Hong Kong Checks Quarantined Ship for Virus
Hong Kong authorities quarantined a cruise ship for a second day on Thursday as they checked thousands of passengers and crew for the new coronavirus, forbidding anyone from disembarking to prevent further spreading of the epidemic.Authorities said 33 crew members on the World Dream had developed respiratory tract infection symptoms and three had been sent to a hospital for isolation and management after developing fevers.All but one of the 33 tested negative for the disease, with the remaining test pending, the city's health department said in a statement late on Wednesday.It was not clear how long the 1,800 passengers and a similar number of staff would remain on board for.The cruise ship…
Inchcape to Pay $20 Mln for Allegedly Overbilling US Navy
U.K. based marine services contractor Inchcape Shipping Services Holdings Limited and several of its subsidiaries have agreed to pay $20 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly overbilling the U.S. Navy under contracts for ship husbanding services, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.Inchcape provided goods and services, including food and other subsistence items, waste removal, telephone services, ship-to-shore transportation, force protection services and local transportation…
USS Illinois Joins the Fleet
The U.S. Navy with assistance from the First Lady Michelle Obama commissioned and brought to life the newest Virginia class submarine, USS Illinois (SSN 786), during a ceremony attended by more than 2,500 at Naval Submarine Base, New London on Oct. 29, 2016. Illinois, named in honor of the 21st state, is the 13th Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine to join the Navy's operational fleet. The first lady, who is the ships sponsor, expressed how proud she was of the crew and their families. "Thank you for giving me the incredible privilege of being associated with you and with your families and with the Illinois for the rest of my life. Obama gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life" before the crew of about 130 men ran across the brow, onto the vessel.
3D-Simulator Generates Training, Expertise on Subs
A new diesel generator simulator has been delivered to Pearl Harbor naval facilities by the TechSolutions program at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), officials at ONR announced March 18. High-fidelity 3D software will allow Sailors to use 50-inch touch screens to see and access all parts of the massive generators aboard Virginia-class subs. The Navy's Virginia-class submarines are among the most technically advanced vessels ever built. But even these cutting-edge, fast-attack, nuclear-powered boats need emergency generators on hand and Sailors trained to operate and repair them. "This will be a big help for the fleet, getting Sailors more training time and providing potentially significant cost savings," said ONR Command Master Chief Jessie Thomas.
Report: Hong Kong Box Terminals Should be Moved
A study says Hong Kong will eventually have to move its container terminals out of Kwai Tsing to remain competitive. A study by think tank SD Advocates, the Chinese University and BMT Asia Pacific says that Hong Kong needs to relocate the container terminals from Kwai Tsing to another part of the city, if it wants to remain a competitive global logistics hub in the long term. The terminals, opened more than 40 years ago, were outdated because they were designed for direct cargo to and from the city. They were built to handle direct South China export containers that have all but disappeared. Around 70 percent of the containers handled by the 24 berths are transshipment cargo and require thousands of inter-terminal trucking moves.
USCG Suspends Search for Missing Lake Champlain Sailor
The Coast Guard ended its active search for a missing 65-year-old man near Malletts Bay, in Lake Champlain, Vermont, at 8:05 p.m. Sunday, pending further developments or reports. Crews searched nearly 40 square miles for Brian Webb but found no sign of him. *U.S. The winds on scene were less than five knots and seas were less than one foot. The air temperature was 71 degrees and the water temperature was 70 degrees. Visibility was 10 miles. Initially, Webb's wife contacted the Coast Guard at 10:25 a.m. Sunday reporting her husband did not show up at church as scheduled. He reportedly spent the night aboard his 34-foot sailing vessel Hellen Louise, which was anchored and found unoccupied in Malletts Bay Sunday morning.
Vessels: Fewer, but More Capable OSVs Being Produced in Gulf Shipyards
As noted in the accompanying article the Gulf of Mexico is in the midst of a drilling malaise. The days when southern shipyards routinely turned out 50-60 supply boats and an equal number of crew/supply vessels is over at least for the time being. The last three years has seen an unprecedented number of OSVs joined the fleets of Tidewater, Hornbeck, Otto Candies, Edison Chouest and other major offshore operators. Leevac Shipyards is a prime example. For the last four years they have built almost exclusively for Hornbeck Offshore Services, producing a number of 200-260 ft. very capable supply boats including four 240-ft. platform supply vessels in 2003. Today their order book includes a huge casino boat and a large 445-ft. by 78-ft. tank barge, but no OSVs. Quality Shipyards, Houma, La.
Port of Ilwaco Awarded $620,000
The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) has awarded the Port of Ilwaco a $620,000 grand to rebuild a dilapidated dock vital to the community’s interests in commercial fishing, and dredging around the dock area. The Port will improve the larger slips that are needed for whiting and sardine vessels that deliver to Jessie’s Ilwaco Fish Company, Ilwaco’s largest employer. Contingent upon the CERB investment at the Port of Ilwaco, Jessie’s will construct a new $4 million processing/freezing facility to grade, box-freeze and ship sardines and whiting. Dock improvements are necessary to retain 87 existing full-time jobs at Jessie’s and create 12 new full time jobs. CERB funds will be matched with $154,666 from the Port of Ilwaco.
