John Duncan News

New legislation proposed this week would require up to 30 percent of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to travel on U.S.-flagged vessels. The U.S. is expected to continue ramping up its LNG exports in the coming years and become a net exporter by 2020, yet there are currently no U.S.-flag carriers to carry the cargo. “We’re the most powerful nation in the world, but 99 percent of our trade travels on foreign-flagged ships,” said Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Davis…

ABS Group anticipated the update to Circular A-123 from the United States (US) Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requiring US executive departments and agencies to adopt enterprise risk management (ERM), and has expanded its suite of ERM advisory solutions aimed at risk-informed decision making and mitigation strategies. To help organizations comply with the new guidance and manage their risk exposure, ABS Group provides a suite of advisory resources and proprietary risk management tools through the Company's safety, risk and compliance services business unit. "ABS Group has highly developed methodologies that enable organizations to quickly implement a proactive risk management culture.

Congresswoman Janice Hahn (Calif.) and Congressman John Duncan Jr. (Tenn.) introduced the “Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015,” which would provide a modest benefit to surviving Merchant Marines who served during World War II. More than 200,000 Americans served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and aided military efforts in both Europe and the Pacific during World War II. Thousands of Merchant Mariners faced enemy attack and died at sea while hundreds more were captured and held as prisoners of war. Despite having the highest casualty rate of any U.S. service during the war, they were not eligible to receive veteran’s benefits. “The veterans of the Merchant Marine risked their lives in the service of this nation, but we have never properly thanked them,” said Congresswoman Hahn.

The Industrial Technology division of the ZF Group said that Martin Meissner has assumed the position of Marketing and Communications Manager for North America. Meissner, currently the Marketing and Communications Manager for ZF’s Marine business in North America, will now be responsible for all facets of marketing related activities in North America for the Industrial Technology division. The Industrial Technology division encapsulates all of the non-automotive business activities of the ZF Group.

On November 8, speaking at the Port of New Orleans, President Obama said “… corn and wheat is coming down from my home state of Illinois down the river, ending up here and then going all around the world. This was a victory for the inland waterways industry because while the President has recognized ports, dams, levees, trains, trucks and other transportation infrastructure, he has not, heretofore, underscored the value of the inland waterways. The President’s recognition of the…

ABSG Consulting Inc. selected for the GSA Performance Management and Continuous Process Improvement (PM/CPI) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). The government-wide vehicle will allow agencies to procure a comprehensive set of services to maximize operational effectiveness, especially in the current uncertain budgetary climate. The services available include Strategic Planning and Performance Management; Strategic Business Analysis; Process and Performance Improvement; Communications and Change Management; and Training, Certification and Recognition. The BPA comes at a time when all government agencies are under extreme pressure to improve their operating efficiencies with minimal impact on mission performance.

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, with Representative Jerry Costello (D-IL-12), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today filed the Waterways Are Vital for the Economy, Energy, Efficiency, and Environment Act of 2012 (WAVE4 Act) with bipartisan co-sponsorship. The Act aims to ensure safe, dependable, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable navigation on the U.S. inland waterway system. “Efficient and reliable transportation of goods on our inland waterways is essential to economic development, job creation, and remaining competitive in the global marketplace,” said Representative Whitfield.

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) will receive the Ninth Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Award on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at 6 p.m. at the W Hotel, Washington, DC. As one of the principal leaders in the effort to get the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) authorized in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007, Senator Grassley will be honored for his strong support for the improvement of the Nation’s ports and commercial inland waterways system…

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will receive the Eighth Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Award on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, at 6 p.m. at the Willard Hotel, Washington, DC. Senator Harkin will be honored for his steadfast commitment to the improvement of the Nation’s ports and commercial inland waterways system over his many years in Congress. Harkin worked to broaden the support for locks and dam improvements crafting a measure with Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) that made improvements to environmental programs on the Upper Mississippi River. That resulted in a broadening of the coalition in support of moving forward with both improved locks and environmental mitigation. The measure was passed as a part of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) will receive the Seventh Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Award on February 27, 2008, at 6 p.m. at the Willard Hotel, Washington, DC. Representative Oberstar will be honored for his steadfast commitment to the improvement of the Nation’s ports and commercial inland waterways system over his many years in Congress. Past recipients of the award include Senator Robert C. Byrd (2007); Representative David Hobson (2006); Representative Jerry Costello and Representative John Duncan, Jr. (2005); Senator Kit Bond (2004); Senator John Breaux (2003), and Representative Sonny Callahan (2002). Congressman Oberstar is Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee…

Hägglunds Drives (Canada) Inc., a unit of Hägglunds Drives Inc., North America, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, announces the grand opening of their new Canadian headquarters located at 5040 Mainway, Unit #7, Burlington, Ontario. The facility will house sales offices, technical product support and repair, and inventory warehousing for Hägglunds’ line of industrial hydraulic motors and drive systems. Hägglunds is one of the world’s leading suppliers of complete hydraulic drive systems, motors and pumps for pulp and paper, off-highway, marine and offshore, mining, recycling and a broad range of other industry applications. The new 700 sq.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz called the USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) "an indispensable force for peace and freedom in the world" during commissioning ceremonies Saturday, December 8, 2001, near the World Trade Center site. The advanced Aegis guided missile destroyer is the 34th ship of the DDG 51 program and the 15th to be built by Northrop Grumman Corporation's Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Miss. "USS Bulkeley deploys the most advanced weapon systems afloat today. She also demonstrates the power that only a free nation can generate. It is a privilege for all of us to be here for the commissioning of a ship that is a product of the great partnership between government and industry that is crucial to the defense of our country and peace and freedom in the world…

Millennium Maritime began providing ship assist and escort services to the Los Angeles harbor area in. late-April, with the first of two new 4,400 bhp (3,282 bkW) Z-drive sister tugs designed and built by Marco Shipyard. The 105 ft. Millennium Falcon is powered by two Cat 3516B marine diesel engines, each rated 2,200 bhp (1,641 bkW) at 1,600 rpm, supplied by N C Power Systems, Seattle. The electronically controlled Cat engines drive Ulstein stern Z-drive propulsion systems with 94.5 in. four blade propellers inside Ulstein high performance nozzles. The second Millennium vessel is currently under construction at Marco and is scheduled to enter service in. August 2000.

After a successful floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives today to approve passage of a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorization bill, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President/CEO Kurt Nagle applauded committee and subcommittee leaders for championing the legislation, noting that this is a prelude to conference and final passage of one of the most critically-needed authorization bills of this session. “America’s ports depend upon a regular, biennial cycle of new project authorizations to improve federal navigation channels to accommodate calls from a modern world fleet of deep-draft ships,” remarked Nagle. Nagle said that AAPA and its U.S.

Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) will receive the Sixth Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Award on February 28 at the Willard Hotel, Washington, DC. Senator Byrd will be honored for his steadfast commitment to the improvement of the Nation’s ports and commercial inland waterways system over his many years in Congress. Past recipients of the award include Representative David Hobson (2006); Representative Jerry Costello and Representative John Duncan, Jr. (2005); Senator Kit Bond (2004); Senator John Breaux (2003), and Representative Sonny Callahan (2002). Senator Byrd is Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, appointed to the Committee by then-Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson in 1959, the year Senator Byrd began his Senate service.