Fall River News

Massachusetts offshore wind developer Mayflower Wind announced it has hired Will Cotta as its supply chain manager.Cotta, who has experience working with the Mass Clean Energy Center and the offshore wind industry, is charged with growing Mayflower’s supply chain in the New Bedford and Fall River area as well as across Massachusetts.“Will has the knowledge, insights and experience that enables him to make sure that offshore wind development is done in a manner that is fully compatible with existing ocean uses and with environmental stewardship in mind.

Offshore wind caught a favorable gust with the 2020 election of Joe Biden, and the following breeze from the early 2021 reconfiguration of the U.S. Senate toward Democrats. Though widely touted as a growth engine for maritime businesses (as well as shoreside trades), the latter years of the Trump administration seemed to see delay after delay.The class society DNV has been involved in offshore wind since its outset in the early 1990s, and now has 2,000 energy experts working in its efforts supporting this power source.

George Raymond Duclos, age 86, died peacefully on February 15, 2020 surrounded by his family. The son of the late Raymond and Albertine (Bertha Chenard) Duclos. Born in 1933 in Fall River, MA, George spent most of his life in Westport, MA spending summers on the Watuppa Pond and moving to the Pond permanently in the 1960's.George is survived by his wife and life-long partner in adventure, Pauline D. (Duperre) Duclos, and his four children: John (Kimberly), Peter (Kimberly), Carol Hegarty (Steven) of Westport…

The U.S. Navy has a balanced fleet, but it wants to grow bigger and better. Will the budget allow both? Maritime Reporter's March 2017 cover story on the U.S. Navy was all about the numbers. There exists several plans to grow the fleet beyond the current number of 308 ships, the Mitre recommendation of 414 ships, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment 340-ship proposal, and the Navy’s decision to grow the fleet to 355 ships, and the Trump administration’s 350. With so many numbers being bandied about, there are even more suggestions on how to get there.

Pacific Partnership 2017 (PP17) and Malaysian partners embarked aboard expeditionary fast transport USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4) arrived in Kuching, Malaysia, Apr. 14. As the second and main mission stop in Malaysia, and the third mission stop overall, activities in Kuching will kick off the large focus on humanitarian aid and disaster response, as well civil engineering projects for Pacific Partnership 2017 Malaysia. According to Lt. j.g. Robin Pepper, the mission's engineering sail-in echelon officer in charge, Kuching is going to be an exciting change of pace for the sail-in team after working only one-on-one with the host nation engineers at their last projects in Sri Lanka.

Pacific Partnership 2017 made its initial mission stop in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, March 7, with the arrival of Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4). This marked the first mission to Sri Lanka in the 12-year history of the annual civil-military operation, and the Pacific Partnership mission in Sri Lanka continues through March 18 and will make follow-on mission stops in Malaysia and Vietnam. Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, and aims to enhance regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and preparedness for man-made and natural disasters.

The U.S. Navy is joining allied and partner nation forces for the 12th Pacific Partnership mission, scheduled to begin March 1. This annual maritime operation will help improve disaster response preparedness and capacity, while enhancing partnerships with participating nations throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. This year's mission will be led by the deputy commander and staff from Coastal Riverine Group 1, embarked aboard expeditionary fast transport USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4), and will include more than 200 supporting military and civilian personnel from the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that SSN 798, a Virginia-class attack submarine, will bear the name USS Massachusetts during a taped video message at Gillette Stadium. The submarine will be named to honor the history its namesake state has with the Navy. This history extends to 1775, before the official founding of the United States, to the time when George Washington founded the Continental Navy in an effort to protect the 13 colonies from British attack. By 1800, six years after the establishment of the Department of the Navy, one of its first 14 ship yards was incorporated in Boston. And in 1836, The Boston Naval Hospital, one of the first of three hospitals dedicated solely to the care of naval personnel, opened.

Austal’s U.S. operation consists of more than 4,000 employees supporting the design, construction and sustainment of two U.S. Navy programs, the 127-meter, trimaran Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the 103-meter, catamaran high-speed troop and equipment transport known as the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). Austal has block-buy contracts in place for both programs totaling over $5 billion. In the past year, it has  delivered the Jackson (LCS 6), USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) and USNS Trenton (JHSV 5).

This year the SeaPerch Program will celebrate a half decade of national underwater robotic championships. On the last Saturday in May, the fifth National SeaPerch Challenge will be held on the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMassD) campus where 150 teams of middle and high school students from across the country will compete on the national stage. The phenomenal growth of the event is evident with a simple look back to the inaugural National Challenge, staged in Philadelphia five years ago attracting 38 teams and 187 students.

On September 30, 2014, Austal USA successfully completed the launch process of Trenton (JHSV 5) - the second Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) launched by Austal in 2014. This 103-meter high-speed catamaran represents the U.S. Department of Defense’s next generation multiuse platform. It is part of a 10-ship program worth more than $1.6 billion. The launch of Trenton was conducted in a multi-step process that involved having Berard Transportation transfer the ship from Assembly Bay 3 onto a Crowley deck barge, which was then towed to BAE Systems Southeast Shipyard.

