Today in U.S. Naval History: October 15
Today in U.S. 1917 - USS Cassin (DD-43) torpedoed by German submarine U-61 off coast of Ireland. In trying to save the ship, Gunner's Mate Osmond Kelly Ingram becomes first American sailor killed in World War I and later is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. He becomes the first enlisted man to have a ship named for him, in 1919. 1948 - First women officers on active duty sworn in as commissioned…
Moody's Upgrades CMA CGM's Financial Outlook
Moody's Investors Service has upgraded CMA CGM S.A.'s corporate family rating (CFR) to B2 from B3 and the company's probability of default rating to B2-PD from B3-PD. Concurrently, the rating agency has upgraded to Caa1 (LGD5/84) from Caa2 (LGD5/80) CMA CGM's EUR325 million and $475 million worth of senior unsecured notes maturing in 2019 and 2017, respectively. The outlook on the ratings is stable.
2H Offshore’s Brazil Team Adds Technical Managers
2H Offshore, an Acteon company, has appointed Pedro Viana and Roberto Alvim as the technical managers of its Rio de Janeiro, Brazil office to strengthen its management team and drive business growth. Viana was the first engineer hired when 2H Offshore’s Brazil office opened in 2003. He has participated directly in the development of the office since its inception, and has supported both the technical and management activities of the company.
USCG Grants Certificate Extension for Some Commercial Ships
Due to the lapse in government funding, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday that it will allow commercial vessels engaged in domestic voyages between ports in the United States or its possessions to operate with an expired certificate of documentation as long as they are in compliance with all other requirements for operation. Vessel owners should submit their renewal application to the National Vessel Documentation Center as appropriate using normal submittal procedures.
Companies Partner to Protect the Great Lakes
American Steamship Company (ASC), a subsidiary of GATX Corporation, and Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium are working collaboratively in pursuit of their common goal of protecting the Great Lakes, and now they’re taking that message to communities along the shores. One of ASC’s 1,000-foot vessels, the MV Indiana Harbor, is displaying each organization’s logo along with the slogan “Working Together to…
Caterpillar MaK Engines: EPA Tier 2 Certified
Caterpillar Marine Power Systems announced the EPA Tier 2 Certification of all MaK engine platforms with cylinder volumes of above thirty liters. Included in the certification are the M 32 C, M 43 C, M 46 DF as well as the recently announced M 34 DF engine platform. The certification of the MaK range provides customers operating in the American market, specifically in the commercial and offshore marine markets, a spectrum of power nodes to meet emissions regulations on U.S. flagged vessels.
Brazil Postpones SISTRAM Communications
The Brazilian Maritime Authority has advised that the commencement of the new SISTRAM communications system has been postponed for at least 90 days, and will therefore…
SG Blocks Portable Office on USN Aircraft Carriers
SG Blocks, Inc., a provider of construction solutions utilizing code-engineered cargo shipping containers, has executed a $1.5 million agreement with a U.S. Navy…
Fundraiser Celebrates Maritime Museum
A black tie fundraising gala dinner event at National Maritime Museum Cornwall, in the company of Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, raised over £80,000 for the Museum last week. The event called a Night at the Museum, celebrated the Museum’s 10th birthday and launched a new 10-year campaign to raise £4 million over the next decade. More than 120 guests enjoyed a champagne reception overlooking…
It's Time for a Towing Vessel Inspection Rule
Last month, I had the opportunity to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation at a hearing that examined maritime regulations. In what must have been a change of pace for Subcommittee members, instead of detailing the regulatory burdens facing the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, I urged them to exercise their oversight responsibility to ensure expeditious publication of long-awaited U.S.
MMA's Brad Lima Talks Maritime Education and Beyond
Maritime employers, thirsting for quality employees in numbers sufficient to run their far flung businesses, continue to struggle to recruit and retain talent despite lingering high unemployment across the other sectors of the economy. On the waterfront, there are many models for producing marine professionals; some quite new and others, time tested. Brad Lima is the Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Harris CapRock to Provide Communications Services for Carnival
Harris CapRock Communications, a premier global provider of managed communication solutions for remote and harsh environments, has signed a five-year contract with Carnival Corporation to provide communications services onboard more than 100 cruise ships in its 10 cruise line brands. The dual-band satellite communications solution will enable the Carnival brands to reach dramatically improved bandwidth levels to meet the performance expectations of guests and crew onboard.
Pipeline Damage Assessment Tool Launched
Tecnitas, the marine advisory arm of leading international classification and verification group Bureau Veritas (BV), has launched a new technology simulation system for pipeline damage assessment, in collaboration with Total. This system, EMPREINTE, helps pipeline operators to determine safe operating pressures after a pipeline is damaged. It is a software suite which provides a decision making tool which, according to BV, aims to save operators money and cut downtime for pipeline repairs.
Recommendations for Safe, Efficient LNG Bunkering
One of the key hurdles to the increased global use of ships fuelled by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is the lack of harmonization of bunkering operations. “DNV GL…
OMSA Enters Leadership Transition
The Offshore Marine Service Association announced that it will begin a transition of leadership. Several months ago, President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Adams informed the OMSA Board of Directors that he would be stepping down by the end of the year to manage a startup business that he and his partners have developed in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. “Jim has done an outstanding job and he will be genuinely missed. He has expertly guided OMSA through some difficult waters.
SENER Appoints Marine Commercial Director for Mexico
Héctor Martínez has been appointed Commercial Director of SENER’s Marine Strategic Business Unit in Mexico in addition to his responsibility as Commercial Director of the Aerospace Strategic Business Unit in the same division. These are two business sectors with good growth prospects, in which SENER has operated for several years providing Engineering and Construction services. Born in Mexico, Héctor Martínez is an Electromechanical Engineer graduated from the Pan-American University…
CTruk Builds BV-classed Wind Farm Service Catamaran
CTruk delivered its 12th 20T multi-purpose catamaran, CWind Challenger. As well as being the first of these popular offshore wind support vessels to be designed, built and classed to Bureau Veritas (BV) rules, the 18.5m multi-role workboat is also the first Category 1 vessel built by the company under the MCA MGN 280(M) rules. To top off the CTruk team’s achievements, CWind Challenger is the first craft to be classed by Bureau Veritas under their Wind Farms Service Ship class notation.
Hydrex Performs Underwater Stern Tube Seal Repair
In August, the stern tube seals of a 67-meter, 2223 grt anchor handling vessel were replaced in Port Gentil by a Hydrex team of diver/technicians. The old seals were damaged and a fast repair was therefore necessary. The team carried out the entire operation on-site and underwater with one of the company’s flexible mobdocks. This saved the owner the time and money of an unscheduled trip to drydock. All Hydrex offices have fast response centers.
Stena Tanker Sails the Northeast Passage
The Stena Polaris is approaching its destination – the port of Yosu in South Korea. Her voyage began on September 17 in Russian Ust Luga in the Gulf of Finland, and she is expected to arrive in Yosu in about a week. For part of the voyage of 8,400 nautical miles, the tanker sailed in a convoy headed by a Russian nuclear powered icebreaker through the harsh Northeast Passage. Sailing via the Northeast…
MacGregor to Deliver Two Arctic Subsea Cranes
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received an order for two MacGregor active heave-compensated (AHC) offshore cranes from a Turkish shipyard for a new subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) and construction vessel for a Norwegian owner. A 250 and 15-metric-ton MacGregor subsea crane will be installed on the 129-meter vessek. The 250-metric-ton unit will have its winch installed below the working deck and will also feature wire rope integrity software.
