Dixie News

REMEMBERING MY SHIPMATE JOHN MICHELWe met in January 1959 when I became the first Officer in Charge of the Navy’s newly acquired Bathyscaph Trieste and John was the first USN enlisted man to be assigned to the project. We were based at the Naval Electronics Laboratory in San Diego. Trieste was unique as there were only two deep diving manned submersibles in the world. The French Navy had the other. Our team learned about the bathyscaph more by ‘apprenticeship’ than through any sort of formal learning process.

Cenac Marine Services and its dynamic, third generation leader, Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr., continue to flourish, in good times and bad. Through it all, leadership, philanthropy and investments that extend far beyond the company’s gates have made all the difference.As this year quickly churns to its inevitable close, Cenac Marine Services isn’t the nation’s biggest towboat operation, but its profound impact on the people and environment of the U.S. Gulf Coast and beyond is unquestionable. At a time when most operators are happy to simply strive for an environmentally correct and regulatory compliant business signature, Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr.

Ellicott Dredge Technologies (EDT) informed that the City of Boise, Idaho chose it to design a Mud Cat 40E Custom (MC-40EC) dredge for the city's innovative Dixie Drain Phosphorous Offset Project. Boise will use the MC-40EC dredge to remove phosphorous from the Boise Watershed. Boise selected the MC-40EC due to Mud Cat’s global reputation for quality and their proven ability to deliver custom features. The custom features include the overall length of the dredge, the slurry pump flow and pressure, a fully protected auger system, and an auger calibrated to specific digging depths for the project. In addition to its custom features, the MC-40EC boasts several other unique systems.

1747 - John Paul Jones is born in Arbigland, Scotland. Originally appointed to the Continental Navy in 1775, he is known for his quote, Ive not yet begun to fight! during the battle between Continental frigate, Bonhomme Richard, and HMS Serapis on Sept. 23, 1779. 1898 - During the Spanish-American War, the auxiliary-cruiser USS Dixie captures the Spanish vessels, Three Bells, Pilgrim, and Greeman Castle, off Cape Cruz, Cuba. 1943 - Following the Allied landing on New Georgia, the Japanese attempt to land reinforcements with 10 destroyers, resulting in the Battle of Kula Gulf. In the battle, USS Helena (CL 50) is hit by three torpedoes, breaks apart, and sinks, with nearly 170 of her crew lost.

1812 - During the War of 1812, Commodore John Rodgers leads a squadron onboard USS President off New York until she battles HMS Belvidera. The first shot of the War of 1812 is fired by USS President during this engagement. 1861 - During the Civil War, the Confederate Navy begins reconstruction of ex-USS Merrimack as the ironclad CSS Virginia at Gosport (Norfolk) Navy Yard, Va. 1898 - During the Spanish-American War, USS Dixie fires on two Spanish gunboats at Maria Aguilar Point, Cuba. 1933 - USS Macon (ZRS 5) is commissioned. Less than two years later, Macon crashes during a storm off Point Sur, Calif., ending the Navy's program of rigid airship operations. 1942 - While on a routine search, a PBY rescues most of the crew of S 27 (SS 132) at Constantine Harbor, Amchitka, Aleutian Islands.

Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr. is a third-generation owner of Cenac Towing Company. The firm, originally founded in 1927 by his grandfather, now does business as Cenac Marine Services. Benny has led the company since 1981 through several industry downturns by focusing on customer service, efficiency, quality and safety in its marine transportation services. Cenac Towing has clients across the country and maintains a focus on transporting liquid petroleum barges. Cenac is guided by the values and principles established by Benny’s grandfather over 85 years ago: a commitment to employee satisfaction and great company morale. As a leader in the community…

On June 23, 1995, the cruise ship Star Princess, carrying 1,568 passengers and 639 crew, grounded on charted and marked Poundstone Rock in the Lynn Canal of Alaska. Although there were no deaths or injuries, the ship’s bottom was ripped open. Repairs cost $21.16 million. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause was the pilot’s poor performance, which may have been exacerbated by chronic fatigue caused by sleep apnea. Among other things, the NTSB recommended that the U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port for the Houston/Galveston area informs that a 2-mile stretch of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway between between Bolivar Peninsula and Goat Island has been reopened after a pleasure craft sank in the channel following a collision. The captain of the towing vessel Dixie Courage contacted Coast Guard Sector Houston/Galveston, 1 p.m. Sunday, reporting that his tow and barges had collided with a disabled and adrift 15-foot pleasure craft. The four people aboard the boat jumped overboard and swam to shore before the collision occurred. There were no reports of injuries to either crew or any reports of pollution. The captain of the Dixie Courage reported no damage to the tow boat, but the pleasure craft sank from the damage it sustained.

