MARAD Designates Two New Marine Highway Routes
Two new routes have been designated under the U.S. Marine Highway Program (MHP), U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced this week during a visit to Alaska.The newly designated M-11 in Alaska will add over 6,500 miles to the marine highway system, and the M-79 route extends the reach of the Ohio River system by nearly 250 miles in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. These designations allow any eligible applicant on these routes to apply for future U.S. Marine Highway Program grants…
Ocean Infinity Orders Six 85m Robotic Offshore Vessels from VARD
U.S.-based seabed survey and ocean exploration firm Ocean Infinity has hired VARD to design and build a new series of six multi-purpose offshore vessels that will all be operated from shore and will eventually run on green ammonia.This order of six, 85-metre, optionally crewed robotic vessels will take Ocean Infinity’s remote vessel fleet to 23 vessels, which the company says is the largest in the world. To remind, Ocean Infinity in early 2020 said it would launch a new marine technology and data company Armada…
Denel, tkMS to Partner on Naval Ship Upgrades
As Denel gets ready to revive the Naval Dockyard facilities in Simonstown, the company is collaborating with thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS) for joint support of the South African Navy frigates and submarines. Denel, which is a global supplier of defense products and solutions, and tkMS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on board the SAS Amatola, in Rostock, Germany. The cooperation is based on the recognition of the critical importance of the operational availability of the South African Navy Fleet at all times. Denel’s Maritime division will take responsibility for maintenance and upgrades on three Heroine Class submarines (SAS Manthatisi, SAS Charlotte Maxeke and SAS Queen Modjadji) and four Valour Class Frigates (SAS Amatola, SAS Isandlwana, SAS Spioenkop and SAS Mendi).
Denel-tkMS MOU for Submarine Upgrades
As Denel gets ready to revive the Naval Dockyard facilities in Simonstown, the company is collaborating with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH (tkMS) for joint support of the SA Navy frigates and submarines. Denel, which is a global supplier of world-class defence products and solutions, and tkMS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on board the SAS AMATOLA, in Rostock, Germany. The cooperation is based on the recognition of the critical importance of the operational availability of the South African Navy Fleet at all times. Denel’s Maritime division will take responsibility for maintenance and upgrades on three Heroine Class submarines (SAS MANTHATISI…
Petrotechnics Launches Enterprise Solution
With stakeholder expectations of operational performance in hazardous industries ever increasing, operational risk management is a board level challenge. Petrotechnics today announced the launch of Proscient, its Operational Performance & Predictive Risk software platform. It provides senior management in hazardous industries the ability to reduce risk, optimize performance and drive continuous improvement across their global operations. The biggest operational risk occurs when people interact with the plant.
Are Fast Ferries Too Fast?
British Columbia's fast ferries may be too fast for their own good, according to CANOE columnist Jim Hume. The British Columbia Ferry Corporation first sailed The Explorer on June 17, 1999, with regular service from Vancouver Island (Nanaimo) to Mainland (Horseshoe Bay) starting July 1. While the fast-cats can operate faster than traditional ferries, they are currently only shaving off 14 minutes of their scheduled run, not the 25 minutes promised. It turns out when the fast boat operates at top speeds in the confined waters of its scheduled route, it raises six-ft. waves along the shore. Additionally, high-speed fast ferry Snohomish, built by Dakota Creek Industries, Inc.
New Budget Focus: Safety, Passenger Ferries
The two-year budget for the Washington State Ferries system approved in the spring by the state Legislature will create a modern fleet of passenger-only ferries and terminals to help move more people across Puget Sound. But the new spending plan also represents a significant investment in two other key areas: renovating older terminals and expanding safety programs throughout the fleet. The budget is broken down into two areas: the $303 million operating budget, which covers the day-to-day operations at WSF, and the $287 million capital budget, which addresses construction needs. In the capital budget, $116 million came from voter-approved Referendum 49 funds.
