Keating News

American Cruise Lines introduced its first new Coastal Cat, American Eagle, during a christening ceremony in at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy campus on Buzzards Bay last week.Carol Robertson, wife of American Cruise Lines’ founder the late Charles A. Robertson, served as godmother for the ship and christened the 100-passenger American Eagle with one of her handmade, ribbon-wrapped champagne bottles. The American Eagle is named after the first American Cruise Lines’ ship, which the couple launched in the 1970s.The ceremony began with remarks from Robertson…

In Havila Kystruten AS v Abarca Compania de Seguros AS,¹ in which Watson Farley & Williams LLP represented the successful Norwegian shipowner, an English court has provided helpful and very detailed guidance on a number of issues relating to the parties’ rights to terminate shipbuilding contracts as well as the nature and scope of refund guarantees.BackgroundRefund guarantees are the lifeblood of shipbuilding, providing invaluable security to owners/buyers who must usually cash fund a significant proportion of the price of newbuildings during the construction phase (usually at least 40%)…

Global oil companies are pumping billions of dollars into offshore drilling, reversing a long decline in spending on the decades-long projects, including some in the remote iceberg waters far off Canada's Atlantic coast.Surging oil prices are encouraging the investments, along with Europe's mounting energy demand as the Ukraine-Russia war drags on. Offshore production sites are more expensive to build than onshore shale, the last decade's investment darling. But once they are up and running…

Shannon Foynes Port Company has selected Bechtel to update its Vision 2041 master plan to accommodate offshore and onshore investment within and near its harbor in Ireland. Bechtel will support the company in considering how to deliver significant growth and expansion of the port, including how it can support the offshore wind industry and the production of alternative shipping fuels.Shannon Foynes Port is located in Ireland's deepest sheltered commercial harbor with jurisdiction over all marine activities on a 500-kilometer square area on the Shannon Estuary…

Every port is different. But the harbor masters meeting in Vancouver this week are finding they all have much in common. “We all are dealing with issues of efficiency, the environment, and security and how to develop our ports to best accommodate our customers today and in the future,” says Capt. Kevin Richardson, president of the International Harbour Masters’ Association (IHMA) and a retired chief harbor master at the Port of Dover in the U.K. The congress is being hosted by the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port, and the third largest in North America by tonnage.

The research vessel Neil Armstrong arrived to its home port at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) dock for the first time Wednesday, escorted by the WHOI coastal research vessel R/V Tioga, two Coast Guard vessels and fireboats from neighboring towns. “What a wonderful day for Woods Hole, for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the entire ocean science community,” enthused WHOI President and Director Mark Abbott. “We’re very proud to have been selected by the Office of Naval Research to operate the Neil Armstrong. Six years ago, the U.S.

Infuriated workers have formed picket line at Hutchison Ports in Botany, NSW after 97 employees from Sydney and Brisbane were sacked by email. Hutchison Ports Australia operates as Brisbane Container Terminals in Queensland. Brisbane port workers woke Friday morning to discover they had been sacked overnight, with Hutchison Ports Australia alerting them to the news via text message. The sent out a message to more than 40 workers just before midnight, stating the worker had been sacked and there would be "no redeployment opportunities". "You are not required for your allocated shift, please disregard your most recent work orders, you are not required on shift until further notice," the text message sent to 41 Brisbane workers said.

Coast Guard Oregon Inlet crew members and Dare County EMTs came to the aid of an injured woman Tuesday after the boat she was on ran aground southeast of Wanchese. Personnel at Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet received a report Tuesday afternoon stating the 32-foot sport fishing vessel Not Fancy had run aground in Wanchese Harbor, injuring a 62-year-old woman aboard. A 24-foot Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water crew from Station Oregon Inlet responded. The crew launched from the station and picked up two Dare County EMTs at Broad Creek Marina. Once on scene, the Coast Guard assisted the EMTs in administering first aid and transferring the woman to the Coast Guard small boat.

The grounded 603-foot Canadian bulk carrier Mississagi was refloated on the St. Marys River following operations to offload approximately 2,000 tons of stone, Saturday. The motor vessel, carrying more than 17,000 tons of stone, was transiting downbound the St. Marys River from Bruce Mines, Ontario early Wednesday when it ran aground in the Potagannissing Bay, approximately four miles northeast of De Tour Village. Lightering operations began at 8 a.m. under the supervision of Coast Guard marine inspectors and pollution responders. The vessel was refloated by 1 p.m. then anchored in a new location near Big Trout Island with no injuries or pollution. Once on scene, The Great Lakes Towing Company’s Tug Missouri responded and freed the vessel within five hours, the company said.

The U.S. Coast Guard held a ribbon cutting ceremony today at Coast Guard Station Menemsha to mark the opening of a new boathouse on Martha’s Vineyard in Chilmark, Massachusetts. The event unveils the new building after the old boathouse burned down on July 12, 2010. Attendees included U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, Coast Guard 1st District Commander Rear Adm. Linda Fagan, and Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England Commander Capt. John Kondratowicz. "The new boathouse has dramatically increased the readiness of Station Menemsha,” said Senior Chief Robert Riemer, the Station’s officer in charge. “The facility’s strategic design enables crews to effectively and efficiently conduct necessary boat maintenance.

Ireland’s largest bulk port company, Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC), announced yesterday the commissioning of the first ports infrastructure project since the turn of the millennium, with a €50million capital investment programme at Foynes. Launched by Minister for Transport and Tourism Paschal Donohoe, the programme is the implementation of the first key element of the port company’s masterplan, Vision 2041, which is aimed at transforming the Shannon Estuary into a major national and international economic hub. Today’s announcement will see SFPC commence a seven year programme in quayside infrastructure development with a €12.5million investment in infilling of 3.45 acres on the port’s East Jetty, with work beginning this month.

