Duca News

The Government of Ontario has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards Group for the design, build and delivery for two “road” ferries to operate in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes from 2019 and 2020. The new ferries will be a 68-meter Damen Road Ferry 6819 and a 98-meter Damen Road Ferry 9819, both designed in-house by Damen and fully customized for the local infrastructure. Although one vessel is 30 meters longer than the other, they will share many design features and equipment specifications, and both will be hybrid-ready, enabling them to be fitted with batteries when required.

Speaking on a panel devoted to “Robotics & Automation in Container Terminals” at the TOC Europe’s 40th annual industry gathering devoted to port and terminal technology and operations, APM Terminals Head of Terminal Design and Automation, Alex Duca outlined the concept of container terminal design by module and the importance of integrated automation and information sharing across every aspect of terminal cargo handling to make operations safer and better. “The biggest business opportunity is in retrofitting existing terminals with the automation of key processes to enhance our current operational performance,” said Mr. With larger vessels entering into service…

The annual Terminal Operators Conference (TOC) in Europe was held June 9-11 in Rotterdam with over 4000 people attending the conference supply chain sessions, Tech TOC, Bulk TOC venues and exhibits. Alex Duca, head of design and automation for APM Terminals called for a sensor revolution. “We want to have sensors everywhere - on all moving equipment, on all operational interfaces and transfer points. Sensors give us data power and metrics - so we can make things better and improve services. A whole new world of equipment intelligence opens to us all. When you extend this capability across the port ecosystem we make quantum leaps in the business and the supply chain. We make our customers stronger, our companies better and our jobs more important - each of us has a role to play”.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has appointed Maureen Del Duca vice president and deputy general counsel, Litigation and Investigations, effective immediately. In this role, Del Duca will be responsible for leading and managing the company's top quality internal team, and overseeing outside counsel for litigation, arbitration and investigations. Del Duca joins Northrop Grumman from her former position at AOL, where she was senior vice president and deputy general counsel, litigation, and chief ethics and compliance officer.

Captain John Kaplan recently assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in . He is the 39 Commanding Officer in the 109-year history of the Yard, the only shipbuilding and ship repair facility of the United States Coast Guard. Captain Kaplan took charge of the Coast Guard Yard from Captain Stephen Duca who had served as the shipyard’s Commanding Officer, May 2005 - May 2008. Captain Duca retired from the U.S. Coast Guard with 27 years active duty service. Captain Kaplan assumed command of the shipyard from his assignment as Yard Industrial Manager, a position held since 2005.

Captain John Kaplan recently assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in . He is the 39th Commanding Officer in the 109-year history of the Yard, the only shipbuilding and ship repair facility of the United States Coast Guard. Captain Kaplan took charge of the Coast Guard Yard from Captain Stephen Duca who had served as the shipyard’s Commanding Officer, May 2005 - May 2008. Captain Duca retired from the U.S. Coast Guard with 27 years active duty service. Captain Kaplan assumed command of the shipyard from his assignment as Yard Industrial Manager, a position held since 2005. Captain Kaplan graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering. Upon commissioning, he reported as a Student Engineer aboard the U.S.