Union Navy News

Scienco/FAST, an experienced manufacturer of Marine sewage devices (MSD) recently received an extraordinary service order. Or, maybe it’s not that extraordinary.Scienco/FAST, a St. Louis, Missouri-based manufacturer has, over many years, had plenty of experience in dealing with archived orders. In fact, the firm just had a call from a client that needed to replace a part on a previously installed Scienco/FAST system. So what? Well, it turns out that the system was installed onto a domestic tugboat, way back in 1975. That more-than-43-year-old workhorse is still in service. And, so too is the Scienco/FAST system that’s been on board since it was launched.For its part, Scienco/FAST says that this is just one, of countless typical examples of how long the overbuilt Marine/FAST units can last.

The U.S. Navy will commission its newest fast attack submarine, the future USS Colorado (SSN 788), during a ceremony Saturday, March 17, at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn. The principal speaker will be U.S. Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado. Annie Mabus, daughter of 75th Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. “USS Colorado is a true marvel of technology and innovation, and it shows the capability that our industrial partners bring to the fight,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. The future Colorado, which began construction in 2012, is the 15th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth Virginia-class Block III submarine. Colorado will be the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned with a name honoring the state of Colorado.

The risk of cyber attacks on vessels at sea continues to be significant, and it’s not going away any time soon. Each year, it seems, there are more and more reports of hacks that have resulted in loss of critical data, financial loss or problems with IT systems or shipborne systems functionality. Shipowners have been reluctant to share information on actual or attempted breaches for fear of being identified. However, there’s no shortage of examples of cyber attacks on vessels.

The Navy will christen its newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the future USS Colorado (SSN 788), during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, Dec. 3 at General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. The Honorable Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. His daughter, Anne Mabus, is serving as the ship's sponsor. "The christening of the future USS Colorado is an example of our enduring partnership with our nation's shipbuilders, and this ceremony marks a milestone along the journey to add another submarine to our Navy fleet-a fleet that will reach more than 300 ships by 2019," Mabus said. Colorado (SSN 788) is the 15th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth Virginia-class Block III submarine.

1861 - The Civil War begins with Confederates firing on Fort Sumter, S.C. The Union Navy plays an integral part blockading Confederates, keeping them diplomatically and economically contained from other nations. 1911 - Lt. Theodore Ellyson completes his aviator training at the Glenn Curtiss Aviation Camp at North Island, San Diego, Calif., and becomes Naval Aviator No. 1944 - USS Halibut (SS 232) sinks Japanese army passenger/cargo ship Taichu Maru despite the presence of at least three escort vessels. 1945 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies at Warm Springs, Ga.

Today in U.S. 1884 - USS Bear left the New York Naval Shipyard as part of the Greely Relief Expedition. USS Thetis would join the mission a week later, with USS Alert also joining on this mission. The Greely Expedition was marooned in the Arctic. Greely and six other survivors were found at Cape Sabine, 23 June 1884. 1959 - Organization of American States asks U.S. 1981 - RCA delivers to the Navy, NOVA I, the 1st production unit of the improved navigational satellite. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

1778 - Continental Navy sloop Ranger captures HMS Drake 1862 - Battle of New Orleans; Union Navy under David Farragut runs past forts into Mississippi River 1884 - USS Thetis, Bear, and Alert sailed from New York to search for Greeley expedition lost in Arctic 1906- Ceremonies at Naval Academy commemorate John Paul Jones; President Theodore Roosevelt delivers speech 1917 - Destroyer squadron departs Boston for European service 1959 - Organization of American States asks U.S. to establish naval patrols off east coast of Panama to prevent invasion of Cuban forces 1974 - Naval forces begin minesweeping operations in the Suez Canal Zone 1981 - RCA delivers to the Navy, NOVA I, the 1st production unit of the improved navigational satellite. (Source: Navy News Service)

1778 - The Continental Navy sloop Ranger captures HMS Drake. 1862 - Battle of New Orleans; Union Navy under David Farragut runs past forts into Mississippi River. 1884 - USS Thetis, Bear and Alert sailed from New York to search for Greeley expedition lost in Arctic. 1906- Ceremonies at Naval Academy commemorate John Paul Jones; President Theodore Roosevelt delivers speech. 1917 - A destroyer squadron departs Boston for European service. 1959 - The Organization of American States asks the United States to establish naval patrols off the east coast of Panama to prevent invasion of Cuban forces. 1974 - Naval forces begin minesweeping operations in the Suez Canal Zone. 1981 - RCA delivers to the Navy, NOVA I, the 1st production unit of the improved navigational satellite.