Viking River Cruises (www.vikingrivercruises.com) set a world record with the christening of 10 new Viking Longships. “Today is a proud day for Viking and for river cruising. We are honored to showcase 10 of our revolutionary new Longships and to have had such a celebrated group of women helping us christen them,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. Guests at the christening ceremony enjoyed remarks by each godmother and a presentation on the growth of river cruising by Hagen.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosts the graduation ceremony for the company's Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). The graduation, held at Liberty Baptist Church Worship Center in Hampton, celebrated the achievements of 206 apprentices representing 21 trades. Retired Navy Adm. Tim Keating served as the commencement speaker and shared some of his personal experiences with NNS-built aircraft carriers and submarines and their impact on national security. "Think of the difference you have made over decades of good, honest hard work," he said to the graduates.

Cape Wind announce it will base its operations headquarters on Falmouth Harbor on Cape Cod. Cape Wind President Jim Gordon said, “Cape and Islanders once lit the lamps of the world by harvesting whale oil. Earlier this week Cape Wind signed a Purchase and Sale agreement for East Marine located on Falmouth Heights Road on Falmouth Harbor. Cape Wind President Jim Gordon identified the factors that drew the company to Falmouth, “We found a good waterfront facility in a protected…

The UMass Dartmouth-based New England Marine Renewable Energy Center (MREC), and local and regional leaders, will mark the send-off of the barge as part of an effort to transform the region into an international hub of ocean-related energy technology research and development.

USS Stockdale (DDG 106), the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, was Commissioned at Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme on Saturday, April 18, during a formal ceremony featuring H. Ross Perot as the Honorary Chair for the event and Admiral Keating as the Keynote Speaker. The fast warship - which is the same class of Navy ship as the USS Bainbridge deployed to the waters off Somalia to help in the rescue efforts of Capt. Roberts Phillips - will provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. As the first destroyer named for the Navy's highest ranking POW, the ship embodies the spirit and patriotism of Medal of Honor Recipient Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale.

Coast Guard cutters Boutwell, a 378-ft. high endurance cutter homeported in Alameda, Calif., and Walnut, a 225-ft. buoy tender homeported in Honolulu, began heading home today after completing their missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Both cutters conducted a wide range of missions while serving in the Gulf, including maritime force protection, coastal and terminal security, and maritime interception and marine environmental response. "Without question, the skill and dedication of the crews of Walnut and Boutwell were instrumental to the overall success of our naval forces and underscored the importance of the Navy-Coast Guard team," said Vice Adm. Tim Keating, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Jennifer S. Top leaders from the military, government and industry gathered at the San Diego Convention Center Feb. 5-7, for the West 2008 conference, co-sponsored by The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and the U.S. Naval Institute. The conference themed "U.S. at a Crossroads: Where to - and How - After Iraq?" featured discussions on pressing issues in the military services and how industry can help solve them. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace gave the opening remarks and spoke of protecting the Internet and the importance of military, government and industry to work together.

USS Stockdale (DDG 106), the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, will be arriving at Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme on Tuesday, April 14th at approximately 10:00 a.m. and will be Commissioned during a formal ceremony on April 18 at 11:00 featuring Admiral Keating as the Keynote Speaker and H. Ross Perot as the Honorary Chair for the event. An estimated 100 Vietnam Veterans and former Prisoners of War, and Medal of Honor recipients are attending this historic commissioning and the surrounding events. Named after the much respected American war hero and former Vice-Presidential candidate, Navy Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale, the fast warship will provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities.

From U.S. Admiral William J. Fallon, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command relinquished command to Air Force Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Leaf, Deputy Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, during a ceremony at Camp H.M. Smith March 12. Fallon departs U.S. Pacific Command, after serving two years with distinction, to assume the duties as the commander of U.S. Central Command, in Tampa, Fla. Leaf will serve as acting commander until a new U.S. Pacific Command commander is confirmed by the U.S. Senate and assumes command. President George W. Bush has nominated Admiral Timothy J. Keating, Commander, U.S. Northern Command, for appointment as Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. U.S. Pacific Command is the headquarters responsible for all American air, ground and maritime military forces in the Asia-Pacific region.

The U.S. Senate confirmed the nominees to the top posts at U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) during the March 19 session. The full Senate confirmed Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating as PACOM commander and Air Force Lt. Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., to receive his fourth star and to become commander of NORTHCOM and North American Aerospace Defense Command. Renuart, who currently serves as Gates' senior military assistant, will assume Keating's NORTHCOM post. In announcing both officers' nominations in February, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised them for establishing a record of accomplishments in a variety of complex and challenging assignments.

Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) the Honorable Dr. Robert M. Gates gives his remarks during an assumption-of-command ceremony for U.S. Pacific Command. Adm. Timothy J. Keating, formerly commander of U.S. Northern Command, assumed command of U.S. Pacific Command from Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Leaf during the ceremony. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. CAMP H.M. SMTH, Hawaii (NNS) -- Admiral Timothy J. Keating will bring the same good judgment and decisiveness to the U.S. Pacific Command that he demonstrated as commander of U.S. Northern Command, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here March 26. Gates spoke at a ceremony in which Keating assumed command of the largest U.S.

Adm. Robert F. Willard, former Vice Chief of Naval Operations, salutes as he’s piped through the sideboys during a change of command ceremony for Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet on board Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Willard assumed command of U.S. Pacific Fleet from Adm. Gary Roughead during the ceremony. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. From U.S. Adm. Robert F. Willard relieved Adm. Gary Roughead as commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet during a change of command ceremony held May 8 at Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen presided over the ceremony, which overlooked the historic memorials of USS Arizona and USS Missouri.