U.S. Navy's AGOR 27: R/V Neil Armstrong
On March 29, the Ocean Class Auxiliary General Oceanographic Research (AGOR) vessel hull number 27 started its official life as the R/V Neil Armstrong, the first research vessel named after a space explorer. Carol Armstrong, the widow of the famed astronaut, performed the christening duties during a brief sunbreak on a windy and rainy Pacific Northwest afternoon. The number of illustrious speakers highlighted the rich diversity of agencies involved in the design…
Aviator & Engineer: Lawrence Burst Sperry
The U.S. Navy, and the aeronautic field in general, has benefited enormously from the genius of more than one Sperry. Lawrence Burst Sperry, the second son and third child of gyrocompass inventor Elmer A. Sperry was a pioneer in instrumental flight and famous inventor in his own right, launching the Lawrence Sperry Aircraft Co. at 26, and earning 23 patents before his untimely death at the age of 31 in 1923. It was no exaggeration.
USCG Concludes its Largest Domestic Icebreaking Operation
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) crews concluded the nation’s largest domestic ice operation known as Taconite, Thursday, after more than five months of icebreaking operations in the Northern Great Lakes. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, plans and runs Operation Taconite, which includes all of Lakes Superior and Michigan, the northern half of Lake Huron, the St. Marys River and the Straits of Mackinac. During the 160 days of the operation, nine U.S.
US Hearing to Focus on New Ocean Technologies
The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, chaired by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), will hold a hearing next week to examine the proliferation of new ocean technologies…
Citi Builds Commodity Trade Finance as Others Retreat
Citigroup plans to double its commodities trade finance team within the next three years as it seeks to benefit from a retreat by some rival banks, the head of the business said.
Man Thrown from Out of Control Speedboat
A man had a lucky escape after being thrown from his speedboat in Teignmouth Quay. Brixham Coastguard said it received a 999 call from a member of the public just after 10am this morning…
Busy April Sees Long Beach Cargo Surge
The Port of Long Beach’s April cargo numbers for containers were up by 9.7 percent overall, compared to the same month one year ago, the port said. Weather and shopping patterns returned to normal in April, helping the port’s container volumes to rebound following a slow March due to the harsh winter in other parts of the country. A total of 569,843 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) moved through the Port of Long Beach during April. Imports numbered 295,712 TEUs, up 11.9 percent from 2013.
Elmer A. Sperry: Pioneer of Modern Naval Tech
Elmer A. Sperry casts a long shadow over the history of modern naval, nautical and aeronautical technology, one few people know much about, but should, for a man crowned both the “father of modern navigational technology” and “the father of automatic feedback and control systems,” as well as a pioneer of rocket and missile technology. “It is safe to say that no one American has contributed so much to our naval technical progress…
Kvaerner Delivers Eldfisk 2/7 S Topside
The Eldfisk 2/7 S topside leaves Kvaerner's yard at Stord today after being completed in April as planned, on time and to the specified quality. In March 2011 Kvaerner signed a contract with ConocoPhillips to deliver the topside for the Eldfisk 2/7 S integrated production platform. The topside was completed in April 2014 as planned, and will be towed to field in the North Sea today. The Eldfisk 2/7…
Conrad Announces 2014 Q1 Results
Conrad Industries, Inc. announced its first quarter 2014 results. For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, Conrad achieved net income of $6.4 million and earnings per…
Boats Pluck People from Roofs as Sloods Sweep Serbia and Bosnia
Boats sailed through the streets of a Serbian town on Friday on a mission to rescue people trapped by rising waters as the worst floods ever recorded swept Serbia and Bosnia.
Black Laser Learning Trains Navy Hydrographers
Each year, the U.S. Navy conducts comprehensive training for U.S. and foreign navy hydrographers. The program known as IHMEP (International Hydrographic Management and Engineering Program) trains U.S.
Wärtsilä Gas Units Selected for Largest Ever Spar Platform
A new spar platform being built for Statoil's Aasta Hansteen field off the coast of Norway will feature Wärtsilä's Inert Gas and Nitrogen Generator systems, the power solutions company said.
Chile Plans New Port, Seeks to Boost Innovation
Chile president Michelle Bachelet said on Friday her center-left government was planning the development of a "big scale" port in the center of the copper-exporting country.
Black Sea Offshore Drilling Upgrade Underway
Boost for Novorossiysk supply base to meet growing demand. GAC Russia said it is underlining its commitment to offshore oil & gas exploration and extraction in the Black Sea with a major project to upgrade its facilities at the port of Novorossiysk. The Black Sea is one of the areas in which the development of fields looks set to boom as Russian oil majors are granted licenses and joint ventures are formed with international energy companies to develop blocks.
Emergency Response Vessel Completes Houston’s New Fleet
A two-week voyage through four Great Lakes and the Mississippi River will bring to the Port of Houston Authority’s firefighting team the third of three new, high-performance emergency response vessels. “The Port of Houston is one of the nation’s busiest ports, and protecting this national asset is essential to the economic well-being of Houston, Texas and the nation,” said Port Authority Executive Director Roger Guenther.
New MOL Coal Carrier Ready to Launch
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced that the coal carrier Energy Prometheus, which will be operated by MOL to ship coal to Hokuriku Electric Power Company, was completed on May 15 at the Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Oshima Shipyard. On the same day, many people from Hokuriku Electric Power and other concerned companies gathered for the ship’s christening and delivery ceremonies. With its wider beam and reduced depth…
Signet Buys Harvey Gulf's Towing Division
Harvey Gulf International Marine has sold its towing division to Signet Maritime Corporation. Through the deal, Signet will acquire eight offshore towing vessels (OTVs) ranging in size from 75 to 153 metric tons bollard pull. The sale will encompass all Harvey OTVs, spares, business and supplies. The transfer of OTV ownership was completed on May 15, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana with financing provided by Wells Fargo Equipment Finance as part of a $209 million syndicated financing facility.
Analysis: South China Sea Stand-off Led to Mob Violence
As a thousand Vietnamese rioters stormed his factory on Tuesday night, smashing windows and ripping down Chinese-language signs, Taiwanese executive Henry Yeh hid…
RS Bolsters Education, Science and Production Ties
Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) said it is actively strengthening partnership in key areas of enhancing maritime transport safety. In 2014, meetings of…
