Will Keane News

New Partnership to Develop Advanced Autonomous Naval Craft

US based defense company Eureka Naval Craft has signed a partnership agreement with Australian marine tech company Greenroom Robotics.Eureka Naval Craft CEO Bo Jardine said the partnership with Greenroom will drive the most advanced autonomous systems ever developed for naval vessels and will also be spun into the workboat commercial marine market. The signing comes after the parties earlier this month unveiled designs for the first fully autonomous naval attack craft the AIRCAT Bengal…

Eureka Naval Craft, Greenroom Robotics Unveil Design for Autonomous Attack Vessel

US defense company Eureka Naval Craft and Australian marine autonomy specialist Greenroom Robotics are set to unveil what they describe as "the most advanced autonomous naval attack vessel ever designed" at the forthcoming Sea Air and Space Exhibition in Maryland, USA, April 6-9, 2025.The AIRCAT Bengal MC (“Module Carrier”) is a 36m multi-mission Surface Effect Ship (SES) and is being developed by Eureka and ESNA Naval Architects with autonomy and AI software supplied by Greenroom.Eureka Naval Craft CEO…

Change of Command at USCG R&D Center

The U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) held a Change of Command on June 16, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Fort Trumbull in New London. Current RDC Commanding Officer, Capt. Dan Keane, was relieved by Capt. Michael Chien. Capt. Keane held command since May 1, 2020. He retires with 24 years of service.During Capt. Keane’s tenure, the command operated seamlessly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research continued and the approved portfolio was executed. Highlights included the command celebrating its 50th anniversary…

US Coast Guard and Space Force Partner on R&D

The United States' Coast Guard and Space Force are teaming up to share information resources and identify opportunities for applied research and advanced technology development.A memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked by the U.S. Space Force Science, Technology, and Research Directorate and U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center on January 19 will expand Space Force access to USCG Research and Development Center facilities, infrastructure and personnel.USSF Dr. Joel Mozer, USSF science, technology and research director, signed the MOU alongside Capt.

Interview: Dan Keane, Commanding Officer, USCG RDC

United States Coast Guard service is a family legacy for Dan Keane, who today serves as the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London, CT."My dad was in the Coast Guard (for nearly 37 years), so this is a way of life for me,” said Keane in explaining that a Coast Guard career “was just something I always knew I wanted to do … it’s a family tradition for me.”The Coast Guard R&D center in New London is “relatively small with just over 80 people here at the RDC” said Keane…

US Coast Guard Seeking Innovative Lifesaving Technologies

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard, recently released the “Mass Rescue Operations Lifesaving Device Broad Agency Announcement” solicitation seeking innovative technology solutions to respond to mass-casualty events at sea.Innovators, industry, academia and laboratories are invited to submit solutions for a large capacity-floating device to keep survivors out of the water during mass rescue operations. White papers are due by 2 p.m. EDT Aug.

US Navy, Coast Guard Extend Maritime R&D Partnership

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, Calif. and the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) in New London, Conn. agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on April 14 extending for five more years their previous three-year direct collaboration on joint research projects and exchanges. The extension is a result of the Tri-Service Maritime Strategy (TSMS) released in December, which underscored the need for joint cooperation in today’s security environment.

Leadership Development in the Merchant Marine: The Growing Significance for the Future

How many times have you heard someone say, “Oh, that person is a born leader; I could never do what they do as I am not a born leader”? That train of thought has recently come under increased scrutiny and debate as the U.S. Merchant Marine enters the 21st century. As part of this focus, the International Maritime Association (IMO) updated the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) with the 2010 Manilla Amendments.

