Red Rock News

Founded as the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and renamed Military Sealift Command in 1970, MSC today not only support the Navy, but we are the Department of Defense's provider of all sealift. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently interviewed Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, U.S. Navy, for insights on the service today and it’s needs to grow in the future.What makes MSC so vital to the Navy’s fleet and our military forces around the world?When we  look at the history of contested logistics in World War II…

Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein Verft and Nexans Marine Operations have marked the start of construction of a new DP3 cable-laying vessel (CLV) Nexans Aurora in a steel cutting ceremony held on January 19, 2024.Four months after signing the shipbuilding contract, Nexans Marine Operations and Ulstein Verft officially started he construction of Nexans’ next cable laying vessel.Attending the steel cutting ceremony at the Crist hull yard were representatives from Nexans, Ulstein Verft…

Norwegian offshore crane supplier Red Rock has been hired once again by Ulstein Verft to deliver upgraded crane package for a new and updated version of the DP3 cable laying vessel (CLV) Nexans Aurora.The cable-laying vessel will feature a split turntable on deck capable of holding up to 10,000t of cable, an under-deck turntable with a 3,500t cable capacity.It will be one of the world’s most advanced cable layer vessels, measuring 31 meters in width and 149.9 meters in length.

Norway-based crane manufacturer Red Rock has won an order from shipbuilder Vard for equipment supply for a service operations vessel (SOV) ordered last week by North Star Renewables for work on the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in the UK.As previously reported, the vessel will be operating on Dogger Bank C and is the third order of a VARD 4 12 SOV. Red Rock will deliver one 2T 3D Motion Compensated crane, one 2T Boatlanding crane, and one 1T Shipboard crane. Equipment deliveries…

Marine robotics company Ocean Infinity announced it has acquired Red Rock, a technology company with solutions that will enable autonomous port operations, an enabler for future uncrewed shipping.Red Rock is developing digital and autonomous solutions in an effort to revolutionize lifting and handling both onshore and offshore.The acquisition will combine Ocean Infinity’s ‘Armada’ robotic vessels and low emission operations with Red Rock’s ability to develop hardware and software solutions for remote and autonomous handling.

Norway-based crane maker Red Rock has won a contract with shipbuilder Vard to deliver equipment for three service offshore vessels (SOVs) Vard is building in Vietnam for the UK-based shipowner North Star Renewables. The vessels will be operating on the first two phases of what will be the world's largest offshore wind farm - the Dogger Bank wind farm in the UK North Sea.Red Rock will deliver 2 x 2T 3D Motion Compensated cranes, 1 x 5T 3D Motion Compensated crane, 3 x 2T Boat landing cranes, and 3 x 1T Shipboard crane.

U.S. offshore vessel operator Hornbeck Offshore, normally providing services to the offshore oil and gas industry, has now won a contract with the U.S. Navy.The company last week won a $7,510,000 firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements for the long-term charter of the U.S. flagged offshore support vessel HOS Red Rock, which will provide support for Navy operations-at-sea.  This contract includes a one-year base period with three one-year extension option periods, as well as one 11-month option period which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $39,702,000.  Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed, if all options are exercised, by March 14, 2026.

UK-based offshore vessel operator Seacat Services has said that its recently launched catamaran Seacat Rainbow has gone straight on to a long-term charter at the Beatrice offshore wind farm.Seacat Rainbow will support Operations & Maintenance activity for the service team working at the Beatrice offshore wind farm, joining its sister vessel Seacat Weatherly, which is currently on a charter with wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.Both vessels are Chartwell 24 catamaran designs by naval architect Chartwell Marine.

Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the UK's flagship technology innovation and research center for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy, has launched a new industry-backed national technology accelerator program.The program is designed to support innovative SMEs to commercialize new technologies that will enhance the UK’s offshore wind supply chain, enabling greater UK content, whilst supporting cost reduction.The Launch Academy initiative will focus on near-to-market solutions and is supported by eight industrial and business support specialists including Red Rock Power, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), Barclays Eagle Labs, investment body Green Angel Syndicate, accountancy firm BDO, IP specialists Murgitroyd, law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn and ScottishPower Renewables.

Dutch dredging and offshore contractor Royal Boskalis Westminster NV has signed an exclusive Pre-Construction Agreement (PCA) for the Inch Cape offshore wind farm project.According to the Dutch marine outfit, the award was made by Inch Cape Offshore Limited (ICOL), a subsidiary of Red Rock Power Ltd. The project scope includes the transportation and installation of the wind turbine foundations, the offshore substation and cables.The award of the contract is subject to a successful bid by ICOL in the next UK Contracts for Difference auction (mid 2019) and financial close (second half of 2020). The contract size, excluding procurement, is expected to exceed EUR 200 million.Boskalis will in the coming months assist with the further engineering and design of the project.

Beatrice wind farm off the Caithness coast in Scotland has generated power for the first time, operator SSE said on Thursday.Following installation of the first 7-megawatt (MW) turbine, the wind farm exported power to the National Grid, the firm added.The 2.6 billion pound ($3.4 billion) wind farm will be completed in spring 2019.

