Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Pathfinder News

11 Sep 2023

Northern Lights CCS: Trailblazing the Path to Europe’s Net Zero Emissions

Image © Equinor

In the global quest for achieving net zero emissions and slowing down global warming, carbon capture and storage (CCUS) technology has emerged as an important solution. Among the notable projects being developed in the field is the Northern Lights offshore carbon capture and storage project in Norway, a country with long experience with offshore CO2 storage.The transition to a sustainable energy future requires innovative solutions that go beyond simply halting fossil fuel projects.

07 Feb 2023

Photos: US Retrieves Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Shot Down in the Atlantic

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recover a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., February 5, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Thompson / U.S. Navy)

Photos released by the U.S. Navy on Tuesday show sailors collecting the remnants of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by an Air Force fighter over the weekend off the coast of South Carolina.The U.S. military began collecting the debris after the high-altitude surveillance balloon was shot down by an F-22 fighter over the weekend at the orders of President Joe Biden. The balloon fell about six miles off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., into about 50 feet of water.China has claimed that the balloon was a wayward “civilian unmanned airship” primarily conducting weather research.

22 Dec 2022

US Navy to Name Oceanographic Survey Ship USNS Robert Ballard

File photo: U.S. Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Maury (T-AGS-66) (Photo: Bill Mesta U.S. Navy.

The U.S. Navy's next Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship will be named USNS Robert Ballard (T-AGS 67), Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro announced on Wednesday.The name selection follows the tradition of naming survey ships after explorers, oceanographers and distinguished marine surveyors. Widely known as a discoverer of the final resting place of the R.M.S. Titanic, Dr. Robert Ballard is a retired U.S. Navy Commander, former director of the Center for Ocean Exploration…

24 Aug 2022

Costello Lock Closed Due to Silt Build Up

(Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

The Jerry F. Costello Lock on the Kaskaskia River, near Modoc, Ill., has been closed due to silt and debris build up on the lock sill and chamber, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) said.Contracted divers were utilized to remove underwater obstructions, but the issue with the gate persists, USACE's St. Louis District said in a statement on Tuesday. Crews from the St. Louis District’s Motor Vessel Pathfinder are on site to excavate silt that is preventing the downstream miter gates from closing from properly closing.“Our goal at the Jerry F.

02 May 2022

German Offshore Wind Firm RWE Eyes Business with Louisiana Companies

Credit: RWE

RWE Renewables, a German offshore wind giant is looking to build an offshore wind supply chain in Louisiana, one of the top U.S. oil and gas producing states. RWE said last week it would collaborate with Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) and GNOwind Alliance to build a program that will accelerate the engagement of Louisiana's supply chain with offshore wind and benefit all Louisianians. Greater New Orleans, Inc. is the regional economic development nonprofit organization serving the 10-parish region of Southeast Louisiana.Over the next six months, GNO, Inc.

05 Aug 2021

Halter Marine Wins Deal to Build US Navy Oceanographic Survey Ship

Photo of USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) Constructed by Halter Marine for the U.S. Navy. Courtesy of Halter Marine and the U.S. Navy.

Pascagoula, Miss. shipbuilder Halter Marine announced on Thursday it has been awarded a $149 million contract for the detail design and construction of an oceanographic survey ship (T-AGS 67) for the U.S. Navy.“This contract continues the momentum and growth of Halter Marine by adding a third government program to its shipyard along with the Polar Security Cutter and Auxiliary Personnel Lighter-Small programs. With this contract award, Halter Marine will add approximately 250 highly skilled jobs allowing for the continued development and expansion of our workforce…

07 Jun 2021

Halter Marine Awarded Contract for T-AGS 67

Military Sealift Command’s oceanographic survey ship USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) (Photo: Bill Mesta / U.S. Navy)

Pascagoula, Miss. shipbuilder Halter Marine has been awarded a $149,053,160 fixed-price-incentive (firm target) modification to definitize contract number N00024-19-C-2208 for the detail design and construction of one oceanographic survey ship (T-AGS 67), the U.S. Department of Defense announced on Friday.The shipyard has delivered the seven previous survey ships in the Pathfinder-class, the first of which, USNS Pathfinder (T-AGS-60), entered service in 1994. Today, six of the ships are still operational, including the newest ship, USNS Maury (T-AGS-66), commissioned in 2016.Owned by the U.S.

25 Feb 2021

Autonomy is a Journey: Wärtsilä Voyage Helps Define and Drive Maritime’s Automated Future

Image: Wärtsilä Voyage

As the maritime industry faces numerous environmental and efficiency challenges, the future is ship automation and Wärtsilä Voyage is a driver. Sean Fernback, President, and Thomas Pedersen, Director, Automation & Dynamic Positioning, Wärtsilä Voyage discuss the path and the pace with Maritime Reporter TV.Sean, to start, it seems many define “autonomy” differently. How do you define Wärtsilä's smart-autonomy approach?Sean Fernback, President, Wärtsilä VoyageAutonomy is a journey and there is no question that, at some point, various vessels in different classes will be fully autonomous.

