Newport Harbor News

A new decision-support tool could become a game changer in the dredging of ship channels. Millions of dollars are at stake every time a major ship channel is cleaned up. Delays in dredging can cost even more by triggering increased risks, repeated maintenance and lost revenue. In either case, the task cannot be put off indefinitely.All ship channels must be regularly cleared of sand, debris settled on the bottom (called shoal) and miscellaneous trash. That means ship channel management regularly faces the mighty task of dredging.

The Australian National Maritime Museum has announced a shipwreck found in Newport Harbor, off Rhode Island in the United States, has been confirmed as Captain Cook’s ship, HMB Endeavour.There have been very similar announcements made over the years but have they finally made a definitive case?By making its announcement, the Australian National Maritime Museum seems to have decided so, and there does seem to have been significant recent progress, centered on one shipwreck that matches the known details of the Endeavour closely.However…

U.S. Coast Guard Station Castle Hill established a safety zone in Newport Harbor, R.I., Sunday night after a tall ship lost power and hit multiple other vessels before grounding near Perrotti Park. No injuries or pollution have been reported. The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, an educational tall ship homeported in Newport, was leaving Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival with 12 crewmembers aboard when it lost power and began to drift. A 911 dispatcher alerted Coast Guard watchstanders to the incident at about 6:15 p.m.

Newport, R.I. fire department orders emergency response vessel from California boat builder Moose Boats. Moose Boats, a boat designer and manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area, said it was awarded a contract from Newport Fire Department in Rhode Island for the construction of a M2-38 aluminum catamaran CBRNE emergency response and recovery vessel. The vessel will be powered by twin Cummins 425hp turbo diesel propulsion engines coupled to Hamilton water-jets.The M2 catamaran will be equipped two completely independent fire pump systems each flowing in excess of 1…

Capt. Michael R. Coughlin, commanding officer of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Newport, and James Russell, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM), signed an education partnership agreement (EPA) for undersea acoustic research during a brief ceremony on Friday, March 31. Under the EPA, NUWC Newport will provide research, expertise, and material on the Navy's historic and current role in marine mammal research in conjunction with the museum’s recently acquired collection of historic marine mammal recordings, photographs and collection equipment. The William A. Watkins Collection of Marine Mammal Sound Recordings and the William E.

Marine Travelift Inc. announced that Newport Shipyard has purchased a customized 200CII mobile boat hoist for its Newport, R.I. facility. When it’s delivered this fall, the machine will join the 70-, 100- and 500-ton Marine Travelift hoists currently in operation. The new 200CII boasts the first top-beam extension on a Marine Travelift 200-ton hoist and has been designed to use piers that were dedicated to a 100-ton machine and to travel into an indoor workspace. According to Eli Dana, Newport Shipyard’s General Manager, the yard was facing two challenges that prompted the 200CII purchase. “We’ve had increased demand from commercial customers, whose vessels are too heavy for the 100-ton hoist and are more difficult to schedule for the 500-ton due to space restrictions,” Dana explained.

Set for September 17-20th, 2015 on Newport Harbor is the Newport International Boat Show (NIBS), which flaunts its destination and sailing history to attendees making their fall travel plans. NIBS is the kick-off to the boat show season and a prime time to experience fall in New England. It’s also one of the largest in-water boat shows in the country – hosting exhibitors from around the world with an exceptional assortment of sailboats, powerboats, marine equipment, services and accessories for boaters. “In addition to attending the boat show, visitors should make plans to enjoy all that our seaside retreat has to offer,” said Nancy Piffard, show director of Newport Exhibition Group. Newport is steeped in nautical tradition.

Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show, announced today activities and amenities for those planning to attend its 44th boat show season, the Newport International Boat Show provides visitors from around the world a venue to see the latest boats and product offerings from hundreds of manufacturers and dealers, including dozens debuting for the first time in the United States. Set along historic Newport Harbor in the heart of downtown Newport, the show also offers a wealth of education and fun activities for boating enthusiasts of all ages and experience. • Confident Captain’s At The Helm offers a variety of daily sail and powerboat on-the-water training classes by USCG Licensed Captains and American Sailing Association certified instructors.

