Cadmium-free Anodes Help Satisfy 2013 VGP
By December 19, the Environmental Protection Agency expects vessel owners and operators with craft included under the Vessel General (VGP), to comply with regulations regarding discharges. VGP directives cover non-military commercial vessels longer than 79'. VGP requirements for cathodic protection can be easily met with environmentally-friendly Martyr brand cadmium-free aluminum and magnesium anodes from Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd. Provisions in the 2013 VGP seek to protect U.S. water quality and inhibit the spread of invasive marine species.
Gibdock Completes Boluda Tug Overhaul
Gibdock completed a complex propulsion system job, following the recent docking of the 57-ton bollard pull capacity Boluda group harbour tug Siroco. The 2001-built Siroco, which operates in the port of Algeciras, arrived in Gibraltar in early June for a one month docking that included the complete removal and overhaul of the two Voith Schneider Propeller (VSP) units onboard. As soon as the vessel was drydocked, it was jet washed with high pressure water and hand-scraped to remove marine growth in preparation for the VSP overhaul. The next task was to crop four access plates and two upright supports from the protective structure to allow access for Gibdock engineers so they could remove the VSP blades.
Offshore-Inland Completes Hull Restoration on USS Alabama
Mobile-Alabama based Offshore-Inland Marine & Oilfield Services has completed hull repairs on the battleship USS Alabama, the state of Alabama's most popular tourist attraction. The 680-ft. battleship was in need of extensive hull repairs after spending 38 years in the muddy waters of Mobile Bay. The USS Alabama sits in about 10 feet of water while her hull rests in another 20 feet of mud. To get to the corroded portions of the hull, a cofferdam was built around the ship and the water pumped out. Approximately 4 feet of mud was excavated from both the port and starboard sides of the vessel. vessel. Offshore-Inland Marine & Oilfield Services removed 10,000 square feet of corroded steel from the battleship's hull.
Passenger Vessels:Old Dominion Gets New Research Vessel
The new research vessel, delivered to Old Dominion University's Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, is expected to commence a growing trend in research boat design -- toward smaller, faster and more versatile vessels — equipped to study a variety of sea characteristics. Designed by Roger Long Marine Architecture of Portland, Maine, the all-aluminum vessel has a modified V-hull that measures only 55 ft. with a 17-ft. beam. Its five ft. draft allows the vessel to work in shallow waters of the Chesapeake Bay and along the Virginia coastline, up to 100 miles. The vessel's design firm and Gladding Hearn teamed to construct a similar size vessel for the University of New Hampshire in 1992…
