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Memorial Day News

26 Feb 2024

Crossing Death's Door Daily

Š Derek Victor / Adobe Stock

Washington Island Ferry Line (WIFL) has been the essential link between the residents, business and visitors of Washington Island and Wisconsin's Door Peninsula for more than eight decades.Picturesque and peaceful Door County isn't named for some intrepid settlers named Door. The name has a more ominous meaning. It's derived from the treacherous passage between the peninsula and Washington Island that mariners called Porte des Mortes, or Death's Door.A unique combination of environmental…

25 Apr 2022

Oceanside Harbor Dredging Begins

In this file photo, Manson Construction Company of Seattle conducts dredging operations in Oceanside Harbor, California. (Photo: Dena O' Dell / USACE)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District began its annual dredging of the Oceanside Harbor inlet starting April 19.Manson Construction Company of Seattle is dredging the channel to its authorized federal depth of 20 feet. Dredging is expected to be completed prior to Memorial Day weekend.About 250,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand will be removed from the harbor’s entrance channel and placed along Oceanside’s beaches. The project’s local sponsor is the City of…

26 May 2021

BIMCO: All Eyes on US Gasoline; Will Demand Exceed 9.2M Bpd?

Š spiritofamerica / Adobe Stock

“Fill her up, son; unleaded. I need a full tank of gas where I'm headed,” former Police-front man, Sting, sang back in 1999 on his solo album Brand New Day. This country-inspired song could be the anthem for what is coming around next week, as Monday. May 31  is Memorial Day in the U.S., the day that kicks off “the U.S. driving season”. The season runs for about three months from Memorial Day to Labor Day on September 6, during which the Americans take to the road, and demand for motor gasoline reaches a seasonal peak.On 26 May, the U.S.

22 May 2020

When the Bell Rings: Honoring US Merchant Mariners

(Photo: Port of Brownsville)

This Memorial Day, as we rightfully honor the military men and women who gave their lives winning and protecting our freedoms, let us not forget an often-overlooked remembrance for the thousands of U.S. merchant mariners who also died serving our country in their own selfless ways.In 1933, by a joint Resolution of Congress and by Proclamation of the President of the United States, May 22 was set aside as National Maritime Day to honor the sacrifices of U.S. merchant mariners during wartime and in peace.

26 Feb 2019

INSIGHTS:

U.S. hopper dredge companies visit Washington, DC for a CEOs/Owners Roundtable with General Semonite and staff at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters. (L-R, Maj. Gen. Scott Spellmon, Richard Weeks (Owner, Weeks Marine), Frank Belesimo (EVP, Cashman Dredging), William P. Doyle (CEO, DCA), Harry Stewart (EVP, Dutra Group), Lasse Petterson (CEO, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock), Mark Sickles (Sr. Director, Weeks Marine), General Todd Semonite, Dan Hussin (VP, Manson Construction), Fred Paup (Chairm

William P. Doyle, CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA).William P. Doyle is the CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA). Twice a U.S. Senate confirmed Presidential appointee to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Doyle has, over the course of a long and celebrated career, successfully worn many hats. Prior to his FMC appointment, Mr. Doyle served on cabinet and executive level boards and committees under both the Obama and George W. Bush Administrations. Before that, he served as an officer in the U.S.

01 Jun 2018

Mariners Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice

William Donnelly, USMMA Class of 2008 (Image: Marad)

Ask folks unfamiliar with the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) where it’s graduates can be found and they will likely tell you on a cargo ship plying the deep oceans, or in some exotic port on the far side of the globe. And they would be, for the most part correct. However, most don’t realize that no other federal service academy offers the career options of Kings Point. Yes, many graduates become ship’s officers at sea, and some take jobs ashore in the maritime and intermodal transportation field…

23 May 2018

Fleet Week New York City

Photo: J. O'Malley

The fleet of U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships have started to arrive today in New York City, a long-standing Memorial Day weekend tradition with related activities in and around the city over the course of the weekend. Here is a small selection of arriving ships shot from high above.

19 Apr 2018

American Waterways Operators Responds to Senate

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate rejected legislation - Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) - that would have simplified regulatory oversight of vessel discharges. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, due to inclusion of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) within the bill, failed by three votes to reach the 60 votes needed in the United States Senate to end debate and move to a vote on final passage. While the vote tally reflected bipartisan support for the Coast Guard authorization bill with VIDA included, the votes against included several senators who were previously supporters of VIDA, either in this Congress or the previous Congress. In response to the vote, Thomas A.

