Inspection Systems News

Victaulic, a manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining solutions, has unveiled a plan to build an additional state-of-the-art manufacturing center in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The 400,000 square foot facility is the result of increased domestic demand for the company’s products. The facility is expected to break ground later this year and be fully operational in 2019. “This new facility will play an important role in meeting increased customer demand, while also producing the highest quality products in the industry -- something our customers have come to expect from us since our first innovation nearly 100 years ago,” said John F. Malloy, CEO of Victaulic.

King Abdullah Port announced the increase of its throughput to 821,694 TEU in the first half of 2017, representing an increase of around 14% compared to the same time last year, where the throughput was 720,483 TEU. The port also announced an increase in the number of vessels received during the same period, reaching 398 vessels compared to 349 in the first half of 2016, also representing a 14% increase. In its report on the merchandise exports and imports of the Kingdom, the General Authority for Statistics revealed that the imports of King Abdullah Port increased by 60.7% in May 2017, increasing the value of imports to SR1,277 million compared to SR795 million in May 2016.

Bluefin Robotics has delivered new vehicles to the U.S. Navy that aim to increase the Navy's capability to remotely search and investigate ship hulls, harbor sea floors and other underwater infrastructure for limpet mines, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other objects of interest. The Navy accepted delivery of Bluefin Robotics’ ship hull inspection systems 4 and 5 under the “Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Hull Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Localization System” (EOD HULS) Program of Record, in February.

Market volatility for the petroleum sector provides a backdrop to an evolving Merger & Acquisitions environment for the Offshore Sector. In the 3Q edition of Maritime Professional, this series of articles examined the overall evolution of maritime and offshore M&A activity since 2010, tracing the flow of deals in the post-financial crisis era. In this edition, we take a closer look at relevant U.S. offshore energy industry deal flow and market movements as they relate to oil prices over time, and highlight some recent middle market transactions.

As Britain’s new hub port celebrates its first birthday DP World London Gateway has expanded its network of shipping links and destinations, attracting a series of new deep-sea container shipping services. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has confirmed that from next month (December), its service from South Africa to UK/Northwest Europe will make a direct London Gateway call, switching from the Port of Felixstowe. The new rotation will offer the best possible UK port coverage, MSC has told shippers.

"Until the Sea Shall Free Them," an account of the sinking of the SS Marine Electric in 1983 and the rescue of some of its crew, is back in print after Blue Jacket press and the Naval Institute rolled press on a second printing. The book, used by maritime academies and USCG safety instructors, tells the story of how more than 30 men went into the cold waters off Virginia and how only three came back. The three men, lead by Captain Robert M. Cusick, then battled against great odds to reform the industry. They eventually succeeded with the help of Coast Guard Captain Domenic A. Calicchio.

New video system is ideal for Inspections Underwater or Where Water Is Present. The groundbreaking new SeaScopes from General Tools & Instruments (General®) are the first and only fully waterproof video inspection systems on the market. Now users can perform worry-free inspections of flooded or submerged structures and environments easily and safely. The SeaScope 660 (DCS660) and SeaScope 600 (DCS600) include IP67-rated waterproof grips, monitors and camera-tipped probes. Both systems are fully buoyant and guaranteed watertight to a depth of 1m. Each will resist leaks at depths up to 2m for up to one hour. For plumbers and marine rescue workers, restoration contractors and property inspectors, and beyond, General’s Sea Scopes are the underwater solution.

Douglas-Westwood: The AUV market will continue to be dominated by North American activity; Military and research sectors to have 90% market share by 2016. The global AUV fleet is increasing and demand for autonomous underwater vehicles is expected to show steady growth over the period to 2016 according to a new report by Douglas-Westwood. Report author Paul Newman commented, “Many of the factors in the drive to using unmanned military aircraft, the so-called ‘drones’ also apply to both military and civil subsea operations. “When Douglas-Westwood’s first World AUV Market Forecast was launched in 2004, 92 AUVs had been built; the new 4th edition identifies some 560 and forecasts an additional 370 units will be in use by 2016.