Today in U.S. 1962 – Lt. Col. John Glenn, USMC becomes first American to orbit Earth. His flight in Friendship 7 (Mercury 6) consisted of 3 orbits in 88 minutes at a velocity of 17,544 mph with the highest altitude of 162.2 statute miles. Recovery was by USS Noa (DD-841). 1962 - USS Dixie (AD-14) rescues lone crewman aboard a sailing yawl adrift for four days. 1974 - S-3A Viking ASW aircraft (carrier jet) introduced officially, given to VS-41. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Inland and coastal giant christens ATB duo Jason E. Duttinger and Winna Wilson in an October New Orleans ceremony. The crew of the Jason E. Duttinger took a break from hauling coal between Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, and Florida on Oct. 30 as Kirby Corp. of Houston christened the articulated tug-and-barge unit in New Orleans at the dock of the Hilton Riverside Hotel. Both units were named in honor of two special individuals. Jason Duttinger was a senior transportation specialist at North Carolina-based Duke Energy when he died of cancer in 2011.

When Joseph H. Pyne joined Dixie Carriers in 1978, little did he know the maritime juggernaut he would help to create. When he took over as president in 1984, the company owned about 20 boats and 50 barges, with a value of about $35m. Today, after nearly 30 years, 50 acquisitions, it has a market cap well in excess of $4B, and its fleet hovers around 350 boats and 950 barges, commanding approximately 35% of the U.S. market. Joseph H. Pyne, 65, recently spent some time with Maritime…

Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) meeting invites maritime industry representatives. This meeting will focus on Recruiting the Next Generation of Mariners and how Regulatory Requirements and Critical Incidents impact the US Maritime Industry; also about lessons learned in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy. The Keynote Speaker and Moderator will be Rear Admiral Wendi B. Carpenter, President, State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College. Recruiting the Next Generation of Mariners - How Do We Best Work Together? Regulatory Impacts on Crew Recruitment and Retention - How Do We Reduce? Maritime Lessons Learned from Super Storm Sandy - Opportunities for Improvement in Vessel Capabilities for Disaster Response?

Next year, developers hope to start building offshore wind turbines in the U.S., which is already a leader in on-land wind generation. As turbines spin off the coast in a dozen other countries, particularly the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, global offshore wind capacity has expanded nearly six-fold since 2006. Most of these installations are in shallow water though winds are stronger out further. If the U.S. is to have offshore turbines, many residents want them distant enough so they can’t be seen or heard.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will conduct an intercessional meeting to facilitate working group discussion of Task Statement 76, titled “Review of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria)”, and Task Statement 77, titled “Development of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria).” This meeting will be open to the public. The MERPAC working group will meet on January 31, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on February 1, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please note that meetings may adjourn early if all business is finished.

1747 - Birth of John Paul Jones at Arbigland, Scotland.   1898 - Armed Auxiliary Dixie captures Spanish Three Bells, Pilgrim, and Greeman Castle   1908 - CDR Robert Peary sails in Roosevelt from New York to explore Arctic.   1911 - First naval aviation base established at Annapolis, MD.   1920 - Test and first use of radio compass in aircraft off Norfolk, VA   1943 - Night Battle of Kula Gulf results in loss of 2 Japanese destroyers and USS Helena.   1976 - 1st women enter Naval Academy.   Source: Navy News Service

1904 - Marines from USS Dixie arrive in Panama 1944 - Top Marine ace MAJ Boyington captured after shooting down 28 aircraft 1945 - Third Fleet carriers begin a 2 day attack against Formosa destroying 100 aircraft with loss of only 22 aircraft. (Source: Navy News Service)

