George Allen News

Sea Machines is bringing autonomous self-driving systems to the world of workboats. At an impressive virtual reality demonstration seen late last year and then again at a frigid, late winter visit to the Boston waterfront, the future of workboat technology became all too evident for this writer. The late George Allen, former head coach of the Washington Redskins football team perhaps said it best when he coined the phrase, “The future is now.” If so, then Michael Johnson, the founder of Sea Machines Robotics has brought that reality to the marine industry. The technology company targets the emerging market of autonomous marine vessels. That’s not some sort of futuristic vision; those capabilities are here, now.

Former USCG Admiral Thad Allen is a transformational leader in the history of the service, a rock through thick and thin. Today he talks about resource allocation, risk management and homeland security. As part of Booz Allen Hamilton’s Justice and Homeland Security business group, Executive Vice President and former U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen leads the development of thought leadership and client engagements regarding the future direction of law enforcement and homeland security. The Coast Guard is under pressure to either pare its mission mix or downscale what it does.

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Newport News sector is teamed with Electric Boat to build the first four ships of the Virginia-class. Texas is the second ship of the class and the first one that will undergo final assembly and delivery at Newport News in 2005. The keel that will be laid for Texas is part of the stern section of the ship. The keynote speaker for the ceremony will be U.S. Sen. John Warner of Virginia. Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kent Kresa, Northrop Grumman Newport News President Tom Schievelbein, Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, U.S. Sen. Boat President Mike Toner. Ceremony attendants will include both Northrop Grumman Newport News and Electric Boat employees who are building Texas, U.S.

christened the nation's 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, George H. W. Bush (CVN 77). President of the United States, George H. history to participate in the christening of his namesake ship. to sea," Bush said. the commander in chief to be on board. daughter, Doro Bush Koch. Mrs. sparkling wine across the ship's bow during the ceremony. President George W. during the ceremony as a special guest speaker. George H.W. Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen; Virginia Gov. Kaine; Adm. Michael Mullen, Chief of Naval Operations; Ronald D. and Mike Petters, president of Northrop Grumman Newport News. aircraft carriers. heat, freezing cold and in the rain," he said. "It is dangerous work. It is difficult and demanding work. And it is noble work.

The Senate Commerce Committee is not expecting any problems approving the nomination of Prince William Board of Supervisors Chairman Sean Connaughton to lead the U.S. Maritime Administration. At a confirmation hearing, Connaughton said he would focus on relieving congestion of the nation's waterways, maritime and port development, national security and environmental protection. Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen and Congressman Tom Davis spoke in support of Connaughton. Allen said Connaughton, a maritime and environmental lawyer with a Washington firm, was particularly well-qualified for the position. President Bush nominated Connaughton for the post last month. Connaughton previously served as a senior transportation associate for the American Petroleum Institute.

Ahead of a House hearing to tackle the issue of crime aboard cruise ships, a congressional memo on March 7 details 177 sexual misconduct incidents, ranging from inappropriate touching to rape, and four robberies of amounts over $5,000 over a three-year period. During that time, approximately 25 million people embarked on cruises from North America ports, the memo said. Disclosure of the data, supplied by Holland America Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises and others, is unusual because cruise lines are not required by law to publish comprehensive crime statistics and criminal law varies greatly on international waters. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., wants to change that and, as chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, is working on legislation to make such reporting mandatory.

The Pentagon is widely expected to clear the proposed $2.1 billion merger between the two remaining U.S. builders of nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, eliminating prospects of any future competition between former rivals. Defense Department officials recognize the peculiarities of the situation faced by General Dynamics Corp. and Newport News Shipbuilding Inc., according to antitrust lawyers, industry consultants and Wall Street analysts. With only one major customer -- the U.S. military -- and declining demand for nuclear submarines, there is simply not enough business to go around. "Let's face it, there's only one buyer in these kinds of situations," said Richard Steuer, chairman of the antitrust practices group at Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler in New York.

General Dynamics Electric Boat will christen the Virginia (SSN-774), the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced nuclear attack submarine, at a ceremony at its shipyard here Saturday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD). Ship sponsor is Lynda Johnson Robb, daughter of former President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, and the wife of former U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb (D- Va.) The event's principal speaker is U.S. Sen. George Allen (R- Va.). Capt. David J. Kern, a 1981 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is the ship's commanding officer. The Virginia is the first U.S. submarine designed to satisfy the requirements of regional and near-land missions in the post-Cold War era.

In a June 3 letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels, 23 members of the United States Senate, two of which chair key Senate committees, have expressed their strong opposition to the proposal in the FY 2004 budget to assess between 25 and 50 percent of the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to cover not only the currently mandated costs of new capital improvements and major rehabilitation on the inland system, but also the costs of operating and maintaining the nation's inland waterways. The senators - John Breaux (D-LA); Arlen Specter (R-PA); Mary Landrieu (D-LA); John Warner (R-VA, Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee)…

of operating and maintaining the nation's inland waterways. bi-partisan coalition of key legislators from a cross section of the country. the Inland Waterways Trust Fund through a fuel tax of 20 cents-per-gallon. locks and dams on the inland waterway system and major rehabilitation. and dams continue to erode. nation. waterways," the letter states. security. commodities which are generally described as the 'building blocks' of the U.S. the letter continued. infrastructure. which is deposited into general revenues. well as for operations and maintenance of the nation's coastal ports. the rapid mobilization of U.S. forces. transportation to congested highways and rail lines. negatively impact U.S. competitiveness," the letter said.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced four new disposal contracts for obsolete ships in its National Defense Reserve Fleet. Two of the ships are in the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia, and two are in the Suisun Bay near San Francisco, CA. Three of the ships will be dismantled in Brownsville, TX, and one in Chesapeake, VA. “Our ship disposal policy of ‘worst first’ has worked for us,” said Deputy Maritime Administrator John Jamian. “We have cleared out the ships in the worst condition, most of which were in the James River. The Santa Lucia, a 1966-vintage cargo ship, currently in the James River site, will be towed to the Marine Metal facility in Brownsville…