Freeport Harbor News

KOTUG Takes Full Ownership of Its Bahamas Towage JV with SEACOR

KOTUG International, a marine services and towage provider based in the Netherlands, announced on Thursday it has concluded its acquisition of Kotug Seabulk Maritime (KSM), taking full ownership of the Caribbean marine towage business.KOTUG said it has acquired the interest of its joint venture partner, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based SEACOR Holdings via its Seabulk subsidiary KS Maritime Holdings, owner of the 50% share in KSM.Founded in 2017, KSM acts as the exclusive provider of maritime terminal support services for Buckeye Partners’ Bahamas Hub…

USACE Awarded a Slew of Dredging Work in the First Half of 2023

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is snapping back from the doldrums of COVID-19, wrapping up a strong first half of 2023 with a slew of awarded dredging work.“The federal government is no different from state and local governments, nor the private sector when it comes to COVID-19 work related recovery and USACE is not an exception,” said William P. Doyle, CEO of the Dredging Contractors of America. “The Army Corps has been steadily issuing contract awards since February, and that’s on the award side.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Secures Dredging Contracts Worth $186.6M

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, a U.S.-based dredging services giant said Thursday it had secured two major dredging contracts in Texas, worth $186.6 million in total.The contracts are for Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project, Dredging Reaches 1, 2, and 4 ($157.4 million) and Galveston Entrance Channel and Houston Ship Channel Dredging Project ($29.2 million)The Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project entails deepening the channel to authorized depths of 51 to 56 feet, which will make Port of Freeport the deepest port in Texas.

New Marine Navigation System at Port Freeport

Port Freeport, located outside of Houston, is now fitted with a NOAA system that improves safe and efficient marine navigation. The technology is part of a nationwide network called Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System, or PORTS.Freeport PORTS is the 38th system in this network of precision marine navigation sensors. The integrated series of sensors track oceanographic and meteorological conditions as they unfold around the port. This will increase the navigation safety of vessels entering and exiting Port Freeport…

Oil Output, Vessel Traffic Halted as Nicholas Lashes Texas

Hurricane Nicholas on Tuesday took another swipe at U.S. Gulf Coast energy facilities, cutting offshore oil and gas output gradually recovering from the last storm and disrupting power to onshore pipeline, gas and chemical plants.Royal Dutch Shell halted production its Perdido offshore oil platform due to heavy winds, and U.S. liquefied natural gas producer Freeport LNG said processing at its Texas coast facility was halted, likely due to a power outage.Power losses briefly cut Colonial Pipeline's main gasoline and diesel lines out of Houston…

Power Outages Hit Texas Ports Following Hurricane Nicholas

The Port of Houston on Tuesday said all terminals would remain closed due to the effects of Hurricane Nicholas and widespread power outages, and the Freeport Harbor Channel in Texas also suspended vessel movements due to unsafe conditions and power outages, according to notices from both ports.The Port of Houston anticipates resuming vessel movements on Tuesday evening and normal operations on Wednesday, then notice said.(Reporting by Liz Hampton in Denver)

GLDD Reports $118.8 Million in New Dredging Contracts

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation has secured several major dredging awards totaling $118.8 million, the U.S.' largest dredging services provider announced on Wednesday.The awarded deepening, coastal protection, and maintenance dredging work includes projects in South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and New York.The Post 45 Contract 4 Charleston Lower Harbor New Work Dredging Project (Capital, S.C., $52.9 million) consists of maintenance and new work dredging of material from the Charleston Lower Harbor to Hugh Leatherman Terminal.

GLDD to Widen Freeport Harbor Ship Channel

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) says it has been awarded a a dredging contract valued at over $30 million to widen the entrance and jetty channels of the Freeport Ship Channel near Freeport, Texas. Approximately 4.5 miles of channel will be widened by 200 feet, enabling larger ships to safely navigate the 600 feet-wide channel. A portion of the dredged material is planned to be beneficially used to nourish the coastline in Quintana, TX. Work on the project is scheduled to commence in October 2014. GLDD explains that some of the largest petrochemical and plastics production complexes in the world are located at Port Freeport and are expected to benefit from the economic efficiencies that the wider channel will provide…

New USACE Contracts

RLB Contracting, Inc, Port Lavaca, Texas was awarded on July, 17, 2009 a $ 9,670,148 firm-fixed-price contract to Freeport Harbor, Texas, Inner Harbor and turning basin in Brazoria County, Texas, Levee construction and dredging. The work consist of raising dredged placement levee by truck haul, replacing drop-outlets structures, dredging of material and depositing it in a placement are. Work is to be performed on Freeport, Brazoria County, Texas with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2010. Twenty bids were solicited with five bids received. USA Engineer District, Galveston, Texas is the contracting activity (W912HY-09-C-0014).

Bulk/Refrigeration Cargo Ship at Auction

International Boat & Marine Auction Services, in cooperation with Marine Business Exchange, Inc. (marinebusinessexchange.com) announced the auction of the 1982 Bulk/Refrig. Cargo Hauling Vessel, M/V June B, to be sold to the highest bidder, no minimum reserve. The auction will take place Wednesday, March 25, 2:00 p.m., at the Freeport Harbor, Bahamas - Mail Dock. 350 ml. Max. Port of Registry / Flag: St. Built: Japan 1982 (Wakamatu Shipbuilders) L.O.A.: 69.00 M (226 Ft. Volume Capacity: 45000 Cu. Ft.

Freeport Harbor Improvement Project Meeting to be Held at Port

Representatives of Port Freeport will meet with a delegation of Congressional staffers and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to tour the Port and discuss the viability of the Freeport Harbor Improvement Project that includes the plan to deepen the federal channel up to 60 feet and widen it up to 600 feet. Thus far, Port Freeport has received wide-spread, bi-partisan support for this critical project from the Texas delegation as well as the Governor's office of Federal Affairs in Washington. At 60 feet, Port Freeport will be the deepest-draft port on the Gulf of Mexico. Project plans will also include the feasibility of widening the Port’s Jetty and Entrance Channel to accommodate larger vessels and two-way vessel traffic.