Black Water Systems News

Steelways, Inc. announced the departure of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Crane Barge, Snag Barge 1401. Snag Barge 1401, a heavy duty crane barge built by Steelways Inc. in Newburgh, N.Y. for the Army Corp of Engineers for work on the Mississippi River, measures 200’ long by 50’ wide by 9’ high, and  is equipped with a 42,000 gallon fuel tank, 18,000 gallon potable water tank, six ballast tanks and a 1,110 square foot deckhouse. The vessel is also outfitted with fuel, lube oil…

Owners and shipyards come to the realization that alternative composition piping and pumps represent the way forward. You cannot put a vessel to work without pumps, valves and piping. Too often, product selection is left to the discretion of those who view these items as inconsequential decisions, driven primarily by not much more than initial cost. That mindset, in an atmosphere of cost-cutting, the quest for fuel economy and reduction in total lifecycle costs, is changing – albeit ever so slowly. Led in part by success in the military and naval sector, workboat operators are now taking a hard look at both plastic and glass reinforced epoxy (GRE) piping, as well as pumps and valves built with alternative composite materials.

In response to growth in the inland waterwaty cruising market, De Hoop's Lobith shipyard has recently expanded its repair and service facilities. This year De Hoop Shiprepair anticipates an impressive series of vessels to visit the yard for major or minor modifications. Amongst the line-up are: River Discovery II, River Navigator, Bizet, River Melody, River Harmony, River Rhapsody and River Concerto as well as the Amadeus Symphony, Amadeus Classic, Amadeus Princess, Amadeus Diamond, Amadeus Elegant and Amadeus Brilliant.

TRAC Ecological Products, manufacturer of environment-friendly products for onboard equipment cleaning and maintenance, has appointed Pac-West Marketing to represent its product line in the western U.S. and British Columbia. Marine growth & scale build-up are major causes of water-cooled equipment failure. Traditional methods of cleaning (such as mechanical brushing or harsh acids) can damage equipment and are potentially harmful to the user and the environment. TRAC Ecological has developed a line of safe, biodegradable chemicals that efficiently & economically dissolve scale, barnacles, zebra mussels, calcium, rust, lime and other mineral deposits that can reduce water flow.