Ground Support Equipment News

American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) announced that its M/V ARC Integrity loaded equipment from the Army’s 1st Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) at the port of Rotterdam.The ARC Integrity is ARC’s latest addition to the U.S.-flag fleet, having re-flagged to U.S. registry in Bremerhaven, Germany in October 2019. ARC Integrity moved a mix of helicopters, vehicles, containers, and other ground support equipment for 1st CAB, the “Demon” Brigade, which now returns home to Fort Riley, Kansas after a ninth month rotation in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.The 3rd CAB “Marne Air” out of Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia replaces the 1st CAB in Europe.

Naval Ship Management (NSM), an existing joint venture between Babcock and UGL, has been awarded the support and sustainment program for two Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) at the Garden Island Defence Precinct in NSW, following a competitive bidding process.The announcement made today by the Australian Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, confirmed NSM was selected by the Australian Defence Force to sustain and support two LHDs and twelve LHD Landing Crafts (LLCs) for a period of 15 years.

California Commercial Marine Operators Take Advantage of Grant Money to Repower with Eco-Friendly Engines. Capt. Joe Nazar recently repowered his whale watching excursion vessel in San Francisco with twin Volvo Penta Tier 3 diesels, and he couldn’t be happier with the results. Since the new engines were installed, he is seeing dramatic improvements in fuel efficiency, lower emissions, reduced noise levels and better performance. He has another good reason to be happy. A large percentage of the cost of repowering the boat came from a State of California grant. Nazar’s 64-ft. catamaran, Kitty Kat, was retrofitted with a pair of Volvo Penta D11 625 hp Tier 3 engines in April, replacing the previous 12-liter Tier 2 engines.

The Maritime Helicopter Support Company (MHSCo), a Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin joint venture company, today broke ground to build the maintenance and warehouse facilities that will provide Through Life Support logistics services for the Royal Australian Navy's new fleet of 24 MH-60R SEAHAWK helicopters. Once completed in early 2015, the two buildings, totaling more than 11,400 square meters (120,000 square feet), will house as many as 120 personnel with the knowledge and ability to keep the fleet in peak flight readiness during its estimated 30-year lifespan. "Excavation and construction of these Through Life Support buildings begin an important chapter for the long-term readiness of Australia's most sophisticated maritime helicopter," said Rod Skotty, President of MHSCo.

Sweden's Cavotec Group strengthens customer base with acquisition of ground support equipment manufacturer Combibox, also of Sweden. Cavotec explains their success at generating added value for customers and the Group by applying technologies perfected for airports to port applications for ships: an approach Combibox has also adopted. “With more than 30 years of experience in the airports industry, Combibox is extremely well-established; it has an outstanding customer base with product references all around the world. This will enable the Group to further improve its offering and expand into new markets,” explains Cavotec CEO Ottonel Popesco.

Working out of San Diego's Fisherman's Landing Marina, J.J. Gerritsen recently repowered his 65 x 22-ft. aluminum charter fishing boat dubbed Apollo. For Gerritsen sport fishing is a serious business dependent on the unpredictability of fish and weather. Given those two great unknowns, he has learned you can't leave anything else to chance. In the heavily populated southern California market, Gerritsen is also aware of the crucial relation between a healthy environment and success in the hospitality industry. "We were running a pair of the smoke belching old two-cycle engines," he says, "They were the standard in our industry. We understood them and had reliable mechanics and spares available. We can't afford any downtime in our business.

When the State of California, long a leader in reducing air-pollution, announced the Carl Moyer Program to reduce NOx emissions, towboat owner Aaron Lind and his family decided to get on board. The program is supported by a one-time appropriation of $50 million dollars for the 2000/2001 fiscal year. A significant portion of this amount was allotted for Carl Moyer Program incentive grants, as a means to reduce emissions from heavy-duty engines. These grants cover the incremental cost of cleaner on-road, off-road, marine, locomotive and stationary agricultural pump engines, as well as forklifts and airport ground support equipment. Beginning in summer 1999, grants became available through participating air pollution control and air quality management districts grants.

Working out of San Diego's Fisherman's Landing Marina, J.J. Gerritsen recently repowered his 65 by 22-ft. aluminum charter fishing boat, Apollo. For Gerritsen, sport fishing is a serious business dependent on the unpredictability of fish and weather. Given those two great unknowns, he has learned you can't leave anything else to chance. In the heavily populated southern California market, Gerritsen is also aware of the crucial relation between a healthy environment and success in the hospitality industry. "We were running a pair of the smoke-belching, old, two-cycle engines," he says, "They were the standard in our industry. We understood them and had reliable mechanics and spares available. We can't afford any downtime in our business.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Jeremy L. The Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), gave a unique award to the Non-Destructive Inspection Work Center on May 20. The AIMD award program was incorporated to help relieve monotony at the work bench and build camaraderie between the Navy and Marine Corps personnel working in AIMD. Master Chief Avionics Technician (AW/SW) David Clark, AIMD leading chief petty officer (LCPO), incorporated the “Shop of the Week” program aboard Bataan after initiating the concept with Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman (AW/SW) Michael G. McGary in 2004 while stationed aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

Fireworks exploded over the Bay Bridge and thousands of people crowding the waterfront near the new ballpark gasped in admiration. Some of the best seats for the spectacle are along the north side of Pier 50, home of Westar Marine Services where owner's and employees share a barbecue in honor of the annual display sponsored by a local radio station. But the folks at Westar are more than passive observers, the tugs that are managing the fireworks barges are contracted from Westar. This annual fireworks event sums up Westar Marine Services' role on San Francisco Bay. They are the company that takes on all of the niche jobs that others with their large investments in big horsepower and Z-drives can't afford to be doing.