SEACOR Marine Upgrades PSV with Hybrid Battery Power System
![SEACOR Yangtze (Credit: SEACOR Marine)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/seacor-yangtze-credit-seacor-marine-149038.jpg)
U.S.-based SEACOR Marine has completed the installation of a hybrid power system on its platform supply vessel (PSV) SEACOR Yangtze.Beginning in February 2024 in Norway, Kongsberg Maritime started the upgrade of the UT771 CDL SEACOR Yangtze with the Deckhouse Energy Storage System.The installation of the system has been completed, SEACOR Marine informed on April 4, 2024, adding to its fleet of hybrid battery-powered PSVs.To remind, SEACOR Marine announced it will convert four other of its PSVs to battery hybrid power in a move to enhance efficiency and slash emissions.The Houston-headquartered
Crumbling Great Lakes Ports Infrastructure Makes Port Insurance Even More Critical
![© icholakov / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/icholakov-adobe-stock-149019.jpeg)
The state of Great Lakes port infrastructure is one of the biggest issues facing the U.S. and Canadian maritime industries. According to the America Great Lakes Ports Association, “Due to years of inadequate funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been unable to maintain Great Lakes navigation infrastructure. Over the next five years Great Lakes navigation channels will require $540 million of dredging to maintain authorized channel dimensions. Breakwaters and other federal…
US Navy Shibuilding Schedules Hit by Supply Chain Woes
![The crew of the Virginia-class attack submarine pre-commissioning unit (PCU) Idaho (SSN 799) march in formation during a christening ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard facility in Groton, Conn., March 16, 2024. (Source: U.S. Navy)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/the-crew-of-the-virginiaclass-148957.jpg)
Virginia-class submarines, an aircraft carrier and frigates being built for the U.S. Navy are now years behind schedule because of skilled labor shortages, design issues, and supply chain challenges stemming from the pandemic, the Navy said on Tuesday.U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in January ordered a comprehensive review to examine national and local causes of the challenges to shipbuilding with Tuesday's results showing that five classes of ships being built for the U.S.
Insights: Cherrie Felder, VP, Channel Shipyard Companies
![Cheryl “Cherrie” Felder is among the U.S. barging industry’s most well-known leaders, having built a reputation as a difference-maker and champion for the industry.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/cheryl-cherrie-felder-is-among-148853.jpg)
For Cheryl “Cherrie” Felder, the path to the maritime industry was both untraditional and seemingly meant to be. After studying African art, she began her career working in a museum in New Orleans before landing a role directing professional rodeo in the Big Easy.“It was a lot of fun, and I learned a whole lot,” Felder said. “But as you may imagine, New Orleans is not a rodeo town. After the third year, the board of directors decided, okay, that's it. No more rodeo.”And that’s when Felder’s doorway to the maritime industry swung open…
Many Different Vessels but One Goal – Passenger Safety
![© Olivier / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/olivier-adobe-stock-147985.jpeg)
Because there are so many different kinds of passenger vessels, the critical topic of passenger safety can sometimes appear as a set of niche topics, each one just distantly connected to another. After all, passengers aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean face safety issues that are much different than a commuter going from Jersey City to Manhattan or a tourist crossing from the Mukilteo, Wash. ferry terminal to Whidbey Island or a family on a fishing vessel in Miami.Importantly, though, for passenger vessel operators, a commitment to safety is not siloed.
US Great Lakes Shipping Companies Spend $120 Million on Winter Repairs
![(Photo: Lake Carriers’ Association)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-lake-carriers-association-147698.jpg)
American shipping companies are spending more than $120 million to repair and maintain their fleets of Great Lakes bulk carriers this winter.The fleet of U.S.-flagged ships, known as "lakers", can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually, including iron ore, stone, coal, grain, salt and sand. Each year after the shipping season draws to a close, these vessels enter shipyards and repair facilities around the Great Lakes for a period of winter maintenance and repair. This…
SEACOR to Convert Four PSVs to Battery Hybrid Power
![SEACOR Atlas (Photo: SEACOR Marine)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/seacor-atlas-photo-seacor-marine-147220.jpg)
SEACOR Marine announced it will convert four of its platform supply vessels (PSV) to battery hybrid power in a move to enhance efficiency and slash emissions.The Houston-headquartered marine transportation firm said on Thursday it has ordered containerized energy storage systems (ESS) from Norway's Kongsberg Maritime for install aboard SEACOR Ohio, SEACOR Alps, SEACOR Andes and SEACOR Atlas.The four 278.4-foot-long PSVs are all of Kongsberg Maritime's UT771 CDL design and were built in China from 2018 to 2020.