Pipe Freezing for Quick Pipe Repairs

Avoiding the requirement to drain down pipelines for repair work or to carry out maintenance can save a considerable amount of time and potential loss of product.Qwik-Freezer Pipe Freezing System eliminates the need to drain pipework by creating a freeze plug. Available from the Pipestoppers Division of Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT Qwik-Freezer is a very cost effective and quick way to perform pipeline maintenance without draining the system, meaning very little or no system downtime.Luke Keane…

Woodfibre LNG Gets BC OGC Permit

Woodfibre LNG, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility planned for Howe Sound on the southern B.C. coast,  has received its facility permit from the British Columbia (BC) Oil and Gas Commission (OGC).“Following a rigorous process, Woodfibre LNG has received our Facility Permit issued from the BC OGC, one of the key permits required for construction and operation of the project. This is a positive step forward as we work to build the cleanest LNG export facility in the world," said Woodfibre LNG president David Keane.“This permit specifies requirements the project must comply with for design, construction and operation of the Woodfibre LNG Project…

C&J Energy, Keane Merge in $1.8bln Deal

Oilfield services firms C&J Energy Services and Keane Group, said  that they will merge in an all-stock deal valued at about $1.8 billion.C&J Energy, which offers a suite of oil and gas production services, and Keane, which specializes in well completions would combine in what the companies described as a merger of equals. The deal would create a company with more than $4 billion in annual revenues.Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and the Special Committee of the Keane Board, C&J shareholders will receive 1.6149 shares of Keane common stock for each share of C&J common stock owned. The merger agreement permits C&J to pay its shareholders a cash dividend of $1.00 per share prior to closing.

Sherwin-Williams' Schultz Honored

SSPC (The Society for Protective Coatings) named Mark Schultz, Government Marine Project Development Manager for Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, winner of the 2018-2019 John D. Keane Award of Merit. The award recognizes Schultz’s 25 years of significant contributions to the development of the protective coatings industry and to SSPC.Schultz was recognized with the award February 11, 2019, at the SSPC Coatings+ Conference in Orlando, Florida.Schultz, an SSPC Protective…

Newport International Boat Show Announces Edson Awards

Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show,announced today the results of this year’s Edson Awards for Excellence in Portraying Company Image. Presented by Will Keene, chairman of Edson International, and given to companies whose display and employees exemplify pride and professionalism, the awards were presented to four category winners who each received a $1,000 credit toward their 2017 show contract costs from the show producers. Edson also awarded a Star of the Showplaque to an overall winner. “Overall, the exhibitors at the 46th annual Newport International Boat Show delivered a high level of professionalism – it was very difficult to choose the best display,” said Will Keane.

Dye Test Planned on Potomac River Oil Sheen

The Unified Command is scheduled to conduct a dye test Monday in the Potomac River and Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary near Arlington, Virginia, which may discolor portions of the river. As part of the ongoing investigation on the source of the oil sheen in the Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary and the Potomac River, the Coast Guard and Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality will coordinate with the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services to conduct a dye test in the storm water conveyance system for the Roaches Run watershed. “The purpose of the dye test is to help identify possible source areas for the sheen observed on Roaches Run and in the Potomac River,” said Cmdr. Michael Keane, incident commander. “The dye testing will occur this morning,” added Keane.

HMS Protector Deployed to Antarctic

Ice ship HMS Protector is heading for waters no Royal Navy vessel has visited in 80 years as she begins a marathon deployment to Antarctica. The Plymouth-based icebreaker and survey vessel will ensure the world’s fishermen are not stripping the largely-unspoiled waters of the Ross Sea of marine life. This part of Antarctica – it’s where Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen began his successful attempt to become the first person to reach the South Pole – has not seen a Royal Navy or UK Government vessel for around eight decades. The sea contains valuable fish stocks and Protector will help to ensure fishing vessels comply with the strict environmental rules that ensure this remains a sustainable resource.

3D Printed Drone Launched from Warship

A team of engineers from the University of Southampton launched a 3D printed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the bow of a Royal Navy warship in a bid to demonstrate the potential use of lightweight drones at sea. After being launched from HMS Mersey off the Dorset coast in the south of England, the UAV was flown autonomously on a pre-programmed route for a few before landing on Chesil Beach. Known as the Southampton University Laser Sintered Aircraft (SULSA), the drone weighed 3kg with a wing-span of nearly 1.5 meters.