26 May 2017

Parade Of Ships Kicks Off Fleet Week in New York

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton held a salute to the participating ships of 2017 Fleet Week New York (FWNY) during the official Parade of Ships kickoff May 24. Amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) rendered a seven-gun salute with U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton, with Fort Hamilton providing a 15-gun salute in return. "New York has always had a close relationship with the military," said Anthony Giovinco, U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran and chief of staff and secretary of the United Military Veterans of Kings County Memorial Day Parade. "The Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are treated very well here. This is a tradition that is important to me.

07 Jun 2016

Tropical Storm Colin moves into Atlantic

Strong winds and heavy rainfall were expected across the southeastern United States on Tuesday even as the center of Tropical Storm Colin was moving into the Atlantic Ocean. The storm was 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, at 4 a.m. eastern time (0800 GMT) and moving at 31 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. A tropical storm warning was in effect from the Altamaha Sound Georgia to Oregon Inlet in North Carolina on Tuesday morning. On its forecast path, Colin was to barrel along the coast of the southeastern United States before moving out to sea during the day. As 50 mph winds were expected in the region, a tornado was reported in Lee County Florida, the National Weather Service said.

16 Jun 2015

Tropical Storm Bill Pelts Texas Coast

Tropical Storm Bill punched the Texas coast with heavy rains and strong winds on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said, just three weeks after floods killed about 30 people in the state. The second named tropical storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season made landfall near Matagorda, a sportfishing town near the South Texas Nuclear Generating Station in Bay City, a coastal nuclear power plant. Spokesman Buddy Eller said the plant had prepared for the storm and operations were normal with full staffing. Companies said output from oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, which pumps about a fifth of all domestic crude, was unaffected. But BP Plc shut its Mad Dog and Atlantis fields early on Tuesday after a pipeline outage that was expected to be fixed soon, a source said.

05 Jun 2015

Shell Protesters Cited for Entering Safety Zone

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Puget Sound investigating officers initiated civil penalties, Friday, against four individuals who entered an established safety-zone around a Shell-contracted vessel in Bellingham during Memorial Day weekend. Cody Erdman, Chiara D’Angelo, Paul Adler and Matthew Fuller were cited in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations for entry into or staying in a federally-regulated safety zone between May 22 and 24. USCG officials can seek a maximum civil penalty of $40,000 for each entry into the zone or day the individuals violated the zone. The final penalty will be determined by the Coast Guard Hearing Office in Arlington, Va. Hearing officers will be assigned and provide the individuals an opportunity to refute the charges or provide evidence on their behalf.

29 May 2015

US Oil Contango Vanishing as Supply Glut Shifts Abroad

The U.S. oil market is on the brink of returning to a more bullish footing known as backwardation for the first time in six months, with the discount for prompt supplies vanishing as a domestic supply glut eases. The discount for prompt U.S. oil futures versus the second-month contract - a structure known as "contango" that signals a weak market - narrowed to its smallest in five months on Friday as strong demand and flattening production added to expectations that domestic stockpiles will continue to fall over the summer. If that spread flips to a premium, known as "backwardation," it would come in sharp contrast to the global Brent futures , which is showing no signs of emerging from its 50-cent contango.

22 May 2015

SoCal Beach Cleanup Could Take Months

The U.S. Coast Guard captain overseeing cleanup of oil spilled from a pipeline rupture that closed two California state beaches and fouled offshore waters near Santa Barbara said on Thursday it may take months to restore the area to its natural condition. Up to 2,500 barrels (105,000 gallons) of crude petroleum, according to latest estimates, gushed onto San Refugio State Beach and into the Pacific about 20 miles (32 km) west of Santa Barbara on Tuesday when an underground pipeline that runs along the coastal highway burst. As much as a fifth of the amount was believed to have reached the ocean, leaving oil slicks that stretched for more than 9 miles (15 km) along the coast.

17 May 2015

Boaterz n Bikerz Hull of a Tour Launches Freedom Ride

The Boaterz ‘n Bikerz Hull of a Tour² launch of “The Freedom Ride” throttled forward yesterday from Freedom Boat Club’s Marina Jack location in downtown Sarasota, FL. The nine-day, 2000-mile motorcycle and boating tour attracted 30 members of the boating industry including their friends, and travels up the east coast to Washington D.C., concluding with participation in the 100,000-bike rally, Rolling Thunder, which honors war veterans, POWs and MIA on Memorial Day weekend. “This ride is a celebration of freedom and the great outdoors,” said tour organizer and marine industry marketing veteran Wanda Kenton Smith. “Our tour is unique in that we combine the best of the open roads with the open seas in an adventure that promotes both motorcycling and boating activity.

