Mark Richards News

New Lighting Technology offers bright ideas for better interior and exterior lighting that saves money, manpowerThe U.S. Navy is leaving traditional lighting behind for Solid State Lighting (SSL) with very long-life solid-state light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. Technology has illuminated new ways to light ships that are safer, more efficient and more affordable. Taking advantage of the new technology has its challenges, such as finding cost effective lighting that is rugged…

The builder of luxury yachts Grand Banks Yachts swung to a net profit of $1.2 million for the first quarter ended Sept 30 compared to a net loss of $1.3 million for the year-ago period. Following restructuring efforts after a major acquisition, gross profit margin increased to 24.5% from 9.5% a year ago. The SGX Mainboard-listed builder yachts said net profit rose after introducing initiatives to integrate design, production and marketing following the acquisition of Palm Beach Motor Yacht Co of Australia, which was completed on Aug 1, 2014. Since the acquisition, the Group has aligned production between facilities in Malaysia and Australia. The Group migrated production of certain Palm Beach models to Malaysia where costs are lower.

Eighty-nine Crowley Maritime Corp.-owned and operated vessels were honored with Certificates of Environmental Achievement for years of safe operations during the eleventh-annual Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) awards ceremony today. Crowley received an award for each vessel that worked at least two consecutive years without an environmental incident. The 89 vessels have logged a combined 968 years of service without incident, a true testament to Crowley’s commitment to keeping harbors and oceans clean.

Sponsored by the American Association of Port Authorities and hosted by the Unified Port of San Diego, a workshop examining port-related economic development programs, analyzing solutions to development/funding challenges and quantifying results will be held Feb. 20-21, 2014 (Day 1, 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.; Day 2, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 noon) at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Boulevard, San Diego, Calif. Among the key topics on the minds of Western Hemisphere port development…

Large Diameter Drilling (LDD), an Acteon company, has won a contract to supply drilling equipment and personnel for the delivery of foundation installation services at Liverpool 2, the new deepwater container terminal for the U.K. port. The contract is part of a major initiative to expand Liverpool’s dock area and to improve local infrastructure; the new terminal will more than double the number of containers handled in the North West of England. LDD mobilized the first drilling rig…

Large Diameter Drilling (LDD), an Acteon company, say they have won a contract to supply drilling equipment and personnel for the delivery of foundation installation services at the UK's new Liverpool 2 container terminal. The contract is part of a major initiative to expand Liverpool’s dock area and to improve local infrastructure; the new terminal will more than double the number of containers handled in the North West of England. LDD say that the contract was won on the basis…

This year's fleet for the 68th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in December reaches 60 already. 'Wild Oats Xl' the boat to beat. The boat to beat for line honours this year will be Bob Oatley‘s super maxi Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards. It was beaten into second place last year by Anthony Bell’s Investec Loyal, which won by a margin of only three minutes and eight seconds, the fourth closest finish in the history of the race. Wild Oats XI is the race record holder and has claimed line honours in five of the last seven Hobart races…