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Knox News

11 Sep 2023

Littoral Combat Ship USS Milwaukee Decommissioned

USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) (Photo: U.S. Navy)

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) has been decommissioned after less than eight years of naval service.The U.S. Navy has been scrapping its fleet of littoral combat ships—including both its Freedom and Independence variants. The latest to get the axe, USS Milwaukee, was decommissioned in Mayport, Fla. on September 8.During the ceremony guest speaker, Vice Adm. Dirk Debbink (USN, Ret), former chairman of Milwaukee’s commissioning committee wished…

11 Nov 2021

U.S. Navy: Constellation-class Brings Frigates Back to the U.S. Fleet

Artist’s concept of the new Constellation class of guided missile frigates.  (Fincantieri Marinette Marine)

Introducing a new class of warship can be fraught with pain, and the first ship is always the hardest – almost always behind schedule and over budget. And trying something new and transformational is even harder.The U.S. Navy knows this from experience. That’s one reason why the Navy is opting for a lower risk design for its next class of guided missile frigates (FFGs).Just about every new class has experienced a rough start. Although the USS Arleigh Burke-class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) today represent the largest and most successful class of warships…

14 Jul 2020

USMI’s Family Recipe

Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen conduct a Maritime External Air Transportation System training evolution in Moses Lake, Wash. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Prows)

Barry Dreyfus Jr., CEO of United States Marine Inc. (USMI), doesn’t keep the recipe to his company’s success a secret. In fact, it’s displayed plainly for all to see on the homepage of USMI’s website: family, integrity and quality. These have been cornerstones of the 36-year-old firm, today regarded as one of the nation’s premier military small craft builders.Headquartered in Gulfport, Miss., with a maintenance/repair facility in Chesapeake, Va., USMI is a fully integrated manufacturer of military, patrol and special warfare boats available in lengths from 21 feet to 90 feet.

23 Apr 2019

World Navies: Taiwan develops indigenous combat capabilities

ROCS Yueh Fei (PFG-1106) is one of the ROCN’s surface combatants.  It was built in Taiwan to the U.S. Navy’s Oliver Hazard Perry guided missile frigate design. (ROCN photo)

Navies operate on a spectrum between deterrence and defense, to include offensive operation, support of foreign policy, and power projection to civil affair and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Many have constabulary responsibilities, and it could be argued that, with the exception of the largest navies, most are more like a coast guard than a military force in their normal responsibilities.Every Navy is different. Yes, they all share similar challenges of acquisition…

07 Dec 2018

British Golden Globe Yachtswoman Rescued by Cargo Ship

British solo round-the-world yachtswoman Susie Goodall was rescued by a cargo ship on Friday after her boat capsized and lost its mast during a violent storm in the southern Pacific Ocean.The 29-year-old, the youngest entrant in the Golden Globe race, had waited two days for the Hong Kong-registered Tian Fu to arrive after sending a distress signal from 2,000 nautical miles west of Cape Horn.The signal was picked up by Falmouth Coastguard in southwest England, with the alert passed on to race control and the Chilean maritime search and rescue authorities."ON THE SHIP!!!," she said on her Twitter feed after the rescue.Race organisers had earlier reported plans to lift the sailor from the deck of her yacht DHL Starlight using one of the cranes on the 38,000 tonne ship, which was heading to A

26 Oct 2018

Navy of the Future: The Revolution & Evolution of Surface Combatants

Artist’s concept of a DDG-51 Flight III with the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR). Image: Raytheon

Following the drawdown at the end of the Cold War, the Navy finds itself trying to build up again. The expansion of Russian and Chinese naval power has changed the calculus. While there will always be a debate about the final number of ships to build, we can all agree on one thing: the Navy must get bigger and the demand signal is to start building now,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, in testimony before Congress regarding the sea service’s 2019 budget request.

28 Sep 2018

Acclaimed Disabled Sailor takes on the Atlantic

If she is successful, Natasha Lambert will be the first quadriplegic female skipper to cross the Atlantic using breath control. Image courtesy Natasha Lambert.

The celebrities were out in force at the recent Southampton Boat Show. Led by Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, ably supported by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, TV wildlife presenter and trained diver Miranda Krestovnikoff, BAFTA award-winning wildlife expert Steve Backshall, explorer, writer and TV presenter Monty Halls and Diane Youdale, otherwise known as Jet from Gladiators. But the real star of the show was Natasha Lambert. She has a condition called Athetoid Cerebral Palsy which means that she has no voluntary control over her limbs and difficulty in articulating speech…

12 Sep 2017

Man Overboard Prevention and Recovery

John Haynes

More than 80 maritime professionals attended two one-day events focused on the sub IMO / sub 80-ft. sector in Southampton, U.K. this Spring. The Man Overboard Prevention & Recovery Workshop brought together an international group of experts armed with the latest knowledge to identify problems that affect the maritime sector worldwide. Workshop lead John Haynes opened the day saying said, “Expectations, requirements and capabilities are changing for many maritime organizations. High profile roles are evolving close to shore and offshore in U.K., European and international waters.

