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Fort Worth News

11 Sep 2023

Littoral Combat Ship USS Milwaukee Decommissioned

USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) (Photo: U.S. Navy)

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) has been decommissioned after less than eight years of naval service.The U.S. Navy has been scrapping its fleet of littoral combat ships—including both its Freedom and Independence variants. The latest to get the axe, USS Milwaukee, was decommissioned in Mayport, Fla. on September 8.During the ceremony guest speaker, Vice Adm. Dirk Debbink (USN, Ret), former chairman of Milwaukee’s commissioning committee wished…

14 Feb 2022

PTL Marine Hires Taylor as Business Development Manager

Steven Taylor (Photo: PTL Marine)

PTL Marine announced the recent hiring of Steven Taylor as its Manager of Business Development with responsibility for the California markets. With operations in major ports including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the company has continued growing its network along the U.S. West Coast. Taylor will be based in Southern California where the company services the Marine and C&I industries with fuels, lubricants, chemicals and last-mile logistics solutions.“With more than 75 years of experience in California through the legacy brands General Petroleum and Maxum Petroleum…

07 Jul 2021

PTL Unites Marine Legacy Companies Under One Brand

Fort Worth, Texas based Pilot Thomas Logistics’ (PTL) said it will unify its family of marine companies including Economy Boat Store, General Petroleum, Radcliff/Economy Marine Services, Rainier Petroleum and Maxum Petroleum under one brand, PTL Marine, to simplify commercial, operational and administrative aspects of the business.“Recognizing the 85th Anniversary of our oldest company this year, we are excited to honor our legacy while moving forward as one,” said Dennis Cassidy, President and CEO of PTL. “PTL Marine will be led by David Reynolds and our experienced management team, which we believe the market has come to know as reliable and trusted partners.”Headquartered in Memphis…

05 Oct 2020

DOD Taps Sea Machines for Autonomous Replenishment Vessels

(Image: Sea Machines)

Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous command and control systems for surface vessels, said it has been awarded a multi-year Other Transaction (OT) agreement by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to initiate a prototype that will enable commercial ocean-service barges as autonomous Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) units for an Amphibious Maritime Projection Platform (AMPP).Under this OT agreement, Sea Machines will engineer…

16 Jan 2020

Port NOLA Sets New Box Record

Louisiana’s only international container port Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) moved more containers in 2019 than at any time in its history, totaling 648,538 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 10% compared to one year ago.The multimodal gateway for global trade said in a press release that the record marks the sixth consecutive year the Port surpassed the half million TEU-mark at its Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, which is operated by New Orleans Terminal and Ports America.“Port NOLA has now seen double-digit growth in total container volumes for two consecutive years, primarily driven by the Panama Canal expansion, exports from Louisiana’s booming petrochemical industry and a growing market for imports,” said Brandy D.

20 Nov 2019

Lineage Logistics Acquires Emergent Cold

Lineage Logistics Holdings, the world’s largest provider of temperature-controlled logistics solutions, announced it has signed definitive agreements to acquire Emergent Cold, the global cold chain services provider.This acquisition strengthens the Company’s leading port presence in the United States and signifies its entry into the Australian, New Zealand, and Sri Lankan temperature-controlled logistics markets, building on Lineage’s existing presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.“Food producers, manufacturers and retailers are looking for cold chain partners who can offer a dynamic and truly end-to-end temperature-controlled logistics solution…

27 Jan 2019

Port NOLA Sets Container Record in 2018

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) moved more containers in 2018 than at any time in its history, totaling 591,253 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 12.3 percent compared to one year ago.The deep-draft multipurpose port at the center of the world's busiest port system -- Louisiana's Lower Mississippi River said in a press release that the record marks the fifth year in a row Port NOLA has surpassed the half million TEU-mark at its Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, which is operated by New Orleans Terminal and Ports America.“The expansion of the Panama Canal and growth in containerized exports, namely resin and frozen poultry, have buoyed Port NOLA’s containerized cargo to record levels.

11 Oct 2017

A Business Park Made of Shipping Containers

Container King of Dallas has recently signed a deal with local developer Ron Sturgeon to build 38 innovative, eco-friendly, state-of-the-art commercial spaces made from shipping containers. Box Office Warehouse Suites is due to open in the Alliance commercial real estate area in Texas. Sturgeon explained the process: "We sandblast them, paint them nice and pretty, bring in a professional design firm, tastefully add paneling, floors, ceilings, windows, and carpeting, and before you know it you have industrial space perfect for small businesses, and the beauty of it all, besides being inexpensive, is its flexibility. If you need more space we simply attach another container and instantly your work space is doubled in size. "We see this as the future of construction," Sturgeon said.

