Palm Beach County News

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced nearly $10 million for seven projects that will accelerate development and testing of marine energy technologies. These investments advance research on wave-powered technology for use in seawater desalination and support a feasibility study for a potential ocean current test facility. “Marine energy technologies have incredible potential to provide clean electricity as well as clean water,” said Alejandro Moreno, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, announced the receipt of several major dredging awards totaling $138.8 million.The awarded work includes Trujillo Alto Design and Build for the Lago Loiza (Carraízo) Dredging Project (Maintenance, Puerto Rico, $93.1 million); Townsends Inlet to Cape May Inlet Project (Coastal Protection, New Jersey, $28.8 million); Palm Beach Harbor Maintenance Dredging Project (Maintenance, Florida…

A newly constructed barge has entered service for American Sugar Refining, Inc., a member of West Palm Beach-based ASR Group, and its parent companies – Florida Crystals Corporation and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. The 450-foot-long Knot Refined departed from the Port of Palm Beach on Friday to deliver Palm Beach County-grown and -milled raw sugar to ASR Group’s Domino Sugar Refinery in New York.Built by North Kingstown, R.I. shipyard Senesco Marine, the 450-foot-long Knot Refined took more than two years to construct and is the first oceangoing…

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation on Monday announced the receipt of several major dredging awards in Georgia and Florida totaling $60.9 million which will be included in the year-end 2020 backlog number.The awarded work includes:North County Comprehensive Shore Protection Project (Coastal Protection, Florida, $21.2 million)U.S. Naval Station Mayport and Jacksonville Harbor Maintenance Dredging Project (Maintenance, Florida, $21.2 million)U.S. Naval Station Kings Bay Entrance Channel Maintenance Dredging Project (Maintenance…

Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group today announced the acquisition of Lauderdale Marine Center (LMC), the nation's largest yacht repair facility in terms of the number of large vessels it can haul and service. Equity for the transaction comes from Carlyle Realty Partners VII, a U.S. real estate investment fund. "In partnership with the outstanding management team and staff at LMC, we will build upon LMC's success through growth and continued innovation and superb customer service," said Thad Paul, Managing Director at The Carlyle Group. Located in Fort Lauderdale on the New River, visible from I-95 and close to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, LMC is a 50-acre facility consisting of a boatyard, marina and marine service center.

After a protracted procurement process Viking has delivered a high speed, high capacity landing craft to Palm Beach County, FL. Originally specified as a catamaran, the final design by Response Marine is more of a tri-hull as the center hull was enlarged and the bridge span lowered in order to accommodate the required loading range without increasing draft. According to Response Marine’s Bill Lincoln, “the customer has experience with standard monohull landing craft and wanted…

Netherlands-based maritime services firm Svitzer Salvage Americas Inc. has signed a 22,961-square-foot storage warehouse lease for a strategic operations center in Dania Beach, FL, announced Morris Southeast Group/CORFAC International Principal Ken Morris, SIOR. Morris represented Svitzer Salvage in the five-year lease for two adjacent bays located at Broward International Commerce Center (BICC), 345-349 N. Bryan Road, Building 500 in Dania Beach, FL. The company intends to use the space as a storage warehouse for its salvage operations and occupancy is projected for September 2012. Dania Beach is south of Ft. Lauderdale, north of Hollywood and about 22 miles from Miami.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Marina Del Ray, Calif. - Denison Yacht Sales, a full-service global yacht brokerage and yacht charter firm, recently hired eight new yacht brokers and a charter fleet manager. The new hires will expand the company's presence at its Florida and California offices. Joining the Fort Lauderdale brokerage are Skip Denison, Juan Pasch, Peter Quintal, and Gene Echols. Pasch will specifically be assisting in the sale of new Beneteau G.T.'s. New brokers to the California location include Dave Millett, Rick Peters, John Zagorski and Ed Gillespie.

There were signs at the recent Palm Beach International Boat Show that the much anticipated turnaround of the yachting industry has begun. Compared to 2011, attendance was up 12 percent cumulatively the first two days of the four-day show. Show Management, the company which produces the boat show, reported more boats on display in several categories this year, including a 35 percent increase in yachts over 100 feet and 29 percent more yachts in the 80 to 100 foot range. Another criterion, exhibitor revenue, increased 5 percent, according to Show Management.

The Port of Palm Beach District selected Florida Crystals as its partner to develop the South Florida Regional Intermodal Logistic Center in western Palm Beach County in order to strategically meet the demands of future cargo traffic. Western Palm Beach County has struggled with soaring unemployment rates of more than 40 percent and little or no economic activity. The Inland Logistics Center has the potential to create 600 jobs per one million square feet of distribution space. "We are hopeful now that the local governments have spoken Governor Crist will put aside his recent differences with Florida Crystals and not continue to cause economic harm to the residents of western Palm Beach County," said Gaston Cantens, Vice President of Florida Crystals.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice stating that it plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) relating to the proposed Seafarer U.S. Pipeline System project. It will also hold a public scoping meeting in Rivera Beach, Florida on July 22, 2004. Comments on the project should be submitted by August 16. The project involves construction of an undersea natural gas pipeline from Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas to Palm Beach County, Florida. 69 Fed. Reg. 41248 (HK Law).

The Port of Palm Beach will celebrate the grand opening of the new 100,000 sq. ft. Cruise Terminal and Maritime Office Complex on February 11. Festivities will include the inaugural State of the Port Address before local, regional and state dignitaries and a tour of the new Cruise Terminal. The Port of Palm Beach District is an independent special taxing district of the state of Florida. The Port District, located in Palm Beach County and established in 1915 by the citizens of Palm Beach County, covers a land area of 971 square miles. The Port is one of the busiest container ports in Florida and continues to be an economic engine for Palm Beach County.

A 28 x 10 ft. Packman high performance landing craft was delivered to Palm Beach County, Fla. The vessel is outfitted with a 7.5 ft. bow door, dual 2,500 lb. 12V bow door winches, three in. D guard rubber on gunnel, push knees, benching wear plate, 100 gal. below-deck fuel system, elevated control station, flood and spotlights, horn, depth sounder, VHF radio with loud hailer, DuPont marine paint system, and twin 90 hp outboard motors. Constructed of all welded aluminum plate by the William E. Munson Co., the vessel weighs 8,000 lbs., has a 20 ft. long open cargo deck and maximum load capacity of 8,000 lbs. The top speed is 28 mph. The vessel will be used as a work, support and crew boat for the Palm Beach County Parks Department.