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Southwest Alaska News

30 Nov 2023

US Ferry Services to Receive New Funds Through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

© susanne2688 / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Thursday announced grants totaling $220.2 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize the nation’s ferry systems. The program focuses in part on expanding ferry service in rural communities, helping communities acquire modern ferry boats (including electric boats that reduce carbon pollution), and upgrading shore infrastructure to support high-quality, low-emission ferry service.“For many communities around the U.S.…

23 Jun 2020

Keep It Steady

A Southwest Alaska pilot boat equipped with Humphree interceptors (Photo: Humphree USA)

Gothenberg, Sweden based Humphree was founded in 2002 by a team of engineers that sought to leverage their expertise in high-speed marine propulsion – or more specifically, hydrodynamics, electronics and digital controls – to create vessel stabilization packages that would be easy to install and use. And thus, Humphree’s interceptors were created.The compact and robust transom-mounted units feature an adjustable blade that activates vertically into the water stream beneath the hull to create a lift force.

06 Dec 2018

Southwest Alaska Pilots Take Delivery of Gladding-Hearn Pilot Boat

Image Credit: Gladding Hearn

The Southwest Alaska Pilots Association has taken delivery of a new pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. The vessel was delivered to Fort Lauderdale, where it was loaded on a ship bound for the West Coast.With a length overall of 75.7’, beam of 20.6’ and draft of 3.11’, the all-aluminum  pilot boat features the Ray Hunt-designed Deep V hull. It is powered by twin Cummins QSK38-M1, EPA Tier 3 diesel engines, each delivering 1,400 Bhp at 1,800 rpm and connected to twin ZF-5000 gear boxes. The launch is propelled by a pair of Hamilton HM651 water jets.

14 Aug 2017

Crowley’s Busch Joins Sea Machines’ Board

Todd Busch (Photo: Sea Machines)

Todd Busch, Sr. Vice President & General Manager, Technical Services, at Crowley Maritime, has joined Sea Machines Robotics’ board of directors. The Boston-based Sea Machines is building autonomous control technology for commercial vessels. Busch, who joined Crowley in 1987 as an ordinary seaman, is currently responsible for naval architecture and marine engineering, government services, ship management, marine salvage and wreck removal, new-vessel construction and the chartering and operations of Crowley’s offshore tug and barge fleet.

12 May 2017

EPA Paves Way for Stalled Mine in Alaska

U.S. environmental regulators have cleared the path for a stalled copper and gold mine in Alaska by agreeing to settle current lawsuits and other issues over the project, which had drawn environmental concerns over its potential impact on the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery. U.S. The Pebble Limited Partnership mining company had filed a lawsuit against the EPA under the previous administration of Democratic president Barack Obama, which had sought to block it. Backers of the project had been hopeful that Obama's Republican successor, Donald Trump would allow it to proceed. Shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd , which owns the massive Pebble deposit, have surged since Trump won the U.S. election back in November. Trump took office Jan. 20.

05 Apr 2017

Southwest Alaska Pilots Order Gladding-Hearn Pilot boat

Photo: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding

The Southwest Alaska Pilots Association in Homer, Alaska has ordered a new pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. Delivery is scheduled for 2018. With a length overall of 75.7’, beam of 20.6’ and draft of 3.11’, the all-aluminum Galveston Class pilot boat features the C. Raymond Hunt-designed Deep V hull. It will be powered by twin Cummins QSK38-M1, EPA Tier 3 diesel engines, each delivering 1,400 Bhp at 1,800 rpm and connected to twin ZF-5000 gear boxes. The launch will be propelled by a pair of Hamilton HM651 water jets. Top speed is expected to reach 28 knots.

04 May 2015

USCG Monitors LNG Carrier Repair in Alaska

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is monitoring repairs aboard the liquid natural gas (LNG) carrier Excel in Homer, Alaska. The vessel was received an order from Coast Guard Sector Anchorage to remain anchored in Kachemak Bay near Homer after the 908-foot, Belgium-flagged vessel experienced a loss of propulsion due to a failed engineering gasket while inbound to Cook Inlet. The Excel was examined by USCG inspectors from Marine Safety Detachment Homer, who conducted a Port State Control annual exam and verified the engineering gasket was replaced. While preparing to get underway, the vessel experienced an automated engineering casualty and canceled its voyage until a Bureau Veritas (BV) classification surveyor could arrive and verify the engineering casualty was fully resolved.

10 Nov 2014

WHOI: Fukushima Radioactivity Detected Off West Coast

Monitoring efforts along the Pacific Coast of the U.S. and Canada have detected the presence of small amounts of radioactivity from the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident 100 miles (150 km) due west of Eureka, California. Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) found the trace amounts of telltale radioactive compounds as part of their ongoing monitoring of natural and human sources of radioactivity in the ocean. In the aftermath of the 2011 tsunami off Japan, the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant released cesium-134 and other radioactive elements into the ocean at unprecedented levels. Since then, the radioactive plume has traveled west across the Pacific, propelled largely by ocean currents and being diluted along the way.