06 Jul 2017

USS Gabrielle Giffords Completes Maiden Voyage

The newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) arrived in San Diego July 5, after successfully completing her maiden voyage from Mobile, Alabama. Following construction and acceptance trials earlier this year at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Giffords sailed to Galveston, Texas, where she was commissioned June 10. "Our Sailors are honored to represent the ship namesake, its homeport in San Diego and the U.S. Navy," said Cmdr. Keith Woodley, Giffords' commanding officer. During her sail around transit from Mobile, Giffords Sailors conducted Combat Ship Systems Qualification Trials (CSSQT) events, various crew certification training events and regularly scheduled equipment and systems checks and transited through the Panama Canal.

14 Jun 2017

US Navy: Bigger is Better, but at What Cost?

U.S. Navy forces and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force routinely train together to improve interoperability and readiness to provide stability and security for the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Z.A. Landers)

The U.S. Navy has a balanced fleet, but it wants to grow bigger and better. Will the budget allow both? Maritime Reporter's March 2017 cover story on the U.S. Navy was all about the numbers. There exists several plans to grow the fleet beyond the current number of 308 ships, the Mitre recommendation of 414 ships, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment 340-ship proposal, and the Navy’s decision to grow the fleet to 355 ships, and the Trump administration’s 350. With so many numbers being bandied about, there are even more suggestions on how to get there.

28 Dec 2016

Navy Accepts Delivery of USS Gabrielle Giffords

The Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) during a ceremony, Dec. 23. Gabrielle Giffords is the ninth littoral combat ship (LCS) to be delivered to the Navy and the fifth of the Independence variant to join the fleet. The Independence variant is noted for its unique trimaran hull, ability to operate at high speeds and large flight deck size. "We are pleased to receive the future USS Gabrielle Giffords into the LCS class," said Capt. Harrison, commander, LCS Squadron (COMLCSRON) 1. COMLCSRON-1 supports the operational commanders with warships ready for tasking by manning, training, equipping and maintaining all littoral combat ships in the fleet. Delivery marks the official transfer of LCS 10 from the shipbuilder, an Austal USA-led team, to the Navy.

29 Aug 2016

USS Freedom Suffers Casualty

USS Freedom (LCS 1) (Photo: U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy's first littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) experienced a casualty to one of its main propulsion diesel engines (MPDE) on July 11 reportedly caused by a leak from the attached seawater pump mechanical seal that resulted in seawater entering the engine lube oil system, according to the Navy. The ship’s crew addressed the leak, enabling Freedom to return to homeport July 13 on her own power for repairs on a separate, unrelated issue. While in port, the crew performed seawater contamination procedures.

13 Apr 2016

Damaged US Warship Heads to San Diego for Repairs

USS Fort Worth (U.S. Navy photo by Joe Bishop)

The USS Fort Worth, a U.S. warship that suffered damage to its combining gears in Singapore in January, will travel to San Diego under its own power for extensive repairs at a General Dynamics Corp shipyard, the U.S. Navy said Wednesday. The new coastal warship, built by Lockheed Martin Corp , will use its gas turbine engines to travel to its homeport of San Diego this summer from Singapore, where it has been deployed since December 2014, the Navy's Pacific Fleet said in a statement. The trip is expected to take about six weeks.

11 Mar 2016

FME Earns LCS Supplier of the Year Award

Fairbanks Morse Engine (FME) announced it has been named the 2015 Lockheed Martin Missions Systems and Training Supplier of the year for Ship and Aviation Systems during its annual Supplier Summit, held in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. on March 10, 2016. The award honors FME for its product delivery and performance, technical support, and commitment to affordability, the company said. As an industry partner to Lockheed Martin, FME said it is committed to a strong and ongoing focus in the areas of continuous improvement and cost competitiveness to provide the solutions necessary to meet the U.S. Navy’s needs in support of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. “Receiving this award from Lockheed Martin is a great honor for Fairbanks Morse Engine.

07 Mar 2016

Great Green Fleet in South China Sea

The John C. Stennis Strike Group (JCSSG) is conducting routine operations in the South China Sea. The ships transited the Luzon Strait March 1 and have maintained a location in the eastern half of these international waters for four days. USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) all conducted a replenishment-at-sea today receiving advanced biofuel, aviation fuel and supplies from USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7). Flight operations have occurred daily with Carrier Airwing (CVW) 9 conducting 266 sorties. Numerous People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N)) vessels have remained in JCSSG's vicinity during this time period. "We have Chinese ships around us that we normally didn't see in my past experience," said Capt.

25 Feb 2016

Navy Competes for Resources at Home, against Asymmetric Threats Abroad

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson speaks at the 28th annual Surface Navy Association Symposium in the Crystal City section of Arlington, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jessica Bidwell)

The U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. The document presents Richardson’s priorities with four “lines of effort” to strengthen naval power at and from the sea; achieve high velocity learning at every level; strengthen our Navy team for the future’ and expand and strengthen our network of partners. It isn’t an earth-shattering document, and perhaps is most telling for what it doesn’t say, as opposed to what is says. The document makes a strong case for forward presence, which has been the raison d’etre for the U.S. Navy for decades.