24 Feb 2015

Shipping Containers Have Never Been Cooler

Shipping containers being used the old fashioned way in Port Elizabeth, NJ (Photo by NOAA)

Shipping containers are ready for their close up. Long the invisible building blocks of the global economy, shipping containers are having their moment. Entrepreneurs and developers are utilizing them on land, in full view of the public that depended on them for delivering, well, everything since they were widely adopted by shipping carriers in the late 60's. The containers are being used to build housing, shopping centers, medical facilities and even farms. NPR reported yesterday on a Boston-based company called "Freight Farms…

20 May 2013

National Maritime Day Celebrates Role of Merchant Mariners

Mariners US Tankship Damaged WWll: Photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command

National Maritime Day is May 22; & this year celebrates the thousands of civilian mariners who support freedom as part of the Navy’s Military Sealift Command. Rear Adm. T.K. Memorial Day is traditionally a time to honor those who not only served our nation, but those who through their service made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen bear arms and go in harm’s way because they are the warriors of our great nation. Each year in May, we remember and honor these warrior heroes.

10 Dec 2010

Skipperliner Wins Cassville Ferry $1.7m Contract

Wisconsin’s oldest operating ferry service is getting a new boat. By July 9, 2011, the Cassville ferry service will have a new tug and barge to make its Mississippi River crossing. On December 3, 2010, Skipperliner won a $1.7m contract to deliver a new 78-ft. barge – able can carry about 12 typical vehicles – as well as a 45-ft. tugboat to push it. The new Cassville ferry will replace the existing Charlie D, which carries up to nine cars. Charlie D has been crossing the Mississippi River at Cassville since 1966, and ferry service here dates as far back as 1833.

13 May 2011

NOIA Commends Passage of HR 1231, Reversing Moratorium

“With the passage of HR 1231, the Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act, the House of Representatives showed they are listening to the American people. Average working Americans know that our long term energy solution includes increased exploration for oil and natural gas off our shores and this bill would expedite increased exploration and the setting of production goals  from those offshore areas. “Every step we make today in assuring the United States is willing to compete with other countries, such as Cuba and Brazil,  by providing opportunities to develop our own offshore oil and natural gas resources consistently and safely has an immediate effect in calming the international oil market.

03 Jun 2011

GL Shipyard Restroom Barges for Park Service

Photo courtesy Great Lakes Shipyard

Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland, Ohio built and delivered four public-use restroom barges for the National Park Service. The barges were delivered in Stillwater, Minn. near Minneapolis and will be used on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway for boater and camper use. The 20 ft. long by 10 ft. wide barges, each having five restrooms, are able to be connected together in sets or floated independently for optimal utilization. Each set is equipped with an ADA compliant restroom, gangway and lift.

20 Jul 2011

SkipperLiner Introduces 'Pride of Cassville'

SkipperLiner of LaCrosse, WI, recently launched a passenger/vehicle barge and towboat ferry. Propellers: Michigan Wheel 32" x 21 pitch, bronze. The PRIDE OF CASSVILLE was built for the City of Cassville WI. She will transport vehicles and passengers across the Mississippi River between Cassville, WI and IA. This service connects two National Scenic Byways: the Great River Road and the Iowa Great River Road. The PRIDE OF CASSVILLE replaces the CHARLIE D that has been in service in Cassville since 1966. The Cassville ferry is Wisconsin's oldest operating ferry, they have operating since 1833.

23 May 2008

Navy Sails into 21st New York Fleet Week

Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) spell out "I Love NY" while pulling into New York City during the parade of ships for the 21st Fleet Week New York 2008. More than 4,000 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen will participate in various community relation projects and have the opportunity to visit popular attractions in New York City. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Danals

The 21st Fleet Week celebration in began May 21, with the traditional Parade of Ships.The five U.S. Navy ships participating in the Fleet Week commemoration are the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), guided-missile cruisers USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and the guided-missile destroyers USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) and USS Nitze (DDG 94). Kearsarge and Leyte Gulf arrived in at Pier 88 and 90 respectively, and , Nitze and The Sullivans moored at the Stapleton Piers on . A U.S. Coast Guard cutter and three Canadian navy vessels joined the U.S.

15 Aug 2012

New PPG coating helps revive historic warship

PSX ONE coating restores ‘Battleship of Presidents,’ now an interactive naval museum. The USS Iowa protected America for nearly 50 years. Now PSX® ONE coating, an advanced marine coating introduced last year by PPG Industries, is protecting the ship. Known as the “World’s Greatest Naval Ship” and the “Big Stick,” the 887-foot-long, 45,000-ton USS Iowa was first deployed in 1943. It is also called the “Battleship of Presidents” because it hosted more visits by U.S. presidents than any ship of its kind, including its historic escort of Franklin D.