Advanced Polymer Coatings Starts Factory Expansion
![Advanced Polymer Coatings President David Keehan. Image courtesy APC](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/vanced-polymer-coatings-president-david-147116.jpg)
Protective tank coatings manufacturer Advanced Polymer Coatings (APC) announced an expansion of its factory, an investment central to its plans to increase its market share of the chemical and product tanker markets.APC President David Keehan said the renovation of its Avon, Ohio factory will almost double its size to 42,000 sq. ft., and a new automated manufacturing system will start production later this year, quadrupling manufacturing capacity of its MarineLINE protective cargo…
Newport News Delivers First Columbia-class Stern
![HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division has delivered the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine stern to General Dynamics Electric Boat (Photo by Ashley Cowan/HII).](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding-division-146790.jpg)
HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division announced today delivery of the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine stern to General Dynamics Electric Boat.The stern for District of Columbia (SSBN 826) was transported by barge from Newport News to Electric Boat’s facility in Quonset Point, R.I..“This is a major milestone in the ramp-up of Columbia-class module production here at NNS,” said Brandi Smith, NNS vice president of Columbia-class submarine construction. “Our shipbuilders have worked with pride to accomplish this milestone…
Report Identifies Four Key US Industrial Carbon Capture Clusters
![Source: Carbon Clean](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-carbon-clean-146704.jpg)
EFI Foundation CEO Ernest J. Moniz has published a new report, supported by carbon capture solutions company Carbon Clean, that describes a new coordinated regional approach in the US with great potential for significant carbon emissions reductions.The report, “A New Industrial Backbone: Exploring U.S. Regional CCUS Hubs for Small-to-Midsize Industrial Emitters” lays out a blueprint that calls for a hub approach to carbon capture.The study identifies four regional hubs in the…
Alicia Barton Named CEO of Vineyard Offshore
![Alicia Barton (File photo courtesy FirstLight Power)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/alicia-barton-file-photo-courtesy-145952.jpg)
U.S.-based offshore wind developer Vineyard Offshore on Monday announced it has named Alicia Barton as the company’s new CEO, starting in January.Barton will take over for Lars T. Pedersen, who has led the company since it was founded in 2022 and before that led the team developing Vineyard Wind, the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the United States, now under construction.“I had the pleasure of working with Alicia during the very early days of the Vineyard Wind project and know she brings an outstanding mix of skills and talent to Vineyard Offshore,” Pedersen said.
Great Lakes Towing Buys Historic Fireboat
![(Photo: The Great Lakes Towing Company)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-the-great-lakes-towing-145678.jpg)
The Great Lakes Towing Company (GLT) announced it has acquired a 62-year-old fireboat from the city of Cleveland, Ohio.The vessel, Anthony J. Celebrezze, was constructed in 1961 by Paach Marine in Erie, Pa. and was used by the Cleveland Fire Department until it was replaced with a new vessel, Garret A. Morgan, in June 2023 and put up for auction.Auction data shows the vessel was sold on November 14 for just over $41,000, including a 12.5% buyer's premium.GLT said its Great Lakes Shipyard division is very familiar with the Anthony J.
Fairbanks Morse Acquires American Fan
![George Whittier (Photo: FMD)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/george-whittier-photo-fmd-145155.jpg)
Defense contractor Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), has acquired American Fan, a axial and centrifugal fan manufacturer based in Fairfield, Ohio.“Now more than ever, Fairbanks Morse Defense remains committed to expanding our growing array of OEM equipment to ensure that our fleet is always mission-ready,” said George Whittier, FMD CEO. “American Fan has a long track record of delivering high-quality products to the U.S.
Inland Waterways: US Making Progress on Infrastructure
![(Photo: Michel Sauret / USACE)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-michel-sauret-usace-144725.jpg)
The United States’ vast network of navigable inland rivers is vital to the nation’s economy, serving as an aquatic superhighway for the efficient shipment of critical commodities like agricultural goods, energy products, building materials and industrial chemicals to destinations within the U.S. and to deepwater ports for export. The Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI), which advocates for a modern, efficient and well-maintained inland waterways, often describes the network as “the…
Making Hydrogen Work: Demo Project in San Francisco Port
![© muddymari / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/muddymari-adobe-stock-144533.jpg)
Hornblower Energy LLC, in partnership with the Port of San Franciso, the U.S. Department of Energy and six corporate partners, including Air Liquide and Glosten, is leading a project to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of using hydrogen (H2) as a maritime fuel.The project is located at Pier 68 in San Francisco. DOE selected the project for funding in 2020. It’s supposed to be completed in 2025 but there are important decision dates before then. So far, project activities have concentrated on planning and modeling.