Gibbs Brothers Medal to Keane Jr.

Stevens alum Robert G. Keane Jr. (M. Eng. ’67) will receive the Gibbs Brothers Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, a nonprofit institution that recognizes achievement in science and provides science, technology and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. The Gibbs Brothers Medal is awarded every three years for outstanding contributions in the field of naval architecture and marine engineering. It was established through the Gibbs Brothers Fund by gift of William Francis Gibbs and Frederic H. Gibbs and is presented with a $20,000 prize.

GAC Steers STS Pallada on Commemorative Voyage

Port-on-Demand took care of training tall ship at every port of call. Port-on-Demand (POD), the newest service package offered by the global GAC network, has handled the tall ship STS Pallada at every port of call of her voyage to mark the 270th anniversary of Russia’s first settlements in North America and the 50th anniversary of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s first space flight. The impressive 358-foot Russian frigate, owned by the Far Eastern State Technical Fisheries University and used to train navy cadets…

SNAME Partners on Center to Train Naval Systems Experts

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) announced that a program dedicated to the training of future naval systems engineers will soon be realized. A $3.2m contract awarded May 6 from the Naval Sea Systems Command, which includes five additional years of optional extensions that could add up to $49.9m, will establish a Naval Engineering Education Center (NEEC) Consortium in partnership with fifteen leading US colleges and universities, SNAME and the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE). For over a century SNAME has been the international society for practitioners of the maritime arts and sciences. The Society has long supported educational opportunities to advance the state-of-the-art in naval architecture…

Mansuy, 2010’s Best Lawyers in America

Christopher H. Mansuy, Esq., member of Carroll McNulty & Kull LLC (CMK) has been named one of 2010’s The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of maritime law by his peers. Best Lawyers a 25-year-old, highly respected peer-review publication, compiles lists of top attorneys by completing extensive surveys with other leading attorneys. Mansuy received this honor in 2008 and 2009 as well. A resident of Chatham, N.J. Mansuy possesses 35 years of experience in handling maritime and commercial litigation matters in the state and federal courts of N.Y. and N.J.

SNAME Focused Panel Sessions, 2009 Meeting

The focused panel sessions at the Society of Naval Architects and Engineers (SNAME) Annual Meeting and Expo (October 21-23 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island) will feature four timely topics: Electric Ships; Renewable Energy from the Oceans; Unmanned and Autonomous Ships of the Future; and Ship Efficiency in the Greenhouse Gas Era. Each two-hour panel session will be chaired and moderated by experienced SNAME members. Each session will have three leading experts who will make thirty minute presentations on their area of expertise, followed by a moderated thirty minute discussion period which will include questions and answers from the audience.

Mansuy Joins Carroll McNulty & Kull

Carroll McNulty & Kull LLC (CMK) has announced that Christopher H. Mansuy has joined the law firm as a member. Mansuy brings 35 years of experience to CMK handling maritime and commercial litigation matters in the State and Federal Courts of New York and New Jersey as well as maritime disputes in arbitration including the Society of Maritime Arbitrators and the American Arbitration Association. With offices in New York and Basking Ridge, N.J., CMK provides comprehensive services to clients in the areas of admiralty, maritime, transportation, and international trade.

Special Sessions at SNAME Annual Meeting

Following on from the success of the special panel sessions at the 2008 Annual Meeting held in Houston, Texas, SNAME will have an expanded Special Panel program at its 2009 Annual Meeting. The SNAME Annual Meeting which will take place from 21-23 of October in Providence, Rhode Island, will feature four Special Panel Sessions. Each of these sessions are intended to examine the broad technical and policy issues in a particular area of emerging interest to SNAME members and to a wide audience of others who have interest in maritime issues. •    Following on from the successful Electric Ship Design Symposium held in Early 2009, this panel session will focus on the electric ship construction experience of three large shipbuilders.