Fundraiser, dedication ceremony and public visits to highlight ship’s visit over July 4 weekend. It’s not just Rhode Island but the whole of North America that is watching as the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry becomes a reality. The 196-foot, three-masted, square rigged tall ship, currently under construction and designated by the legislature and the Governor of Rhode Island as the state’s official “Sailing Education Vessel,” is well on its way to becoming the largest civilian sail training vessel in North America and the first oceangoing full-rigged ship to be built in the U.S. in over 100 years.

FarSounder, Inc. announced the move to their new Global Headquarters in Warwick, Rhode Island. The move enables consolidation and expansion of their corporate and sales offices, R&D, and manufacturing into one facility. The company's stand-alone building will allow on site incorporation of their Acoustic Tank Testing Facility. “We are excited to move into a facility that supports our plans for the future”, stated company CEO, Cheryl M. Zimmerman, “This move provides a permanent home, as well as an effective manufacturing environment, for our expanding product line”. With proximity and access to international airports and to the Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor…

Marine Travelift Inc. announced that Newport Shipyard of Newport, R.I., has acquired one of its 100 BFMII mobile boat hoists. The new machine joins another Marine Travelift hoist already on site. Located downtown on Newport Harbor, Newport Shipyard is Newport's oldest and only working boat and shipyard facility. Not only is the yard a major East Coast yachting hub, it also is host to the Newport-Bermuda Race. Eli Dana, Newport Shipyard’s manager and dockmaster, said the yard purchased the new 100 BFMII to replace an existing 70-ton machine.

L-3 Klein Associates will host an exhibit at the Oceans Technology Expo in Newport, Rhode Island, on 25-27 May 2010, featuring live, in-water Demonstrations of Klein’s System 3900 in Newport Harbor. The System 3900 is a high resolution, digital side scan and is ready for use on any vessel, including inflatables, making it ideal for Police, Fire, and Rescue Departments throughout the world.  Its design features outstanding imagery, ease of operation, and simplicity of image interpretation via the use of Klein’s SonarPro softwar. www.L-3Klein.com

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport will become the first Department of the Navy command with a virtual world presence when it launches Virtual NUWC on Linden Labs’s 3D online world Second Life at the Undersea Defense Technology (UDT) Pacific Conference in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday, November 5. A virtual research and development facility covering 128 virtual acres representing the NUWC Newport campus dotted with recognizable Newport landmarks, Virtual NUWC is capable of supporting more than 500 avatars at any one time. The campus features replicas of many NUWC laboratories actually located on the NUWC campus, as well as additional facilities, including a visitors’ center, movie theaters, submarine replicas, an electronic library, and underwater exhibits.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) signed a memorandum of agreement on Monday, May 12, 2008. The agreement delineates the specific responsibilities of each agency when responding to maritime incidents in Orange County, Calif. "The purpose of this mutual assistance agreement is to formally solidify the work we already do together in Orange County waters," said Capt. Paul E. Wiedenhoeft, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach who also serves as the Captain of the Port.

A 62-ft. commercial fishing boat that had run aground was dislodged early Saturday, Harbor Patrol officials said. Two tugboats pulled the Emerald Sea to Newport Harbor just after midnight, where Coast Guard officials will inspect it. The boat ran aground on a sandbar near 36th Street on Friday morning. Preliminary reports point to operator error, officials said. Source: LA Times

The recently found four hulks brings the number of Rhode Island’s number of historic sea wrecks dating back to the Revolutionary War to six. The wrecks were found by the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project in its search for relics in Newport Harbor. According to the project workers, the ships are believed to be part of a private fleet of 13 British transports sunk during the war for independence. Among the wrecks still not located likely is the Endeavor, which Capt. James Cook sailed on his trip around the world beginning in 1768. The discoveries were financed by a $20,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which covers exploration and discovery. New funding must be found to pay for study and excavation. (Source: http://news.monstersandcritics.com)

Bruce Brown, Chief Operating Officer, announced a number of new staff appointments at the Newport Shipyard. The shipyard is expanding its management team so that the yard can better handle an influx of new work. Mr. Mark Mutty, with over 28 years in the boating industry and well versed in both yacht and commercial applications of yacht repair and maintenance, is the Yard Manager for the shipyard. He was previously Facilities/Yard Manager for Hinckley Yacht Services (formerly Little Harbor Marine) and for Newport Offshore Ltd. A lifelong resident of Portsmouth, R.I. Mark has been involved in three America's Cup Campaigns. Ann Souder, the Director of Marketing, has been a consultant on marketing and promotions to the super yacht industry.