Republic Of Mexico News

A strong continuation in the recovery of LNG expenditure is underway worldwide, driven by a growing demand for natural gas. The new eighth edition of Douglas-Westwood’s (DW) World LNG Market Forecast expects that global capital expenditure (Capex) will total nearly $228B during the 2013-2017 period. The surge includes capital expenditure on base-load onshore and offshore fixed LNG liquefaction, LNG carriers and LNG regasification, via both onshore and offshore fixed import terminals.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) has initiated an Internet site devoted to Short Sea Shipping. MARAD also confirms the US Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta will be joining Canadian Minister of Transport Lawrence Cannon and Mr. Cesar Patricio Reyes Roel, General Coordinator on Ports and Merchant Marine, Secretariat of Communications and Transport, Republic of Mexico at the North American Short Sea Shipping Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia on April 18-20. Source: HK Law

As part of crew move aboard, the crew of the future USS San Antonio (LPD 17) officially “stepped” their Advanced Enclosed Mast/Sensor System (AEM/S) recently. Normally, a ship’s Mast Stepping occurs earlier in conjunction with ship christening, but delaying this event until now enabled all of future San Antonio’s crew to be present. The ancient custom of “stepping the mast,” by placing coins under the step or bottom of a ship’s mast during construction, dates from antiquity. One belief from Greek Mythology is that should the ship be wrecked during passage, the coins would ensure payment of the crew’s wages for their return home. Since at least the construction of USS Constitution, this tradition has been passed on as a symbol of good luck for U.S. Navy ships.