30 Jul 2013

Kvichak Delivers 50’ Pilot Boat in Alaska

Photo: Kvichak

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc. of Seattle, Wash., recently delivered the P/V Bering, a 50’ x 15.5’ pilot vessel to the Southwest Alaska Pilots Association (SWAPA). Bering will operate in the coastal areas of South Central Alaska. After acceptance of the Bering, the SWAPA crew and a Kvichak technician departed Seattle and began transiting north to Valdez, Alaska. The Bering’s delivery encompassed 1350 nautical miles averaging 25 knots over five days (53.9 hours run time on the engines). Weather conditions were generally favorable, however Johnstone Strait in B.C.

17 Jun 2013

Infrastructure for Alaska’s LNG and Other Resources

It is time for the global maritime industry to push development of Trans Arctic Shipping Routes (TASR) and port facilities along Alaska’s northern coast. Not only for shipping goods from the Pacific to Atlantic and vice versa, but specifically to facilitate development of specialized ports for LNG exports from Alaska to global markets. Alaska has a limited maritime community mostly in the south: Southeast Alaska is a maritime community; South Central, Valdez, The Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage much less so; Southwest Alaska and Aleutians have fishing fleets and the Western, North Slope coasts and, the Interior have only marginal connections to large scale maritime activities. Nearly all Alaska’s vast energy resources, LNG and coal, are on the North Slope.

16 Jul 2012

Arctic Shield 2012: USCG Mounts Historic Arctic Effort

While it seems that half the world is monitoring the oil and gas exploration activities of Royal Dutch Shell (Shell Oil) on the United States outer continental shelf (OCS) in waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off the north coast of Alaska, another historic event is occurring in those same waters: Arctic Shield 2012. The US Coast Guard is assembling its largest ever effort in the Arctic during the period July through October 2012. The Coast Guard has been gradually expanding its presence in the Arctic over the past four years.

29 Sep 2009

Busch Elected President of Int’l Salvage Union

Photo courtesy Crowley Maritime Corporation

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that Todd Busch, the company's senior vice president and general manager of technical services, which includes Crowley subsidiary Titan Salvage, has been elected president of the International Salvage Union (ISU). Busch was elected during the ISU's 55th general meeting in Boston this week. He succeeds Arnold Witte, who will continue to be a member of the ISU's executive committee. Busch joined Crowley in 1987 as an ordinary seaman and since that time served aboard company tugs as a chief mate.

03 Dec 2008

Crowley Organizational Changes

Steve Collar

Crowley announced changes in leadership and company organization involving its logistics, technical services and marine salvage business lines. Rinus Schepen, Crowley's senior vice president and general manager of logistics, has announced his retirement effective in June 2009. Schepen, a 20-year Crowley veteran, has been a significant contributor to the company's success and will continue to work for Crowley on special assignments in retirement. Collar will become senior vice president and general manager for the group effective Jan. 1, 2009.

27 Dec 2001

Crowley Announces Management Team for Newly Formed Ship Assist and Escort Services Group

Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced the appointment of Robe Grune to the position of vice president and general manager of Crowley’s newly formed ship Assist and Escort Services based in Seattle. Grune is responsible for profit and loss for the Ships Assist and Escort Services group and reports directly to Tom Crowley, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation. Crowley announced the reorganization of its Crowley Marine Services subsidiary into three distinct operating groups in October, including Energy and Marine Services, Ship Assist and Escort Services and Petroleum Services. With present operations in San Diego…

24 Jan 2002

Grune To Lead Crowley Ship Assist and Escort Services Group

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced the appointment of Robe Grune to the position of Vice President and General Manager of Crowley's newly formed ship Assist and Escort Services based in Seattle. Grune is responsible for profit and loss for the Ships Assist and Escort Services group and reports directly to Tom Crowley, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation. Crowley announced the reorganization of its Crowley Marine Services subsidiary into three distinct operating groups in October, including Energy and Marine Services, Ship Assist and Escort Services and Petroleum Services. With present operations in San Diego…

17 Jul 2003

Busch Awarded the 2002 Thomas Crowley Trophy

ceremonies held last night in Anchorage, Alaska. founder. winners of the award. management team. General Manager, Latin America Services. years," said Crowley. outside his normal scope of responsibility. USS New Jersey and USS Iowa, as well as the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. He also helped secure a role for Crowley as a contractor for the U.S. 2001 Ehime Maru recovery and relocation operation in Hawaii. sank in 2,000 feet of water on Feb. Diamond Head. ocean floor about 12 miles off Oahu. position in the very competitive ship assist business. is a tremendous honor," Busch said. served aboard company tugs as a chief mate. responsibility. U.S. Navy Salvage Contract. director of sales for ship assist and escort services in 2001. Response Alliance LLC. Southwest Alaska Pilots Association.

18 Oct 2005

Busch Named Vice President of Titan

Todd Busch has been promoted to vice president of Titan, Crowley's newly acquired salvage company which will be a part of the company's Marine Services segment. of Marine Services. assist and escort business, will relocate from Crowley's Long Beach, Calif. office to Titan's Fort Lauderdale, Fla. headquarters. transportation and emergency response. honor. Oriskany. U.S. Navy's 2001 Ehime Maru recovery and relocation operation in Hawaii. in 1987," said Douglass. company tugs as a chief mate. has held a variety of other positions with increasing responsibility. commercial activities for Crowley's emergency services, and the U.S. salvage contract. Marine Response Alliance LLC. the Southwest Alaska Pilots Association. and Mate, 200 Gross Tons Inspected Vessels.