Hughes Bros News

The members of the American Waterways Operators, the national tugboat, towboat and barge industry association, elected a new slate of leaders during the association's Spring Convention and Annual Membership Meeting.Rick Iuliucci, Vice President, The Vane Brothers Company, was elected Chairman; Kelly Teichman, Chairman of the Board, T&T Marine, was elected Vice Chair; and Brian Hughes, Vice President Operations & Sales, Hughes Bros., Inc., was re-elected Treasurer. Iuliucci succeeds outgoing Chairman Clark Todd…

Clark Todd, president and chief operating officer of Blessey Marine Services, was elected chairman of the American Waterways Operators (AWO) as members of the national tugboat, towboat and barge industry association elected new leaders during a group meeting last week. Todd succeeds outgoing chairman Del Wilkins, president, Illinois Marine Towing, Inc.Rick Iuliucci, vice president of The Vane Brothers Company, was elected vice chairman; and Brian Hughes, vice president operations and sales, Hughes Bros., Inc., was re-elected treasurer.

The members of the American Waterways Operators, the national tugboat, towboat and barge industry association, elected a new slate of leaders last week during the association's Spring Board of Directors / Annual Membership Meeting.Del Wilkins, President of Illinois Marine Towing, Inc., was elected Chairman; Clark Todd, President & Chief Operating Officer of Blessey Marine Services, was elected Vice Chairman; and Brian Hughes, Vice President Operations & Sales, Hughes Bros., Inc. was elected Treasurer. Wilkins succeeds outgoing Chairman Arthur F.

Small shipyards in the U.S. are critical to the nation’s maritime operations and economic security. Typically family-owned and employing less than 1,200 workers, America’s small shipyards support more than 400,000 jobs, employ more than 100,000 Americans directly and contribute tens of billions in gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).In an effort to help support these vital assets, MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant Program provides funds to help drive efficiency…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $19.6 million in grants to support capital improvements at 28 U.S. small shipyards as a part of its Small Shipyard Grant program. The grants enable small shipyards to modernize equipment and processes to fuel future growth. “These grants help create jobs in America’s small shipyards, which play a significant role in our country’s maritime sector,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.In 2013, U.S. shipbuilders produced $37.3 billion in gross domestic product.

Southeastern New England Shipbuilding Corporation (SENESCO) of North Kingstown, R.I., signed a major contract with Barges Unlimited, a subsidiary of Seaboats, Inc., of Fall River, Mass., to build an 80,000-bbl, 320-ft. double hull barge. The contract value is in excess of $6.5 million. With this contract signing, SENESCO will manufacture the largest double-hull barge ever constructed in the northeastern U.S. Work on the project is expected to take up to one year to complete. When finished, the barge will be used by Seaboats for the transportation and delivery of light oil products. SENESCO currently employs 110 people. However, with the addition of this contract and other business, the shipyard expects to add 40 to 50 new skilled workers to the staff.

On May 15, the Municipal Waterfront Alliance sponsored its second port-wide waterfront conference focused on the legal, environmental, infrastructure, redevelopment, commercial, transportation and economic issues facing the Port of New York & New Jersey. The conference took place in the Hoboken Terminal in New Jersey and the World Financial Center in New York City -- a short water taxi ride for the participants. The conference was attended by approximately 500 people, including 60 federal, state and local government representatives and stakeholders in the future redevelopment of the port complex. New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey was the keynote speaker…