11 Dec 2018

Indian Navy Ship to Carry Out Hydrographic Survey in Mauritius

Indian Navy Ship, INS Sarvekshak, has arrived in Port Louis on a two month deployment for undertaking hydrographic surveys.It was welcomed by Hon. Purmanund Jhugroo, Minister of Housing and Lands of the Republic of Mauritius and Shri Abhay Thakur, High Commissioner of India, informed the High Commission of India, Port Louis, Mauritius.The ship will be undertaking the survey of the Le Morne area off mainland Mauritius as well as the area off the Southern coast of Rodrigues island, apart from imparting training to Mauritian Coast Guard personnel.INS Sarvekshak also ferried back to Mauritius the Inshore Survey Vessel (ISV) ‘Pathfinder’…

04 Dec 2018

'HawkEye' on Suspicious Ships

HawkEye 360 has launched its first cluster of three, formation-flying small satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.The Radio Frequency (RF) data analytics company said in a release that the Pathfinder satellites will deliver a unique source of radio frequency (RF) data that HawkEye 360 will use to create first-of-its-kind RF-based analytics."The successful launch of our Pathfinder satellites is the biggest moment in our company's young history," said John Serafini, CEO, HawkEye 360. "I am extremely proud of what our 30-person team has accomplished over the past three years. We combined our varied expertise in small satellites, signals processing and data analytics to bring a new source of RF information to the market.

31 Aug 2018

Vessel Accident Causes Oil Spill near Port Arthur

Clean up efforts are underway after a vessel collision caused an oil spill near Port Arthur, Texas.The U.S. Coast Guard said an estimated 13,272 gallons of marine diesel fuel was discharged after an accident involving the towing vessel Savage Pathfinder and the motor vessel Endurance on Wednesday evening. No injuries were reported.Containment boom was placed around the vessel, and the source of the leak has been secured, the Coast Guard said.Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur and Texas General Land Office personnel are involved in the investigation and response efforts."We are working with TGLO, the responsible party and all maritime stakeholders to minimize impact as quickly as possible," said Capt.

09 Aug 2018

AIS Transponders to be Showcased at SMM

Photo courtesy of Ocean Signal

Ocean Signal is highlighting the ATA100 Class A and ATB1 Class B AIS transponders when it joins forces will fellow exhibitor ACR Electronics to offer a comprehensive line-up of safety equipment at this year’s SMM in Hamburg.Offering fully compliant solutions to increase visibility, aid collision-avoidance and enhance navigational safety, the transponders are suitable for a wide range of vessels.Incorporating Ocean Signal’s trusted technology within a compact design, the ATA100 is the only Class A AIS transponder available rated to the IPX7 waterproofing standard.

30 Apr 2018

Interlake Charters Barge for Great Lakes Service

(Image: Interlake Steamship Company)

Ohio-based shipping firm the Interlake Steamship Company announced it will time charter a 418-foot, 14,400-short-ton capacity dry cargo barge from the U.S. East Coast to operate on the Great Lakes starting this spring.The single-hold covered hopper barge Montville, owned and operated by Connecticut-based towing services provider Moran Towing Corp, will be under charter through 2019 with options to extend.The time charter deal marks a first for Great Lakes carrier Interlake, whose owned fleet includes nine self-unloading vessels ranging in carrying capacity from 24,000 to 68,000 gross tons.

26 Feb 2018

Interlake Commences 2018 Sailing Season

ATB Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder (Photo: The Interlake Steamship Company)

The Interlake Steamship Company said its articulated tug-barge unit (ATB) Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder has departed winter layup on Saturday, February 24, to begin early-season shuttles of iron ore for ArcelorMittal, an integrated steel and mining company with blast furnaces at the head of the Cuyahoga River. A workhorse of Interlake’s nine-vessel fleet, the 700-foot Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder is one of Interlake’s two River-Class vessels, a designation given to ships that can traverse the narrowest harbors of the Great Lakes.

24 Sep 2017

Transocean Retires Six Floaters

Transocean announced its intent to retire the ultra-deepwater floaters GSF Jack Ryan, Sedco Energy, Sedco Express, Cajun Express, and Deepwater Pathfinder, and the deepwater floater Transocean Marianas. The rigs will be classified as held for sale and will be recycled in an environmentally responsible manner. All six rigs were previously cold stacked. The company will recognize an impairment charge of approximately $1.4 billion during the third quarter of 2017 associated with these actions. “We continue to enhance the quality of our fleet through the addition of new, high-specification assets, and the retirement of older, less competitive rigs,” said Jeremy Thigpen, President and Chief Executive Officer.