The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) from Austal USA yesterday, a week shy of six months from the date they took delivery of JHSV 3. This is the fourth Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) delivered to date for the JHSV Program which totals 10 ships at over $1.6 billion. Regarding the delivery, Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle said, “Delivery of this ship to the Navy is the culmination of many hours of hard work and dedication by Austal USA’s incredible shipbuilding professionals, as well as our teammates from General Dynamics AIS and the Navy.

The Navy informs it has accepted delivery of Joint High Speed Vessel, the future 'USNS Fall River' from the Austal USA shipbuilder. The delivery marks a major milestone, the official transfer of the vessel from the shipbuilder to the Navy. USNS Fall River is the U.S. Navy's fourth Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). "Today the Navy received a tremendous asset," said Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Manager Capt. Henry Stevens. Joint High Speed Vessels are versatile, non-combatant transport ships built from a commercial design with limited modifications for military use. These ships enable the fast, intra-theater transport of troops, military vehicles and equipment. Each JHSV is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots.

Teufelberger is a dynamic group of companies working with three key technologies in three divisions with 220 years of experience. In addition to Synthetic Fiber Rope, Teufelberger produces Steel Wire Ropes as well as Extrusion. The firm’s towing, mooring, and general purpose marine lines provide an array of options for commercial marine industry professionals. Whatever your need, Teufelberger has a line for it – on time and on budget. Teufelberger’s Commercial Marine product line is engineered to provide strength…

On August 6, 2014, Austal USA successfully completed the launch of the future USS Montgomery (LCS 8). The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. This vessel is the second of ten 127-meter Independence-variant LCS class ships Austal has been contracted to build for the U.S. Navy as prime contractor subsequent to a $3.5 billion block buy in 2010. Craig Perciavalle, Austal USA President, commented, “We are very proud to launch the ship named after the capital of Alabama, especially since the greatest shipbuilders made it happen right here in Mobile, Alabama”. Mr.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the probable cause of the sinking of tall ship 'Bounty' was the captain's reckless decision to sail the vessel into the well forecasted path of Hurricane Sandy, which subjected the aging vessel and the inexperienced crew to conditions from which the vessel could not recover. Contributing to the sinking was the lack of effective safety oversight by the vessel organization. On October 29, 2012, the tall ship Bounty sank off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, while attempting to transit through the forecasted path of Hurricane Sandy.

On January 16, 2014, Austal USA successfully completed the launch process of the USNS Fall River (JHSV 4). Recently christened, this 103-meter high-speed catamaran represents the U.S. Department of Defense’s next generation multiuse platform. It is part of a 10-ship program, the funds for all of which have been appropriated, worth over $1.6 billion. The launch of USNS Fall River was conducted in a multistep process that involved having Berard Transportation transfer the ship from Assembly Bay 3 onto a deck barge, which was then towed to BAE Systems Southeast Shipyard.

Over 400 naval and shipyard guests attended the ceremony, which was held underneath and between the iconic twin hulls of the fourth Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) 'USNS Fall River'. The Honorable Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, was the principal speaker at the event. The 338-foot catamaran vessel was named Fall River by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, after the tenth largest city in the state of Massachusetts. The ship’s sponsor, Mrs. Diane Bemus Patrick, the First Lady of Massachusetts, has her own record of excellence and distinguished professional and public service.

The Navy will christen Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) Fall River on Jan. 11, during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony in Mobile, Ala. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Diane Patrick, the first lady of Massachusetts, will serve as the ship's sponsor. Upon delivery to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC), Fall River will be designated as a United States naval ship (USNS), and will have a core crew of 21 civilian mariners who will operate and navigate the ship.

First of Austal’s ten-ship Littoral Combat Ship contract. On December 14, 2013, Austal USA successfully completed the launch of the future USS Jackson (LCS 6). The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. This vessel is the first of ten 127-meter Independence-variant LCS class ships Austal has been contracted to build for the U.S. Navy as prime contractor subsequent to a $3.5 billion block buy in 2010.

Austal held a keel-laying ceremony for the fourth Joint High Speed Vessel Fall River (JHSV 4), one of ten Austal-designed 103-meter U.S. Navy Joint High Speed Vessels under contract with the U.S. Navy. The ship’s sponsor, Diane Bemus Patrick, was present at the ceremony to authenticate the keel. Mrs. Patrick, First Lady of Massachusetts where the city of Fall River is located, was chosen to sponsor the ship by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. Mrs. Patrick was assisted by Doc Selvie who is an “A” Class welder that has been part of the Austal team since May of 2007.

US-based supplier JW Fishers reminds that ROV deployment may prove safer & cheaper than diving. The company quote many examples to back up their statement, including one where the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) use a Fishers SeaLion-2 to help in underwater maintenance of Ice Harbor Lock and Dam in Washington State.The dam is more than 2,800 feet long and 100 feet high and provides hydroelectric generation, recreation, and irrigation for the area’s residents and businesses. One of the tools helping the Corps in its inspection and maintenance operations is Fishers SeaLion ROV.

US-based ROV provider, JW Fishers, report its Sea Otter ROV's go deep for government & industry. The company report that many and varied organizations are acquiring ROVs to assist in their underwater operations. These highly maneuverable remote operated vehicles perform a variety of tasks at depths of 1,000 feet or more. Deploying an ROV instead of a diver can reduce the cost and increase the safety of any search or inspection operation. One of the tools helping the US Army Corps of Engineers in its inspection and maintenance operations is Fishers SeaLion ROV.