Sea Force News

Operations at the port of Antwerp, one of Europe's biggest container ports, were seriously impacted on Tuesday as hundreds of farmers on tractors blocked the roads around the port to demand better pay and working conditions, officials said.The protest follows a large number of similar actions by angry farmers in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and beyond, as farmers also demand looser environmental rules and better protection against cheap imports."Operations are heavily disrupted," Stephan Van Fraechem, the director of the association of port companies Alfaport VOKA, told Reuters.

As many as 35 oil tankers that usually carry crude or fuel oil could switch to carrying cleaner products like diesel and jet fuel in the next two months as shipowners chase higher profitability, oil analytics firm Kpler said in a LinkedIn post.An LR2 (long-range 2) type tanker typically carries cargoes of about 90,000 metric tons of cleaner fuels.

Italy would like a political decision made to create an EU maritime security mission for the Red Sea by next week so that it can become operational as soon as possible, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.European Union member states gave initial backing on Tuesday to the mission to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia in the Red Sea on concern that disruption in one of the world's top trading arteries could hit the global economy.A U.S.-led mission is already operating in the region.The objective of EU states was to establish their mission by Feb.

Jotun unveiled the next-generation of its SeaForce biocidal antifouling range, with three new products featuring Hydractive technology. Jotun originally launched its SeaForce range in 2004. Since then it has recorded more than 27,000 vessel applications worldwide.“SeaForce is a cornerstone portfolio in our marine coating range,” said Dr, Erik Risberg, Global Marketing Director, Jotun Marine Coatings, “but we felt the time was right to push its performance further, providing next level protection for our customers while consolidating its position within the marketplace.

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) invited two U.S. Naval War College (NWC) faculty members to testify in Washington, D.C. on understanding and countering China's growing maritime concerns. Erickson's testimony centered on China's growing involvement of their Maritime Militia, which he describes as the third maritime force in addition to the nation's navy and coast guard. The Maritime Militia is a civilian force posing as fishing boats and other noncombatants but is clearly under the operational control of the government, according to Erickson.

The United States Navy and Willard Marine have executed a licensing agreement for a Willard Marine boat design to serve as the guideline for the Navy’s new 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat (RIB) government design. For 27 years, Willard Marine has designed and built U.S. Navy ship-board RIBs that are 7- and 11-meters in length featuring a wide variety of propulsion, deck and outfitting arrangements. This licensing agreement allows the U.S. Navy to utilize Willard’s Sea Force® 1100, U.S. Navy model RIB design to create an all new Navy 11-meter RIB. The new RIBs will be used in their American fleets around the world, and it enables select international militaries to purchase the vessels through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs.

Vittoria Shipyard, which specializes in the construction of paramilitary, commercial and passenger vessels of up to 100 meters, will in 2016 take part for the first time in Seafuture & Maritime Technologies, which is to be held at the Military Arsenal in La Spezia from May 24-27, 2016. The shipyard from Adria will present its Interceptor 43’, which will be moored at the Pagliari dock, and will be on show to visitors for the duration of the show. The new vessel is based on the standards of Customs and Border Protection of the U.S.

Higher fuel prices could help lift freight rates - Shanghai broker. Freight rates for capesize bulk carriers on key Asian routes are likely to hold around the current levels, after a revival in charter rates this week ran out of steam as the fundamentals of too many ships chasing little cargo remained unchanged, ship brokers said. "Next week is going to be flat," said a Shanghai-based capesize broker on Thursday. "But bunker prices might give some support for owners to push the market up. So we might see a little improvement in the rates," the broker said. Capesize freight rates from Western Australia to China hit a three-week high on Tuesday after Hong Kong-headquartered ship operator and commodities trader Caravel chartered the 207…

Rigid hulled inflatable boats (RIBs) have come a long way since their initial development in the United Kingdom in the late 1960s. Long noted for their stability and safety in turbulent seas, they have found applications in rescue work and military settings. Willard Marine, Inc. of Anaheim, Calif. has a long history of conventional hulls and RIBs. They currently produce a variety of models and sizes of RIBs from 4.9-meters up to 11.07. As are all the firm’s RIBs, the SEA FORCE 1100 is available with either fiberglass or aluminum deep-V hulls.

Willard Marine, Inc.was awarded a contract by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to produce a 20’08” rigid hull inflatable boat for the Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) to facilitate their fisheries and marine mammal research in the Pacific region. Willard Marine will provide a slightly modified version of their SEA FORCE 730, a military-grade, aluminum, rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) that is designed with a deep-V hull for maximum stability in the roughest sea conditions. The 20’08” research RHIB designed for NOAA is constructed in accordance with ABYC standards and Subchapter S requirements, and is fitted with both lift fittings and a lift sling that are designed for hoisting 6,700-pounds of weight with a 6:1 weight ratio safety factor.

