USACE Orders Crane Barge for St. Marys River
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District in concert with the Philadelphia District and the Marine Design Center awarded a 11.4 million contract to Southwest Shipyard in Houston for a new crane barge on the St. Marys River.“The new crane barge will perform critical lock and hydropower facility maintenance at the Soo Project Office (Soo Locks),” said Justin Proulx, Chief of the St. Marys River Section. “Additionally, the new vessel will support channel maintenance and will be ready to respond to critical maritime incidents on the St Marys River…
McClure Secures Port Aransas Ferry Assignment
Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), a naval architecture and engineering firm, recently announced that the company has been selected to develop shipyard construction-level detail drawings for the next generation of TxDOT ferries. ACMA will also be responsible for ABS and USCG compliance, as well as weight monitoring for assembly lifts during the construction period. The 160-ft double-ended, geared diesel-powered automobile and passenger ferries will have the ability to carry approximately 28 vehicles and 150 passengers. They will join the fleet operated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) that offers free ferry service between Port Aransas on Mustang Island, and Harbor Island, a continuation of Texas State Route 361.
Oil Recovery Ops in Houston Ship Channel
The oil spill responders continue clean up efforts today after the 458-ft tank vessel Chemical Supplier allided with a barge and spilled approximately 10,500 gallons of oil in the Houston Ship Channel early on Sept. 25. Responders, as of 5:00 p.m., recovered approximately 4,280 gallons of oil. The source of the leak was secured at approximately 1:25 a.m. Sept. 26. The fuel tank contained an estimated 22,500 gallons of fuel oil. The Houston Ship Channel remains closed to all vessel traffic north of the I-610 bridge. Watchstanders from Sector Houston-Galveston received a call at approximately 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, reporting that the Chemical Supplier allided with Buffalo Barge #251 in the vicinity of Brady's Island near the I-610 bridge.
Offshore News
R&B Falcon Confirms U.S. Reading & Bates Development Co. (DEVCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of R&B Falcon Corporation, announced its Boomvang Project in deepwater offshore Texas is proceeding rapidly. DEVCO concurs with previously announced reserve estimates of 70-100 million boe in several oil reservoirs extending across portions of East Breaks Blocks 642, 643, 688 and 732. Platform, production facilities and pipeline contracts are being evaluated, and development drilling is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of this year. The partners anticipate first production in the first quarter of 2002. DEVCO owns a 50 percent working interest in the Boomvang Project. Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Kerr-McGee Corp. is operator and owns a 30 percent working interest.
Expanded and Upgraded
Newpark Shipbuilding has increased its portfolio of businesses from one to six in the past 18 months, but don't expect this Houston-Galveston region company to rest on its laurels. More growth is expected and planned. Newpark Shipbuilding was formed in the early 1990s by Sam and Frank Eakin. The Eakins, with an investment banking background, saw opportunity in the Houston-Galveston area for consolidation amidst the fragmented shipbuilding industry. The Eakin's goal was a strong shipyard network. Less than a decade later, Newpark Shipbuilding has acquired enough yards to constitute what the company refers to as a "shipbuilding network." Altogether, six facilities have been acquired in the Houston-Galveston area, employing more than 1,200 people.