As part of a 2011 Presidential directive, the Departments of Navy, Energy, and Agriculture have announced that three companies have been awarded contracts to construct and commission biorefineries capable of producing "drop-in" biofuels to meet the transportation needs of the military and private sector, according to the Navy News Service. Made through the Department of Defense's (DOD) Defense Protection Act (DPA) of 1950, the awards support the Administration's goals to boost and diversify the domestic fuel supply base, make American warfighters less beholden to volatile oil markets, and strengthen national security. "The contracts being announced today will help expand the operational capability of our Navy and Marine Corps around the world," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced the launch of the HOS Black Watch (Hull 208) on Friday June 6, 2014 for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. The HOS Black Watch is Eastern’s fourth vessel in Hornbeck Offshore’s HOSMAX 310 class series. The launching event was held at Eastern’s Allanton facility with hundreds of Eastern employees and guests in attendance. Also attending from Hornbeck was Bill Krewsky, Director of Engineering and Project Management, who spoke about the ongoing long term commitment, partnership and future of the two companies.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced the launching of the HOS BLACK ROCK (Hull 207) on Friday March 28, 2014 for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. The HOS BLACK ROCK is Eastern’s third vessel in Hornbeck Offshore’s HOSMAX 310 class series. The launching event was held at Eastern’s Allanton facility with hundreds of Eastern Employees and Guests attending despite rainy weather. Attending from Hornbeck was Bill Krewsky, Director of Engineering and Project Management. Bill spoke about the continued long term commitment, partnership and future of the two companies.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced the launching of the HOS Black Foot (Hull 206) on Friday January 17, 2014 for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. The HOS Black Foot is Eastern’s second vessel in Hornbeck Offshore’s HOSMAX 310 class series. The launching event was held at Eastern’s Allanton facility with hundreds of Eastern employees and guests attending, including Naval Architecture students from the University of New Orleans, La. who were visiting the shipyard. Attending from Hornbeck was Carl G. Annessa, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group delivered M/V HOS Red Rock (Hull 202) to Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. Hornbeck’s first vessel, the HOS Red Dawn (Hull 201), was delivered on June 21, 2013 and is currently servicing offshore drilling operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Hornbeck’s third vessel the HOS Renaissance (Hull 203) was scheduled for delivery in November 2013. HOS Red Rock is the second of four vessels designated as the HOSMAX 300 series by Hornbeck Offshore and are diesel-electric powered, twin Z-drive propelled OSV’s measuring 292 x 64 x 24.5 ft.

The offshore market continues to be a significant driver for marine innovation, as vessels and their operators are critical factors to ensure that offshore operations – increasingly conducted in deeper, more hostile waters further from shore – are conducted in a safe and efficient manner. Here Maritime Reporter examines some notable recent designs, developments and deliveries. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, which has been extremely busy of late in the offshore sector, delivered M/V HOS Red Rock (Hull 202) to Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has launched the 'HOS Bayou' for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. The launch was held at Eastern’s Allanton facility with hundreds of Eastern employees and guests attending, including Mr. Jack Reid, Florida’s Governor Rick Scott’s Regional Representative. Attending from Hornbeck was Bill Krewsky, Director of Engineering and Project Management, who spoke about the long term commitment, partnership and future of the two companies. He, once again praised the quality of workmanship…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced the christening and subsequent launching of the M/V HOS Red Rock for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. The event was held at Eastern’s Allanton facility with hundreds of Eastern Employees and Guests. Attending from Hornbeck was William “Bill” Krewsky, Director of Engineering and Project Management, and Scott Siberski, Manager of Projects, along with 10 senior members and vessel officers of the Hornbeck Team witnessing the launch of the second of ten HOSMAX Offshore Supply Vessels under contract with Eastern.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced delivery of M/V HOS Red Dawn and the launch and christening of M/V HOS Renaissance, both vesssels for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. Attending from Hornbeck was William “Bill” Krewsky, Director of Engineering and Project Management. He spoke about the long term commitment and partnership of both companies, the quality of workmanship, noting that “HOS Red Dawn has been delivered, several days early and on budget”. In addition, ten senior…

Flexible fuels, Bold designs ... Eastern Shipbuilding Group has arguably been one of the more progressive and aggressive U.S. builders of high-spec Offshore Service Vessels in recent years, winning a number of high-profile contracts for operators globally. Eastern recently delivered M/V HOS Red Dawn and christened M/V HOS Renaissance, both for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. HOS Red Dawn (H201) – now delivered – was launched on February 15, 2013. HOS Red Rock (H202) was launched April 19, 2013, and is currently at Eastern completing final outfitting, regulatory and DP-2 trials.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announce that on Thursday October 10, 2013, the M/V HOS Red Rock (Hull 202) was delivered to Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. The HOS Red Rock was launched on April 19, 2013. Hornbeck’s first vessel, the HOS Red Dawn (Hull 201), was delivered on June 21, 2013 and is currently servicing offshore drilling operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Hornbeck’s third vessel the HOS Renaissance (Hull 203) and is currently at Eastern completing final outfitting, regulatory and DP-2 trials. Delivery of the HOS Renaissance is scheduled for November 2013.

“The Alliance will profile shippers and their alliance partners who have successfully and dynamically collaborated to drive supply chain excellence,” said Sarah Harding, group publisher, World Trade 100. To evaluate the entries, a panel of judges will examine the role of each of the partners and the contributions their individual and collective efforts have made to solving a supply chain problem or driving change and continuous improvement in a supply chain. “Judges Perry A. Trunick, World Trade 100; John Rader, Red Rock Consulting; Mike Brown, Brainzooming; David Ross, Stifel Nicolaus; Michael Mikitka, Warehousing Education & Research Council; Kevin Huntsman, Mastio; and John Manners-Bell, Transport Intelligence will evaluate submissions in each category on metrics and results.