04 May 2017

Recent Vessel Sales: April 2017

Vessel sales for April 2017 (as of May 1) as prepared by Shipping Intelligence, Inc., New York.

03 May 2017

Maritime Professionals Ask the Hard Questions

More than 80 maritime professionals attended two unique one day events focused on the sub IMO / sub 24 meter sector in Southampton this April. The fast moving and dynamic one day workshops brought together an international group of experts armed with the latest knowledge to identify problems that affect the maritime sector worldwide. The superb team of presenters shared unique insights and highlighted potential solutions for a changing world. Workshop lead John Haynes said, “The format of these one day events is shaped by our experience and is constantly evolving.

02 Dec 2016

Grangemouth Port sees Record Volume

The Port of Grangemouth, Scotland’s largest container facility has enjoyed one of its busiest seasons, with over 50,000 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units) being handled at the port in the last two months. This four-year high is the result of a buoyant fresh food export season utilising the port’s refrigerated container handling capability which has set Grangemouth on track for record breaking volumes this quarter. In October and November, the port recorded a 30% increase on refrigerated container volumes (known as ‘reefers’ *) year on year and during November alone, the port handled a record 1400 reefers. The bulk of these reefers are being used for the export of Scottish potato seed from farms across Scotland to far flung places around the world including Egypt…

28 Aug 2016

Coast Guard Foundation Awarded 128 Scholarships

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that in 2016 it has awarded a record 128 new scholarships. Combined with multi-year scholarship recipients and three Fallen Heroes Scholars, the Foundation is currently supporting 163 students totaling $576,500 in support this year. In just over 26 years, the Foundation's scholarship program has paid out more than $3.8 million to more than 630 college-aged young adults to help the families of Coast Guard members achieve their goals of higher education. Of the students receiving Foundation assistance…

28 Apr 2016

This Day In Naval History: April 28

Frank Knox (Official U.S. Navy Photograph)

1907 - A U.S. Marine Corps detachment from the patrol gunboat Paducah serves ashore at Laguna, Honduras, to protect Americans during a war between Honduras and Nicaragua. 1942 - The U.S. Navys Task Force 99, which consists of USS Wasp, USS Tuscaloosa and USS Wichita, plus four destroyers, sail from the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, as part of the mixed U.S.-British force Distaff, to provide cover for Russian convoy at Iceland. 1944 - German torpedo boats attack U.S. Navy LST convoy in Lyme Bay during Operation Tiger training for the Normandy Invasion.

17 Dec 2015

Total Lubmarine Up and Running in Singapore

Photo: Total

Total’s new Asia Pacific blending plant in Singapore produced its first batch of Total Lubmarine products. Andrew Knox, Total Lubmarine’s Asia-Pacific General Manager said, “Now that our Singapore blending facility is up and running, we can cater more effectively for our growing Asian customer base. Located at Tuas, Singapore, the plant opened in July 2015 and is Total’s largest with an annual production capacity of 310,000 metric tons. The Asia-Pacific region already accounts for more than 50 percent of Total Lubmarine’s sales and with increasing shipping flows through the area…

03 Dec 2015

Total Lubmarine Celebrates 25 years' Asia-Pacific service

Increased demand for marine lubricants in the Asia-Pacific region has underpinned the growth of Total Lubmarine’s Hong Kong office which this year celebrates 25 years of service to ship operators across the region. Today, Asia represents more than 50% of Total’s lubricants sales across all segments. Total Lubmarine’s Hong Kong office is a key part of the company’s Asian infrastructure. The company’s Hong Kong story began in 1990 when Elf Lubricant Hong Kong Ltd was established as Lubmarine’s head office for the Asia-Pacific region with four staff providing marine lubricants and services to customers in Hong Kong and China. 25 years later the company…

19 Aug 2015

Clipper Round the World Race Begins

The 12 Clipper Race yachts left the Gosport Marina and will perform a parade of sails alongside the Spinnaker Tower before heading off to London. As the boats left the marina, other crews waved goodbye and wished them luck for their quick journey to the capitol where they will have their final prep week. Following months of training and preparations involving a constant throng of crew and skippers, the Clipper Race HQ in Gosport was left eerily empty and quiet today as the race fleet slipped its lines and the crew departed Portsmouth Harbour for London for the tenth edition Race Start. The event, which will involve 700 crew members from 41 different countries…