Ports of Indiana Names Operations Managers at Ohio River Ports
![Ashley Blocker and Michael Graves (Photos: Ports of Indiana)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/ashley-blocker-and-michael-graves-144130.png)
Ports of Indiana has filled two key leadership roles at its Ohio River ports, naming Ashley Blocker and Michael Graves as Operations Managers in Mount Vernon and Jeffersonville, respectively.Blocker, a southwest Indiana native, was promoted to the new role after serving as Operations Analyst for Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon since 2022. She previously worked in multiple roles with Squaw Creek Southern Railroad and has more than 15 years’ experience in port and rail operations, customer relations and data analysis.
Great Lakes Iron Ore, Limestone Trades Rise in August
![(Photo: Lake Carriers’ Association)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-lake-carriers-association-143791.jpg)
Shipments of iron ore and limestone on the Great Lakes for the month of August both increased compared to 2022, up 8.6% and 4.4% respectively, according to latest figures from the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).The 5.5 million tons or iron ore shipped in August was 3.5% above the month’s five-year average, while limestone cargos were above the month’s five-year average by 3.7%, LCA said. Limestone loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.3 million tons, an increase of 5% compared to 2022.
David Clark Company: An American Success Story
![David Clark digital and wireless communication systems provide clear boat crew communications on patrol, offshore and fire/rescue craft. (Photo: David Clark Company)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/david-clark-digital-and-wireless-143364.jpg)
David Clark Company is best known within the marine market for its wireless and digital headset workboat crew communication systems – the Series 9900 Wireless Marine Headset System and the Series 9100 Digital Marine Headset System. The company has over 20 years of experience designing and manufacturing boat crew communication solutions for a variety of workboats, e.g., patrol boats, fire/rescue craft, and offshore service vessels.But you may not know that David Clark Company started…
Lake Michigan Carferry's SS Badger Out for the Season
![SS Badger (Photo: Interlake Maritime Services)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/ss-badger-photo-interlake-maritime-142938.jpg)
A historic Great Lakes car and passenger ferry will be sidelined the rest of the season due to damages it suffered in July. Lake Michigan Carferry said Tuesday that the SS Badger's daily crossings between Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc, Wis., have been suspended indefinitely.“We have made the difficult, and unfortunately unavoidable, decision to suspend our daily crossings for the remainder of the season,” said Mark W. Barker, president of Ohio-based Interlake Maritime Services, parent company of the Lake Michigan Carferry.
MARAD Designates Two New Marine Highway Routes
![(Photo: Eric Haun)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-eric-haun-143242.jpg)
Two new routes have been designated under the U.S. Marine Highway Program (MHP), U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced this week during a visit to Alaska.The newly designated M-11 in Alaska will add over 6,500 miles to the marine highway system, and the M-79 route extends the reach of the Ohio River system by nearly 250 miles in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. These designations allow any eligible applicant on these routes to apply for future U.S. Marine Highway Program grants…
Great Lakes Iron Ore, Limestone Trades On the Rise
![(Photo: Lake Carriers’ Association)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-lake-carriers-association-142940.jpg)
Shipments of iron ore and limestone on the Great Lakes rose in the month of July, according to latest figures published by trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.8 million tons in July, an increase of 8.9% compared to a year ago, while limestone shipments rose 4.7% to 4.2 million tons, LCA said. The respective trades were above the month’s five-year average by 4.8% and 6.6% respectively.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 25.6 million tons, an increase of 34.3% compared to the same point in 2022.
Commercial Fishing on the Great Lakes is a Family Affair
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Although the number of fishermen who make a living on the waters of the Great Lakes is much diminished from a half century ago, the region's commercial whitefish fishery continues to be viable and profitable.Henriksen Fisheries is one of about a dozen commercial entities in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan, focused on trap netting whitefish in Green Bay and the waters surrounding the Door Peninsula.Charlie Henriksen started his family-owned fishing business in Door County in 1987.Originally from Illinois…
Dominion Sees Virginia Offshore Wind Farm Complete in Late 2026
![Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project (Photo: Stephen Boutwell / BOEM)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/coastal-virginia-offshore-wind-pilot-142967.jpg)
U.S. energy company Dominion Energy said on Friday that its roughly $10 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project was on budget and on track for completion in late 2026.The company said in its second quarter earnings presentation that it expected to get a Record of Decision from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM) in the second half of 2023. The Record of Decision is a step in the process before construction can start.The roughly 2,600-megawatt (MW) project consists of 176 turbines…