Navigation Department News

Iridium Communications has announced Cosco Shipping (CSSC), the world's largest fleet of commercial vessels with 1,417 ships, has begun installation of Iridium® Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) terminals.The recent installation of the Lars Thrane LT-3100S terminal on the Cosco Tengfei is a testament to CSSC always prioritizing the safety of its crew, ships, and cargo, says Iridium.The Cosco Tengfei is a modern pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessel capable of transporting up to 5,000 vehicles.

Body of crew member found on board; casualty might be worst tanker oil spill since 1991 and concerns grow that tanker may explode, sink. Rescue crews wrestled to bring a blaze on an Iranian oil tanker off China's east coast under control on Monday as fire raged for a second day following a collision with a grain ship, while the body of one of the 32 missing crew members was found on aboard. Concerns were growing that the tanker, which hit a freight ship on Saturday night in the East China Sea and burst into flames, may explode and sink, the official China Central Television (CCTV) said on Monday, citing experts on the rescue team. Poor weather continued to hamper the rescue work, Lu Kang, a spokesman at China's foreign ministry, told a regular news briefing.

Maritime training solutions provider Buffalo Computer Graphics Inc. (BCG) has donated its Enhanced Graphical User Interface (GUI2) simulation software to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation in Annapolis, Md. for distribution to the academy’s seamanship and navigation department. BCG’s donation included four software licenses to support past donations from Northrup Grumman Corporation of the Navy’s Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) to train midshipmen on the charting system they will encounter once they graduate and move out to the fleet.

Northrop Grumman Corporation recently donated $3 million worth of training software to the U.S. Naval Academy, and also presented the Elmer A. Sperry Junior Navigator of the Year Award to Midshipman First Class Tyler Ledoux. The company donated 100 licenses of its Voyage Management System (VMS) software to the U. S. Naval Academy Foundation for midshipmen training use at the Naval Academy. The VMS software incorporates the Electronic Chart Display and Information System-Navy (ECDIS-N) which was selected by the navigator of the Navy and is now a fleet standard.

Aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) has made what is most probably her last Suez transit on way back to US Naval Base, Norfolk. On April 29, 1986, Enterprise did something that no other nuclear-powered carrier had ever done - she transited the Suez Canal, adding another first to an already long list of accomplishments. Twenty-six years later, on Oct. 12, the "Big E" passed through the Suez Canal for the final time as she transitioned from the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) to U.S. 6th Fleet AOR, entering the Mediterranean Sea for the last time.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that Rear Admiral Philip H. Greene, Jr. will become the new Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. Admiral Greene holds a Merchant Marine Master’s license and is a 1978 Academy graduate. “Rear Admiral Greene will bring strong leadership to the Academy,” said Secretary LaHood. “His commitment to the midshipmen, his experience as an Academy graduate, and his distinguished naval career have given him the perspective and organizational strengths needed to move the U.S. Rear Admiral Greene came to the U.S.

Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), bottom, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), top, transit in formation with the Royal Navy's Invincible-class aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (R 06) in the Atlantic Ocean. The carriers are currently participating in Operation Bold Step, bringing together more than 15,000 service members from three countries during a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFX). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay C. By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Adrian J. Escobar, USS Dwight D. USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, At Sea (NNS) -- The Navigation Department aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D.

Sailors from USS Carl Vinson completed the final milestone in the transition of the “Gold Eagle” from the fleet to the shipyard Nov. 11 by moving the “Gold Eagle” from Pier 14 at Naval Station Norfolk to dry dock 11 at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard, beginning in earnest the ship's refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH). “The biggest issue the ship faced was the weather and the current,” said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) James Myles, of Deck Department. Carl Vinson used rudders for steering the ship during the transit to Newport News, which required the crew to not only stay alert, but also be prepared to act at a moment's notice to changes that could take place. “When we arrived at the Newport News shipyard, the ship had to be lined up perfectly,” said Myles.