Grand Bay News

Boat builder Silver Ships is partnering with Auburn University’s Industrial Design program and the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory (AUSL) to create concepts for an oyster farming boat design.Beginning this fall, Silver Ships, AUSL and students within Auburn’s industrial design program will focus on designing several concepts for a new boat to support oyster farming operations. The class offers third-year students the opportunity to engage in their first substantial design…

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has awarded more than $1.8 million in Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grants to the state of Alabama and to Mobile County, Ala. The grants will fund ongoing wetlands preservation, facility upgrades, and outreach initiatives for the state’s coastal areas. Created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, CIAP provides funding to the six Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas producing states to conserve and protect the coastal environment. CIAP is an ongoing program with grant funding that is allocated based on the offshore energy revenues collected by the United States.

The National Response Team (NRT), an organization of 16 federal departments and agencies responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness and response to oil and hazardous substance pollution incidents was quickly activated and a coordinated group of federal partners-including the United States Coast Guard, Departments of Homeland Security, Commerce, Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency-immediately began directing and overseeing BP's response. Coastal protection and booming operations under the direction of the Unified Command Mobile are ongoing, actively deploying as rapidly as possible as part of the strategic plan across Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle, Unified Command Mobile said.

Rozema Boat Works has delivered a pair of 46-ft. boats to Clean Gulf Associates of New Orleans, identical to another built for CGA in 1998. The boats, Bastian Bay and Grand Bay, are based in Houma and Venice, La. The boats are 46 ft., with a beam of 16 ft. and a draft of 4 ft. 2 in. Each is powered by twin CAT 3196 diesels rated at 660 hp, driving 34 x 42 in. props through Twin Disc 5114-IV reduction/reversing gears for a response speed of 28 knots and a loaded speed of 19 knots. The Clean Gulf boats feature LORI brush skimming systems on both the port and starboard sides, a Desmi DOP 160 offload pump, a built-in dispersant system, a 2,000-lb. capacity mast and boom, and a 65-barrel recovered-oil tank. Each carries 950 gallons of fuel and 100 gallons of water.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued a Notice stating that the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the proposed Main Pass Energy Hub deepwater port (DWP) liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility is available for review and comment. Public meetings will be held in Grand Bay, Alabama (March 21); Pascagoula, Mississippi (March 22); and New Orleans, Louisiana (March 23). Written comments should be submitted by April 24. Source: HK Law