Willard Marine, Inc. unveiled its new SEA FORCE 777 this week at the Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney, Australia. The military-grade, fiberglass, rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) is 7.77-meters long, 2.74-meters wide and designed with a deep-V hull. The Steyr SE306J38 diesel engine with ZF-63 marine gear powering a Hamilton Jet drive HJ-274 provides 300 horsepower for a nine-member crew and can achieve 32 knots. Nine Ullman Dynamics shock-mitigating seats are installed.

Willard Marine, a builder of composite and aluminum boats, has received an order to supply the Ukrainian navy with four aluminum patrol boats, with an option for a fifth. Under the contract, issued by the U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales (FMS) office, Willard Marine is supplying two SEA FORCE 11-meter and two SEA FORCE seven-meter aluminum patrol boats, each with an open cockpit configuration. An additional seven-meter patrol boat will be supplied upon request. The 11-meter boats are powered by Cummins QSB 5.9 380 HP engines and Hamilton model HJ292 water jets.

Willard Marine, a 56-year-old builder of composite and aluminum boats, has delivered two rescue boats for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). Under the contract, Willard Marine is supplying two U.S. Coast Guard-approved SEA FORCE 670 SOLAS fast rescue boats (FRBs) for the 418-ft. passenger/ro-ro ferry M/V Columbia. Each of the two 22-ft. fiberglass 670 FRBs is powered by an inboard 230 HP diesel engine and water jet and can carry up to nine passengers. The boats meet all…

Willard Marine, a 56-year-old builder of composite and aluminum boats, has received a contract to supply 42 rescue boats for U.S. Army supply ships and landing craft. Under the contract, awarded by the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Warren, Michigan, Willard Marine will deliver 16-ft. rigid-hull inflatable boats (RIBs) for eight Logistic Support Vessels (LSV) and 34 Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels. The boats will be built at the company’s plant in Southern California. Deliveries will take place between March and August 2014.

Willard Marine SEAFORCE 540 Inboard RIB Delivered to U.S. Navy/Egyptian Project. Willard Marine Inc. announced that the company has delivered the first of four (4) patrol Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) to a U.S. Navy project in Pascagoula, MS. The boats are being built for the Egyptian Navy. The boats supplied are the Willard Marine Sea Force 540 inboard RIB. Willard Marine was chosen to supply this military quality RIB because of their expertise, best value and ability to build high quality, durable, military platforms that operate from larger vessels. The deep “VEE” hull laminate for the Sea Force 540 complies with ISO 12215.5: 2008 Small Craft-Hull Construction and Scantlings. This boat is powered by a 170 HP inboard diesel engine, connected to an outdrive.

Shipyards around the world are facing increasingly stringent environmental rules and regulations, adding additional expense to a business sector with an already reputed thin bottom line. Nonetheless, to stay in business shipyards must continuously enhance their capabilities and compliance, in order to successfully woo and complete lucrative jobs. U.S. shipyards have aggressively been augmenting traditional repair expertise with the tools and systems needed to prosper in 2000 and far beyond. The ensuing editorial updates significant activities and enhancements at U.S. ship repair yards. Detyens Shipyards based in North Charleston, S.C., is continuing its upbeat course of developing trusted relationships with customers along the U.S. East Coast — specifically with Hvide Marine, Inc.

Willard Marine Inc. delivered the Makaha Explorer, a Sea Force 730 capable of speeds over 40 mph, to Capt. John Charleston for his Hawaiian Tour Boat Company. The boat is a version of the standard U.S. Navy 7m/24-ft. RIB which has over 350 references. It was customized for Capt. Charleston and includes an extended canvas T-Top, centerline back-to-back seating for passengers as well as an enclosed self-contained head underneath the console. It was built and tested to meet USCG Certification for a passenger-carrying vessel. The Makaha Explorer is propelled by twin Honda 130 hp engines mounted on an engine bracket to allow maximum usable inboard space for passengers.

At press time, the news of the oil refinery explosion in MR/EN's neighboring borough of Staten Island, NY has rocked not only New York City and its environs, but once again proven the tenuous hold that is sometimes had in the process of delivering petroleum products by ship and barge. Piecing together scattered first-hand and wire reports, it is alleged that the cause of the explosion was a barge belonging to Hicksville, N.Y.-based Bouchard Transportation Co. that exploded while workers were offloading 100,000 barrels of unleaded gasoline off the Bouchard B#125 barge at the ExxonMobil Port Mobil Terminal in Staten Island. Killed in the blast were two longtime Bouchard employees…

AB Inflatables Delivers For Diversity Of Applications

The business of building better Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) is a serious one which utilizes and combines some of the world’s most advanced materials technologies. Comptetion in the market is stiff, as manufacturer claims and counter claims would indicate. The RIBs of today are finding themselves used for a much wider spectrum of duty than perhaps just five or 10 years ago, due in large to advances in design, performance and load carrying capabilities. Manufacturers have invested many hours and dollars to ensure that today’s RIBs are constructed of increasingly better, stronger materials that enable them to dutifully perform the rigorous duty that owners demand. A perfect example of how the use of RIBs has spread is seen in the U.S.