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASEI), received its first order for a Z Backscatter Van (ZBV) from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ZBV system will be used to screen vehicles at high threat security locations for explosive threats and contraband. Additional AS&E cargo inspection systems are currently deployed in Saudi Arabia, including the Z Portal screening system at a high-threat facility, and multiple OmniView Gantry systems for customs applications. “We are very proud to protect a high level facility in Saudi Arabia with our Z Backscatter Van,” said Anthony Fabiano, AS&E’s President and CEO. “Our esteemed client now has the added flexibility and mobility of the ZBV system to protect several locations in the Kingdom from a wide variety of threats.

The USCG's new Defender Class craft from Safe Boats will be powered exclusively by twin Honda BF225 4-stroke outboards. The Hondas can propel the new 25-ft. (7.6-m) Response Boat - Small, or RB-S as the Coast Guard refers to it through 30-mph winds and 6-ft. seas. The BF225s will provide a top speed of over 45 knots allowing the Safe Boat reaches plane in less than four seconds. Its marine-grade 5086 aluminum hull with integral, sealed air chamber and polyethylene, non-deflatable foam collar make the craft one of the safest boats on the water. The RB-S features an all-welded, self-bailing deck; insulated and heated full cabin; upper spotter windows; port and starboard sliding doors; marine electrical cable; stepped transom; and locking long gun storage.

General Defense Systems, Inc. has secured a contract to deploy the General Defense Systems (GDS) Lightning Access System, designed to improve information access for security systems at U.S. ports, including shipping container X-ray inspection systems. The first of these systems is to be deployed at the Port of Miami, offering a wireless broadband connection to the facility's existing X-ray container inspection system and providing real-time access to video cameras mounted on the X-ray system, as well as to the X-ray images as they are viewed. "Our Lightning Access System is another example of the integrated technology that GDS is implementing to assist in the improvement of information dissemination and access for homeland security," states Frank Fawcett, GDS president.

General Defense Systems (GDS) has secured a contract to deploy its Lightning Access System, designed to improve information access for security systems at U.S. ports, including shipping container X-ray inspection systems. The first of these systems is to be deployed at the Port of Miami, offering a wireless broadband connection to the facility's existing X-ray container inspection system and providing real-time access to video cameras mounted on the X-ray system, as well as to the X-ray images as they are viewed. According to GDS, by integrating broadband access for shipping container X-ray systems, the U.S. Government will gain the benefit of real-time remote access to X-ray imaging for increased technical support…

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (ASE) announced an order for X-ray inspection systems from the private Port of Sokhna, which is owned by Egyptian Container Handling Company and operated by Sokhna Port. The Port of Sokhna is a new commercial port and industrial complex on the strategically vital Red Sea, located a short distance from Cairo. The order includes AS&E's new high-energy Shaped Energy(TM) system for sea container inspection, as well as two parcel X-ray systems for small cargo moving through the port. This order comes on the heels of a major drug seizure generated by an AS&E MobileSearch(TM) system deployed at the Port of Nueibaa, Egypt.

CodaOctopus has named Bill Charbonneau as Vice President Americas for CodaOctopus Products, Inc. Having more than 35 years of experience in the offshore industry, Bill also brings to the company his hands on knowledge of the geophysical survey industry. Most recently he was the Business Unit Manager for the Survey and Inspection Systems at Teledyne Benthos Inc., dealing with sidescan sonars, sub-bottom profilers, bathymetric systems and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Charbonneau will be leading the team at Blue Water House, St Petersburg, Florida and is already planning expansions over the coming months to include on site servicing and support of the Coda Echoscope with the range of geophysical, motion sensing and software products.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) praised the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for approving the FY 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, which would result in a major boost in security funding for America’s seaports. As part of the bill, the committee approved an amendment, offered by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), which would provide an additional $648 million in resources for radiation portal monitors, container inspections, port inspections and port facility security grants. “Securing America’s seaports, which are essential for the nation’s economic growth, vitality and way of life, must be a top national priority,” said AAPA President/CEO Kurt Nagle.