Suggestions for Making America’s Marine Highway Program More Effective
The America’s Marine Highways Program is one of several grant programs administered by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) to promote more effective use of the nation’s navigable waterways. This particular program was established by Congress in 2007 to provide grants for projects that would promote water-borne alternatives to available landside transportation services, especially for freight carried by trucks.Consistent with this specific goal, the program’s statutory authority…
Navy Develops Prototype for Diver Life Support
Scientists at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWC PC) have developed a prototype for a new life support system for divers, the U.S. Navy announced. According to the Navy, the goal of the new system is to accelerate the deployment of Navy divers, increase safety and also conserve helium, a valuable natural resource. "This new, semi-closed system was conceived to drastically reduce helium requirements," said NSWC PC Principal Investigator Dr. John Camperman. Currently, U.S.
USNS Big Horn Completes Fleet Deployment
Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn returned to Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 28, following a seven-month deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility, providing underway replenishment services primarily to U.S. and NATO forces supporting Operation Unified Protector. Big Horn travelled 39,355 nautical miles during the deployment and conducted 112 underway replenishments, delivering 10 million gallons of fuel – including more than 570, 000 gallons of jet fuel – and 1,042 pallets of stores and equipment to U.S.
Crowley Continues Support of U.S. Navy in Ehime Maru Recovery Project
Seattle-based Crowley Marine Services continues to support the U.S. Navy's Office of the Superintendent of Salvage (SUPSALV) as prime contractor for Phase II of its Ehime Maru recovery project. Phase II, which began in mid-October, involves support of the Navy's Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One (MDSU) for recovery operations of the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru, which sank in February after a U.S. submarine resurfaced beneath it off the coast of Honolulu. State and federal laws do not allow for the ship to be left in shallow water or returned to its original location when the Navy's recovery operations are complete. Therefore…
NOAA Announces 2005 Budget Request
Retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, unveiled President Bush's proposed 2005 budget for the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Speaking to more than 125 stakeholders in Washington, D.C., Lautenbacher said NOAA's request totals $3.4 billion, an increase of $146.9 million over the FY 2004 request. "This proposed budget maintains and enhances the services and programs for our scientific understanding of the oceans and atmosphere and allow us to sustain the nation's environmental health and economic vitality," said Lautenbacher. The budget request is based on NOAA's Strategic Plan goals. Key increases are below.
Teekay Buys Navion for $800M
Teekay Shipping Corporation announced that it will buy Statoil's wholly-owned shipping company, Navion ASA, on a debt free basis, for approximately $ 800 million in cash. The transaction positions Teekay as a strategic logistics provider of shuttle tanker services to Statoil and other oil companies, and increases Teekay's presence in the conventional crude oil and product tanker trades. In 2001, Navion transported a total of 160 million tons of crude oil and petroleum products, exceeding the 135 million tons carried by Teekay in that year. Operating from Stavanger, Norway, Navion has built a leading franchise in the complex North Sea offshore loading business.
