Gig Harbor News

A gravel barge allided with private docks and homes near Gig Harbor, Wash., after the master of the towing vessel fell asleep at the helm.The U.S. Coast Guard said Monday that its watchstanders at Sector Puget Sound received notification from Pierce County dispatch that an unmanned gravel barge, under tow by the towing vessel Island Chief, had smashed into several privately-owned docks and residences. No injuries or pollution have been reported. Initial findings indicate that the master of the towing vessel fell asleep while navigating the vessel…

Erden Eruc is a man on a ‘human-powered’ mission, a mission which Elliott Bay Design Group recently assisted with donated design services as he plans for the next leg of his “Six Summits Project.” Next up: a solo row across the Pacific Ocean, a bike ride to Tibet and climbing Mt. Everest.A Seattle resident, Erden Eruc’s solo circumnavigation by human power quest, which started as a quiet obsession in the late 1990s, became a life mission following the death of Göran Kropp, who died while rock climbing with Eruc in September of 2002.

Fairbanks Morse acquired Breco International Inc., a diesel engine repair and rebuilding service provider. The move expands service markets for Fairbanks Morse with commercial marine, oil and gas and locomotive, and will add service support for customers.“Breco has an established track record of being customer-focused and operationally efficient and we are pleased to bring the Breco team and assets into Fairbanks Morse,” said George Whittier, CEO of Fairbanks Morse. “This acquisition opens up service markets for Fairbanks Morse and we intend to continue Breco’s business model of providing fast, cost-competitive solutions to customers.”Breco International Inc. is a diesel engine parts and service company specializing in the ALCO brand.

GE Transportation's marine business, in conjunction with its distributor Marinsa Ecuador S.A., announced it has delivered a GE 16-cylinder 7FDM diesel engine for installation aboard the Cap. Berny B tuna clipper. The vessel, owned by Berni Buehs and Sons, Manta, Ecuador, is being repowered from a dual-engine propulsion system to a single GE medium-speed diesel engine arrangement, GE reported today at Nor-Shipping 2005. "This is a milestone project because it marks the initial application of a GE diesel engine for a tuna boat," said John Manison, manager of GE Transportation's marine and stationary power business in Erie, Pa. According to Guenther A.

The barge ITB-260 loaded with 3,324 tons of gravel capsized north of Gig Harbor, Wash., when the tide came in, causing the load of gravel to shift and eventually spill into the water. The tug Island Breeze was towing the barge when it reported to the Coast Guard that the barge was taking on water. Over three hours later the crew of the tug reported they had pushed the barge against the shore to prevent it from sinking. The Coast Guard is working with the owner of the barge to ensure the damage to the barge can safely be evaluated before being allowed to proceed. This incident did not result in the release of any petroleum products. The barge was transporting the gravel from Dupont, Wash., to Kenmore, Wash.. The Island Breeze is owned by the Seattle-based company Island Tug and Barge.

The Navy’s Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) conducts a ribbon cutting at 1:00 p.m., August 13, 2002 for the 26 thousand square-foot Acoustic Test and Analysis Center (ATAC). Captain Steven W. Petri USN, Commander, Carderock Division, parent organization of ARD, welcomes Senator Larry Craig as the invited guest speaker. ATAC is the centerpiece of a major construction project, consolidating ARD offices, computer laboratories and industrial facilities into a single, modern facility. The project represents the culmination of the ARD's Facility Master Plan, which is transforming ARD from a collection of converted World War II-vintage boat repair shops and 1970-vintage buildings into a state-of-the-art test facility.

First Wave/Newpark Shipbuilding, in Galveston, Texas, has had a busy spring. First, the company was awarded a contract by Diamond Offshore Drilling to install a crane and perform annual survey work on Ocean Lexington. That contract was completed in March. Next, the company won a contract from Smit Americas, Inc. for drydocking of Ocean Hercules. The vessel was drydocked on the shipyard's 7,500-ton drydock for general maintenance and conversion from a seismic vessel to a telecommunication cable laying vessel. Finally, First Wave drydocked Pride Louisiana for Pride Offshore. The rig was docked in the Galveston Ship Channel, utilizing a heavy lift barge for an annual survey. The rig will depart upon completion of the survey.