requirements – Rhode Island-based Senesco Marine LLC has moved more aggressively into the outside commercial markets. Although perhaps representing a somewhat new entity to some clients, Senesco is anything but new on the scene. An accomplished builder of modern tonnage, it is more than capable of taking on any mid-tier shipyard newbuild or repair challenge.

18 Aug 2010

Smiths Detection Installation at Port of Providence

Smiths Detection announced the award of a contract for its FirstView early warning chemical threat detection and video management system to be installed at the Port of Providence, R.I. Funded through a competitive Department of Homeland Security grant, the system will alert authorities to chemical hazards in the port area and provide real-time video and sensor data to first responders and emergency personnel. It combines Smiths Detection’s chemical detection capabilities (Centurion II) and FirstView video and sensor management software with Raytheon’s Athena command and control system to monitor traffic in Narragansett Bay. Using radar…

23 Oct 2003

Vessels: Safe/Sea Gets Twin Diesel Jet RIB From Almar

Safe/Sea upgraded its fleet of rescue vessels with an Almar Boat-built 33 x 12-ft. rigid hull inflatable boat (RIB). This vessel will be the seventh that Almar has built for Safe/Sea, and will boast a 28-in. diameter inflation tube, as well as a custom built, fully enclosed pilot house to protect the captain. The electronics suite, supplied by Pawtuxet Marine Electronics of Cranston, RI, includes a 48 nautical mile Furuno radar, a Northstar 957 color DGPS chartplotter, twin VHF radios, a Motorola private band two-way radio, a Horizon Loudhailer, a Ritchie digital compass, and dual ACR remote controlled spotlights. Also included will be Algae-X fuel filters, and an X-Changer oil recovery system.

27 Oct 2003

USS Chafee Joins The Fleet

On a crisp fall morning in Newport, R.I., friends, family, veterans and special guests gathered to watch as USS Chafee (DDG 90), the Navy's newest warship, was formally commissioned honoring the late Sen. John H. Chafee of Rhode Island. Chafee, a decorated Marine veteran of World War II and Korea, also served as Secretary of the Navy prior to being elected U.S. senator. With the historic and now retired aircraft carriers USS Forrestal (CVA 59) and USS Saratoga (CV 60) in the background, more than 6,000 supporters braved the blustery winds off Narragansett Bay to witness the historic commissioning. Speakers included U.S. Senators from Rhode Island Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee, son of the ship's namesake. "Today is a proud day," said Reed. "This ship bears an even prouder name. Sen.

26 Apr 2004

Buzzard’s Bay: One Year Later

April 27, 2004, marks one year since the Bouchard tank barge B. No. 120 ran aground and spilled approximately 55,000 gallons of Number 6 fuel oil in Buzzards Bay. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO) Providence has been working with several of its partners the past year to clean up the spill and to implement changes that can help prevent a similar disaster in the future. To date, more than $40 million has been spent on cleanup efforts. 99.8 percent of the shoreline areas that were oiled as a result of the spill have been cleaned, inspected by a combined team representing federal, state, local, and responsible party representatives, and found to meet the cleanup criteria under Massachusetts state law.

01 Jun 2004

Fast Ferry Modified to Launch Torpedoes

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding’s fast ferry building expertise has taken an unusual turn, with the testing of a new torpedo-launching system for the U.S. Navy. Systems Engineering Associates Corporation (SEA CORP) of Middletown, R.I., chartered Millennium, the 125-ft. Incat-designed high-speed passenger ferry owned by Rhode Island Fast Ferry and built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 1998 in May, to test an experimental surface torpedo launching system under development by NAVSEA.

01 Jun 2004

Washburn & Doughty Wins Tug Contract

Washburn & Doughty Associates, Inc. signed a contract to build a 92 x 32-ft. Z-Drive Tug for the Providence Steamboat Company. Providence Steamboat Company, located in Providence, RI, operates tugboats on Narragansett Bay and adjacent southeast New England waters. Engaged primarily in vessel assist work, the company has six tugs with two under construction. The vessel currently being built by Washburn & Doughty is Providence Steamboat’s first Z Drive Tug. Delivery is scheduled for December 2004. The new tug will be powered by two Caterpillar 3516HD main engines each rated at 2,500 hp @ 1,600 rpm. The propulsion units will be Rolls-Royce Aquamaster model US 205 Z Drives with NiBrAl 90.5-in. propellers and Kort nozzles lined with stainless steel.