Olin News

Sparkman & Stephens (S&S), the naval architecture and brokerage firm founded by Olin Stephens and Drake Sparkman in 1929, announced that it was acquired by a group of private investors led by Brooke S. Parish and John B. Reuter. The transaction enables S&S to implement expansion strategies in its design and brokerage businesses, for which it sought growth capital. The firm remains privately held and terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We feel a tremendous sense of pride and responsibility to assume stewardship of a brand and a company whose legacy in American yachting cannot be overstated…

Market-led solution reduces shipping’s carbon dioxide emissions. Ahead of COP21, 26 of the 35 charterers that include vessel efficiency in their supply chain selection have come forward to highlight their proactive measures on climate change. By using the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Rating to find the more efficient vessels these industry leaders are using their influence to incite change in the maritime industry by rewarding ship owners that prioritise efficiency. Developed in 2010 in response to customer demand, the GHG Emissions Rating is a tool developed by RightShip, the maritime risk management specialist. The tool is available free of charge to all RightShip customers and at ShippingEfficiency.org and allows charterers and other stakeholders to assess the efficiency of vessels.

HB Rentals, a Superior Energy Services company, has named Peter Armstrong as vice president of business development, announced Deidre Toups, HB Rentals president. Based in Houston, Armstrong’s responsibilities include new market analysis, managing the corporate marketing function and driving growth through global customer relationships. Consistent with HB Rentals’ global focus on innovation, Armstrong will work closely with international customers in both the onshore and offshore remote living accommodations markets to identify needs and analyze potential solutions.

Running a ship repair business in the U.S. is anything but simple, with the unexpected being the norm and a cavalcade of new regulations. But Richard Bludworth has a penchant for turning the difficult simple. A staple in the Gulf of Mexico,  Bludworth Marine LLC was founded by Richard Bludworth in 1998, strictly as a topside repair facility. Today the Bludworth Marine  reach stretches to four waterfront facilities  on the 103 mile run between Orange to Galveston, TX, with its HQ in Houston.

The littoral combat ship USS Independence (LCS 2) has left Manzanillo, Mexico, concluding the ship's first foreign port visit since its commissioning. Independence and embarked Mine Countermeasures Detachment One sailors visited Mexico while on the ship's maiden voyage to its homeport of San Diego, marking the first foreign port visit by any Independence-class ship. While in port, Independence sailors volunteered at a community service project at a local orphanage and participated in various Morale…

William I. Koch, founder of the Oxbow Group, philanthropist, collector and sailor, has been named the recipient of the America and the Sea award which is presented annually by Mystic Seaport. Koch will receive the award Thursday, October 29, at a gala held in his honor in New York City. The annual award recognizes an individual or organization whose contributions to the history, arts or sciences of the sea best exemplify the American spirit and character. Previous winners have included pre-eminent yacht designer Olin J. Stephens II, respected author and historian David McCullough and the President and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation Thomas B. Crowley, Jr.

The head of U.S. Central Command visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge while in port to thank sailors for their work while deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet, as well as for their role in the rescue of Richard Phillips, the Maersk Alabama cargo ship captain held captive by Somali pirates. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus held an all-hands call with Bainbridge's sailors and presented awards to three sailors for rescuing Phillips after he was held by pirates for five days in April.

Boxship 2003 focused on operating, designing and securing containerships. Among the invited lecturers were Hans Langh, CEO of Oy Langh Ship Ab, and Kim Olin, naval architect from MacGREGOR (FIN) Oy, who gave a presentation on innovative transport solutions for steel products. Developed and patented by Langh Ship, these transport solutions for the steel industry are marketed and sold together with the company’s close and long-standing partner, MacGREGOR (FIN) Oy. “We really appreciate this opportunity to present Langh Ship Cargo Solutions to the delegates of this international conference, as well as the feedback that we have received” Hans Langh and Kim Olin say.

The year was 1895. Grover Cleveland was in the second of his two nonconsecutive terms as President of the United States. In Mobile, Ala. a new shipyard opened at the ft. of Palmetto Street, named Harrison Brothers Dry Dock& Repair Yard, Inc. About 1915, it moved across the Mobile River to Blakely Island and they have been located there ever since. In 1958, the company opened a second shipyard about a mile south of the original location. Today the original facility is known as the Upper Yard and handles brown water repair and the Lower Yard is for blue water projects, although crossover projects do occur. Recently a 100-ft. barge came in for repair and the dry dock at the upper or brown water yard was not available to handle it, so the Lower Yard did the repair.