28 Feb 2017

Great Lakes Shipping Season Kicks Off

© johnsroad7 / Adobe Stock

The 2017 Great Lakes shipping season begins today when the U.S.-flag tug/barge unit Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder departs her winter lay-up berth in Erie, Pa., and sails to Cleveland, Ohio, where she will initiate the shuttle of iron ore from Cleveland Bulk Terminal to the ArcelorMittal steel mill at the end of the navigable portion of the Cuyahoga River on Wednesday. The vessel will load approximately 15,000 tons that was mined from Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range. The next vessel to get underway will be the cement carrier Bradshaw McKee/St. Marys Conquest on March 1.

09 Jun 2016

US Navy's New Oceanographic Vessel Sets Sail

Ed Gent, Naval Oceanographic Office engineer, greets Rear Adm. Timothy Gallaudet, commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy, as Gallaudet boards USNS Maury (Photo: U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy's newest oceanographic survey vessel, USNS Maury (T-AGS 66), recently completed its maiden voyage from Pascagoula, Miss., where it was constructed at VT Halter Marine, to Port Everglades near Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. In Maury's first days at sea, the civilian survey detachment from the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) aboard performed initial testing of routine over-the-side operations as well as testing equipment unique to the ship, including underwater cameras which will be used for autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) launch and recovery in the future.

06 Jun 2016

ACR Electronics Debuts New Products at Posidonia

GlobalFIX V4 EPIRB (Image: ACR Electronics)

Safety and survival technologies company ACR Electronics is introducing several new products at Posidonia 2016 taking place in Athens, Greece from June 6-10. ACR Electronics’ new GlobalFIX V4 EPIRB is a new professional grade design EPIRB, offering the latest in marine electronic lifesaving technology and featuring high-efficiency electronics for reliable performance which owners and operators in the commercial shipping and offshore industries can trust to ensure the safety of their crew.

30 Apr 2016

ACR to Debut Pathfinder PRO SART at OTC

An important addition to any commercial vessel’s survival gear kit, the Pathfinder PRO SART is introduced by ACR Electronics, Inc. at this year’s OTC. The new search and rescue transponder expands the broad range of commercial maritime survival products offered by ACR, global leader in safety and survival technology. The Pathfinder PRO is a fully-approved SART that complies with IMO SOLAS regulations and is suitable for all commercial vessels that are mandated to carry a SART, including vessels that must conform to GMDSS and those carrying more than one life raft. Greatly enhancing search and rescue efforts, the manually-activated ACR device can be used on ships, lifeboats and life rafts.

02 Mar 2016

Great Lakes Freighters Getting Underway Again

The Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) announced that the 2016 shipping season on the Great Lakes began on March 2 when the tug/barge unit Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder loaded 4,600 tons of iron ore at Cleveland Bulk Terminal for delivery to ArcelorMittal Cleveland at the end of the navigable portion of the Cuyahoga River. That much iron ore will keep the mill in operation for about one day. The vessel could have delivered another 4,100 tons, but the Cuyahoga River is notorious for silting up over the winter, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will not dredge the river again until mid-May. The next vessel to get underway will be the cement carrier G. L. Ostander/Integrity on March 7, LCA said.

01 Mar 2016

Interlake Steamship Begins 2016 Sailing Season

Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder (Photo: Interlake Steamship Company)

The Interlake Steamship Company’s Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder, an articulated tug-barge unit (ATB), departs winter layup today to begin early-season shuttles of iron ore for ArcelorMittal, an integrated steel and mining company with blast furnaces at the head of the Cuyahoga River. A workhorse of Interlake’s nine-vessel fleet, the combined 711-foot Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder is one of Interlake’s two River-Class vessels, a designation given to ships that can traverse the narrowest harbors of the Great Lakes.

08 Feb 2016

Nigerian Navy Foils Hijack of Maersk Ship

The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempt by suspected pirates to hijack and abduct 25 foreign nationals aboard a container ship operated by A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S carrying general cargo to Nigeria with 25 sailors on board, say local media. Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder Navy Capt. Olusegun Soyemi, said  at Onne Port in Rivers State, that the vessel berthed safely with the rescued crew members unharmed. According to Soyemi, “On Jan. 5 at about 08:00 hours; Safmarine Kuramo was attacked by sea pirates about 60 nautical miles off the coast of Bonny Island (in Rivers) Fairway Bouy. We got may-day distress call that the ship was boarded by unconfirmed number of sea pirates after entering the nation’s territorial waters.

25 Nov 2015

USNS Maury Completes Acceptance Trials

USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) completed Acceptance Trials, November 6, following a week of extensive ship tests and underway events, included testing of major propulsion, auxiliary, damage control and deck systems. Designed to perform acoustic, biological, physical, and geophysical surveys, T-AGS 66 will provide the U.S. military with essential information on the ocean environment. The vessel is 353 feet in length, with an overall beam of 58 feet. USNS Maury is 24 feet longer than the previous T-AGS design, which accommodates a moon pool for deployment and retrieval of autonomous underwater vehicles. T-AGS 66 is named in honor of Cmdr. Matthew Fontaine Maury…