24 Oct 2014

General Dynamics is Link Govt-level Security to Consumer Smartphone

General Dynamics C4 Systems recently received the Defense Mobile Classified Capability (DMCC) contract from the National Security Agency (NSA). As part of the contract, General Dynamics will deliver up to 1,000 Samsung KNOX™-enabled Galaxy S® 4 smartphones provisioned with added GD Protected® software for the U.S. government. With these new smartphones, authorized government personnel will be able to make secure phone calls and access classified email. The GD Protected Samsung KNOX smartphones represent an important step toward the government’s Commercial Solutions for Classified initiative. “Mobile government workers now have the freedom to read classified emails and talk securely anywhere, every time,” said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics C4 Systems.

01 Jul 2014

USCG 9TH District Commander Honors 75 Yrs Auxiliary Service

The Coast Guard 9th District honored 75 years of service from the Coast Guard Auxiliary in a ceremony at the Coast Guard Cleveland moorings today. What began as fishermen and private boaters reporting sightings of U-boats in American Coastal waters has evolved into the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary was established in 1939 to facilitate the operations of the Coast Guard. Starting out as the Coast Guard Reserve, it was split into a military reserve branch and auxiliary operation in February 1941. During WWII the volunteers provided search and rescue support, patrol and picket duties, port security, and limited aviation patrols. The 30,521 members of the modern day Auxiliary use 3,415 operational vessels, 236 aircraft, and 2,459 communication stations to patrol U.S.

25 Mar 2013

Concept Catamaran Can Morph to Liftboat

Submersible Hull Catamaran: Image credit OSSeas Ltd

SHC Wavedancer, with a new patents pending design, is capable of transforming from a high speed catamaran to a semi-submersible platform. The desingers believe that this innovation has enormous global potential for use in the offshore energy markets, such as platform personnel transfers and wind farm maintenance, offshore survey, inspection and installation works. The patents pending Submersible Hull Vessel (SHV) concept is owned by OSSeas Ltd and is the only vessel which can change its own internal volume.

10 Apr 2013

Radical Submersible Catamaran Concept Design

SHC Wavedancer: Image credit Dennis Knox

The offshore support vessel concept design is named 'SHC Wavedancer' and  the designer calls it  – 'The workhorse of the future'. The designer, Dennis Knox, describes his ship as being both exceptionally stable in bad weather, as well as fast, with a speed of 50 knots. In bad weather he elaborates:  "The seas are high, fifteen foot waves and other ships are bouncing around like a cork, but not us. We could play billiards in the mess deck, but we have work to. There is a platform to re-supply, the Superintendent wants his ice cream for dinner.

08 Jul 2013

Shipowners' P&I Club Sponsors Thames Sailing Barge Match

The Shipowners’ P&I Club is sponsoring the Mark Boyle Memorial Thames Sailing Barge Match which takes place on July 13, 2013 in this its 150th anniversary year. The event is held this year in memory of Captain Mark Boyle, who revived the event in 1995 and organized it each year until his untimely death last year aged 55. The Match was the brainchild of Henry Dodd a wealthy London businessman from humble origins who built his business on waste transportation by sailing-barge from London to refuse works along the river supplying ash for the brick-making industry. He was a good friend of Charles Dickens, who used him as the model for Mr. Boffin, the refuse magnate of the novel, Our Mutual Friend.

14 Jan 2014

Coast Guard Fires at Fort Knox, Well Almost

Training on Fort Knox firing range: Photo credit USCG

The Riverine Range at Fort Knox became the mounted automatic weapons training facility for the Coast Guard 9th District in preference to an earlier site in the Great Lakes, and it has become crucial to the mission readiness of  mounted automatic weapons carriage training requirements. A chill breeze blew through the Kentucky hills as the last rays of sunlight cast their golden rays over the Fort Knox small arms range and faded into darkness. The landscape stood silent other than the occasional coyote sniffing through the underbrush or the hoot of an owl on a far away ridge.

19 Mar 2014

Swiftships Unveils USV with the University of Louisiana-Lafayette

Last month, Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, in Morgan City, La., showcased the Anaconda-2 – an unmanned, 35-ft. craft in development – during a demonstration on the Atchafalaya River next to its HQ. The company partnered with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette more than a year ago to produce technology for a vessel that can navigate without a pilot aboard. Swiftships and ULL are designing a boat that uses Global Positioning System/sensory data, and has the potential to support naval, enforcement and zone-protection operations, mainly on inland waters.