Northwestern Us News

In late Spring at about 0300 local time, an aging towboat (#1) was pushing two loaded barges upbound on a swollen and fast-moving northwestern U.S. river. It was a moonless night and, while certainly not unusual conditions for the veteran captain and his longtime deckhand, it didn’t diminish the added challenges of the short but tricky nocturnal run. And, as towboat pilots know, activities and hazards that are literally clear in daytime hours, take on a decidedly different complexion after the sun sets and inky darkness envelops the river and shrouds its banks.

Technology, The Aluminum Association, Inc. Aluminum has been used in the marine industry for more than 100 years because of its light weight and ease of fabrication combined with good corrosion and fatigue resistance. However, for much of the past 30 years, fiberglass has been the material of choice of North American boatbuilders, particularly for higher-volume production lines. Competitively priced compared with boats made from most other materials, fiberglass boats can also be made from standardized molds that reduce their construction time and labor. Aluminum alloys, which are specified for marine use, offer many benefits, though, too.

The annual exhibition sponsored by the Society of Naval Architects and Engineers (SNAME) is scheduled to be held in Vancouver, B.C., Canada — giving both attendees and exhibitors a direct connection with industry leaders from the Pacific Rim, the Northwestern U.S. and Canada. International networking, as well as the traditionally solid technical conference line-up could most definitely be touted as a main draw to SNAME, which held its earliest meetings in New York before eventually branching out to other locations throughout the U.S. This year's exposition and conference will be conducted at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center, which is fittingly located between the oceans and mountains of one of the most picturesque harbors.