Board Of Supervisors News

A U.S. judge on Wednesday refused to overturn a California county's decision to block Exxon Mobil Corp from using tanker trucks to ship crude oil from coastal facilities to inland refineries while a ruptured pipeline is fixed.U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee in Los Angeles denied Exxon's bid to reverse the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors' denial of a trucking permit in early 2022, saying the board's decision was substantially supported by evidence that transporting crude…

San Francisco Bay Area shipbuilder Moose Boats announced it has been awarded a contract from the Woodbridge Fire District for the construction of a M3-36 Monohull to serve as a fireboat in California's San Joaquin Delta.The 36-foot-long vessel will feature twin 300-horsepower Mercury outboards and a dedicated fire pump to flow through two monitors at approximately 1,500 gallons per minute. This vessel will also be equipped with dive platform doors to help facilitate water rescue…

Rolls-Royce and the Defense Production Act Title III office will invest millions of dollars to upgrade the company’s capability and capacity for U.S. Navy ship propulsion components in its facility in Pascagoula, Miss.The DPA Title III office has already agreed to invest $22 million for equipment, with Rolls-Royce making an additional investment for building improvements, supplemented with support from Jackson County and the state of Mississippi.Naval components manufactured by Rolls-Royce at Pascagoula include controllable-pitch propeller systems, fixed pitch propellers, and water jets.

Ship maintenance and repair company ST Engineering Halter Marine and Offshore, Inc., said it is investing $10 million to expand at its Pascagoula, Miss. site, adding 100 jobs in the process.STEHMO, along with its sister company VT Halter Marine, is growing as a result of recent market opportunities. The expansion will enable the company to perform new commercial repair work for larger ships and oil platforms that require greater size and lifting capacity. STEHMO is adding dock space and water depth adjacent to its Bayou Casotte site.

Former Louisiana state official Scott A. Angelle will head-up the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). Angelle, who most recently served as Vice Chairman of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, will assume his new position May 23. “Scott Angelle brings a wealth of experience to BSEE, having spent many years working for the safe and efficient energy production of both Louisiana’s and our country’s offshore resources,” Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said.

U.S. shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO launched and christened Garden State, another ECO Class tanker due to join the Jones Act fleet. Launched and christened on Saturday, May 7, the new ship, will join the ranks as one of the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly product tankers in the world, the builder said. Garden State is the third of a five-tanker contract between NASSCO and American Petroleum Tankers, which calls for the design and construction of five 50,000 deadweight ton, LNG-conversion-ready product carriers with a 330,000 barrel cargo capacity.

As part of a new blue tech vision that will create more maritime jobs for the San Diego region, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer and County Supervisor Greg Cox today proposed an initiative that was jointly approved by the City of San Diego and County of San Diego to help give San Diego’s blue economy a boost by creating a blue tech incubator. Mayor Faulconer said, “Thanks to our fast-growing blue-tech economy, San Diego has yet another opportunity to be a global leader in technology and innovation. Our coastal city is uniquely positioned to be the perfect global breeding ground for water-related technology, innovation and jobs. Supervisor Cox said…

The Port of Hueneme Board of Commissioners voted in officers for 2014 at their first meeting of the year held January 13, 2014. Senior Commission member and former five-time President Jess Herrera nominated Commissioner Mary Anne Rooney to take the helm as president. Rooney’s nomination received unanimous Board support and for the first time in the Port’s 77 year history a woman takes the office of Board President. Commissioner Herrera was named Vice President and Commissioner Manuel Lopez was voted Secretary.

Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division officially opened the company's brand-new, 70,000 square-foot Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The building, named for the former Mississippi governor, will serve as the training epicenter for Ingalls' apprentice program and will also help bolster the number of students. "Today symbolizes the state's commitment to workforce development and skills training for all of our working people so they can get better, higher-paying jobs," Barbour said.

'Blue Champion' Chairman Greg Cox of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has been a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors since 1995 and on September 9, 2013 was appointed to serve on the California Coastal Commission. Over the last 7 years The Maritime Alliance has briefed dozens of elected and appointed officials about Blue Tech and the Blue Economy. Every so often we encounter folks who just get it -- they immediately recognize the economic and social value of maritime to the region and the nation.

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the nation's newest research vessel will be named R/V Sally Ride, in honor of the former UC San Diego faculty member who was the first American female astronaut and the youngest American to fly in space. The ship is owned by the U.S. Navy, will be operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, and will have its home port at the Scripps Nimitz Marine Facility in Point Loma on San Diego Bay. "Sally Ride's career was one of firsts and will inspire generations to come," said Mabus. Dr.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) hosted groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Jackson County (Miss.) Maritime Trades Academy on June 8 with state and local officials participating. "The shipbuilding academy will help find new workers and upgrade the skills of current workers for our shipbuilders on the Coast and for our energy industry," said Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. A $20m HUD community development block grant was awarded by the state of Mississippi in August 2009 to build the academy.

According to The Mississippi Press, there are several state and local tax incentives that Gulf LNG could seek as it proceeds with plan to construct a $600 million liquid natural gas terminal off Industrial Road. Gulf LNG, Jackson County Board of Supervisors and the Port of Pascagoula entered a sublease agreement Monday that enables the company to use 106 acres of land south of Chevron Refinery on the east side of the Bayou Casotte channel that the state leases to the Port of Pascagoula. On the state level, two tax incentives are exemptions for state corporate income tax liability and access to tax exempt bond financing. Locally, ad valorem exemptions are available.

The Senate Commerce Committee is not expecting any problems approving the nomination of Prince William Board of Supervisors Chairman Sean Connaughton to lead the U.S. Maritime Administration. At a confirmation hearing, Connaughton said he would focus on relieving congestion of the nation's waterways, maritime and port development, national security and environmental protection. Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen and Congressman Tom Davis spoke in support of Connaughton. Allen said Connaughton, a maritime and environmental lawyer with a Washington firm, was particularly well-qualified for the position. President Bush nominated Connaughton for the post last month. Connaughton previously served as a senior transportation associate for the American Petroleum Institute.

The Harrison County Development Commission approved a land deal with Edison Chouest Offshore, in which HCDC is to sell 23 acres in Bernard Bayou Industrial Park to the company for $994,500 and to lease 7.8 acres along the industrial seaway for $10,850 per month. The company has declined to discuss its plans. The transaction now has to go to the Board of Supervisors. (Source: Biloxi Sun Herald)