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a report of acrylonitrile in the Mississippi River, near mile marker 775.5, one mile north of the Hachie River inlet. At approximately 9 p.m., July 26, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report from the master of the Merrick Jones, a 128-ft towing vessel pushing 26 barges, that a collision had occurred involving the Merrick Jones and the Dixie Express, an 87-ft towing barge pushing two barges of acrylonitrile. A marine and pollution investigation team from Sector Lower Mississippi River were dispatched to assess the incident. An unknown amount of acrylonitrile was released into the water after one of the barges being pushed by the Dixie Express was damaged in the incident. The source of the spill has been secured.

Senesco Marine located in North Kingstown, R.I., a part of the Reinauer family of marine companies, principally engaged in the design and construction of state of the art OPA-90 compliant double hull ATB ocean tank barges and the new generation of “Facet” tugs announces that it is bringing on board Tom Johnson who will be responsible for new business development expanding the ship builders services to the commercial market. Johnson is a 1969 graduate of the Texas Maritime Academy holding a B/S in Marine Engineering, US Coast Guard license and commission in the US Navy at the time of graduation. He has variously served with the US Army Corps of Engineers…

1815 - USS Constitution, under Captain Charles Stewart, captures HMS Cyane and sloop-of-war Levant 1962 – Lt. Col. John Glenn, USMC becomes first American to orbit Earth. His flight in Friendship 7 (Mercury 6) consisted of 3 orbits in 88 minutes at a velocity of 17,544 mph with the highest altitude of 162.2 statute miles. Recovery was by USS Noa (DD-841). 1962 - USS Dixie (AD-14) rescues lone crewman aboard a sailing yawl adrift for four days. 1974 - S-3A Viking ASW aircraft (carrier jet) introduced officially, given to VS-41. (Source: Navy News Service)

The Coast Guard and agency partners have formed a Unified Command in response to an oil spill in the Port of Port Arthur, on Jan. 23. Vessel Traffic Service Port Arthur received notification at 9:30 a.m. reporting a collision between the towing vessel Dixie Vengeance and the two barges it was pushing, and the 807-ft tank ship Eagle Otome. As a result of the collision, the Eagle Otome sustained damage in the vicinity of the number one starboard tank, which was reported to be loaded with crude oil. The initial estimate of spilled oil is 450,000 gallons.

At 12:17 a.m. Jan. 24, the Dixie Vengeance and two barges were separated from the Eagle Otome and moored on the east bank of the Sabine Neches Waterway. The Unified Command continues to respond to the spill, ensuring the safety of the public and minimizing environmental impact. Currently 11 skimmers are conducting operations and air monitoring is on-going. A collision between the towing vessel Dixie Vengeance with the two barges it was pushing, and the 807-ft tank ship Eagle Otome, resulted in damage to the Eagle Otome, which was loaded with crude oil. The current estimate of spilled oil is 420,000 gallons. The Sabine Neches Waterway…

The Unified Command, consisting of the Texas General Land Office, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Eagle Otome's owner, opened the Sabine-Neches Waterway on Jan. 27 to limited traffic after moving the tank vessel Eagle Otome to the Sunoco oil terminal in Beaumont on the evening of Jan. 26. "The Unified Command has been working closely to get the waterway back open as safely as possible," said Coast Guard Capt. J.J. Plunkett, captain of the port and federal on-scene coordinator for the response. Three tugs escorted the Eagle Otome, while two boats carried boom to prevent further spillage and a fire fighting barge was on scene to prevent any fires. Two pilots were on board the ship to further ensure its safe transit to Beaumont.

The Coast Guard adjourned the formal hearings, Thursday, March 11, concerning the Jan. 23, 2010, incident involving the tank vessel Eagle Otome, the Gull Arrow and the tug Dixie Vengeance. The incident resulted in more than 400,000 gallons of oil being spilled into the Sabine-Neches waterway. Eric Lewis, the VTS watchstander, testified concerning his training, maritime experience, and the details of the displays and sensors he monitors as a watchstander. He also described his watch and the geographic area of the waterway he monitors.