13 Nov 2015

Essex Amphibious Ready Group in S. China Sea

The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) transited the Straits of Malacca and conducted routine operations in the South China Sea as part of a deployment to the Western Pacific Nov. 7-10. The ARG's flagship, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), conducted the patrol as the amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) prepared for bilateral training exercises with Brunei and Malaysia. On Nov. 10, Rushmore began offloading troops for the 2015 iteration of Malaysia-U.S. Amphibious Exercise (MALUS AMPHEX 2015), in which U.S. personnel will train with Malaysian amphibious units ashore to instruct and develop core competencies and enhance interoperability with a key partner nation in the region.

25 Oct 2015

Houston Braces for Floods as Texas Deluged by Rain

Heavy rains fueled by the meeting of two strong storm systems, one the remnants of Hurricane Patricia, pounded southeastern Texas on Saturday, triggering flash floods and derailing a freight train as the heavy weather tracked toward Houston. Navarro County, about 50 miles (80 km) south of Dallas, was one of the hardest-hit areas, inundating the tiny town of Powell with 20 inches (50 cm) of rain over 30 hours, according to meteorologist Brett Rathbun of Accuweather. A flash flood was so forceful it swept a Union Pacific freight train off the tracks, pushing locomotives and some rail cars on their sides. No injuries were reported. County…

18 Oct 2015

Exercise Malabar 2015 Launched

Naval forces and liaisons from India, Japan and United States begin Exercise Malabar 2015, Oct. 16, through air defense collaboration. The featured cooperation consists of aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Airwing (CVW) 1, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) and Indian frigate INS Shivalik (F 47). Exercise Malabar is an annual event designed to enhance naval cooperation through engagement with India and Japan while demonstrating U.S. Naval presence in the Indo-Asia region. "We launched aircraft from TR to simulate scenarios to exercise the Indian's self-defense," said Lt. Sean McDonnell, Normandy's air defense officer.

15 Oct 2015

U.S., Indian, Japan Navies to Participate in Malabar

Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the United States will participate in exercise Malabar 2015, Oct. 14-19, 2015. Malabar 2015 is a complex, high-end warfighting exercise that has grown in scope and complexity over the years and is the latest in a continuing series conducted to advance multi-national maritime relationships and mutual security issues. The exercise will feature both ashore and at-sea training. While ashore in Chennai, training will include subject matter expert and professional exchanges on carrier strike group operations; maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations; surface and anti-submarine warfare; medical operations; damage control; explosive ordnance disposal (EOD); helicopter operations; and visit board search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

13 Oct 2015

India, US, Japan Naval Drills Begins, Irks China

India, Japan and the United States kicked off the first joint naval exercises  in the Bay of Bengal in eight years and such drills will occur each year, Indian government sources said. The Japanese Maritime-Self Defense Force (JMSF) confimed that it will Permanently Join US-India Naval Exercises. An announcement will be made shortly  re-designating what had hitherto been officially an Indian-U.S. bilateral military exercise into a trilateral India-U.S.-Japan event, according to the Business Standard. While Japan’s participation is not new—the JMSF have joined in 2007, 2009, and 2014 respectively—it will be the first time that the Japanese Navy will not be a foreign invitee but rather a permanent member of the annual trilateral naval drill.

08 Oct 2015

USS Fort Worth Completes CARAT Exercise with Bangladesh Navy

The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) completed its first Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training (CARAT) exercise with Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal, Oct. CARAT Bangladesh 2015 is a tangible representation of the continued U.S. commitment to our security partnership and our commitment to peace, prosperity, and security in South Asia. "The sea phase of CARAT Bangladesh was short but filled with a large number of naval warfighting core competencies that advanced our navies' interoperability," said Cmdr. Christopher Brown, commanding officer of Fort Worth. Since the initial CARAT Bangladesh in 2011, steady progress has been made in increasing the complexity and scope of the bilateral engagement.

25 Jul 2015

USN, RSN Achieve New Milestones During CARAT 2015

The U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy completed the 21st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore after 11 days of comprehensive training both at sea and ashore, July 24. CARAT Singapore featured a series of dynamic training engagements including a five-day sea phase involving ships, submarines and aircraft from both countries. "Having arrived in Southeast Asia in 2012, this was my third time participating in CARAT Singapore and each year, the exercise gets better and better," said Capt. Fred Kacher, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7 and co-commander of the exercise task group. Building on CARAT's emphasis of increasing the complexity of combined scenarios each year…