Bethel News

Austal USA hosted a keel laying ceremony for the future USS Pierre (LCS 38) Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship at the company’s Gulf Coast shipyard. Ship sponsor Larissa Thune Hargens, with the assistance of Hon Tran – a 13-year Austal USA veteran A-class welder, authenticated the keel by welding her initials into a keel plate that will be welded to the hull of the ship.The future USS Pierre is the final Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship being built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. LCS 38 is the second U.S. Navy ship named for the South Dakota capital city.

Bethel-Webcor Pacific JV,* Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded firm-fixed-price task order N6247319F4865 at $39,300,000 under a multiple award construction contract for a maritime skills training center at Naval Base San Diego. The task order also contains three unexercised options and one planned modification, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $41,868,747. The work to be performed provides for converting a portion of Building 3304 to house computer simulator trainers to support the Surface Warfare Officers School’s mission to train sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers. The planned modification, if issued, provides for furniture, fixtures and equipment.

Alaska marine transportation company Alaska Marine Lines said that it is expanding its service from Seattle and Anchorage to the Arctic Region in 2019.Bowhead Transport will provide the destination services at the North Slope villages of Point Hope, Point Lay, Wainwright, Utqiagvik (Barrow), and Kaktovik. Alaska Marine Lines will also service Deadhorse with its two annual sealifts.Bowhead, thru its teaming agreement with Alaska Marine Lines, will continue to participate in the door-to-shore service to the Arctic that it initiated over 30 years ago.The new stops will be added to Alaska Marine Lines' many ports of call, joining the major hubs of Naknek…

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that Ketra Anderson has been named vice president of safety, security, quality and environmental stewardship (SSQE), replacing Paul Manzi, who has been named vice president of the company’s new Alaska Tankers group. Anderson, will be based in Seattle, and report to Carl Fox, senior vice president, corporate services. As vice president of SSQE, Anderson is responsible for the strategic leadership of the company's number one core value—safety. This includes individual safety, security, quality and environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Efforts to prepare the capsized riverboat Spirit of Sacramento for fuel removal operations are being conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response and other partner agencies. The 87-foot vessel reportedly began taking on water September 4, 2016, and sank near Bethel Island, Calif. Several scenarios are being developed to safely remove the pollution threat, which include righting the vessel and removing the fuel, or removing the fuel while the boat remains in its current position.

Bahamas' Prime Minister Christie has met with Global Shipping Giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), in Geneva. Principal and founder of MSC, Gianluigi Aponte and his senior management team met with Prime Minister at MSCs headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland for two days of deliberations. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss about matters relating to the expiring concessions under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and growth of MSCs investments in The Bahamas. Meanwhile, Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization, H.E. Eldred Bethel and Executive Director of The Bahamas Maritime Authority London, Cmdr. Davy Rolle presented Bahamas’ contribution to Secretary General Kitack Limon Tuesday, February 16th at IMO Headquarters.

Borets, a company in engineering, manufacturing, sales and service of electric submersible pump (ESP) systems, has named David Langley as North American HSE manager. Based at Borets’ U.S. corporate office in Houston, Langley will be responsible for developing and implementing safety programs and policies that align with the company’s corporate standards for health, safety and environmental compliance. Langley earned a Master of Science degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Science in organizational management from Bethel University in Tennessee.

Wood Group GTS and Apex Bethel Energy Center, LLC (“Apex”) have signed a three-year operations & maintenance (O&M) agreement for the Bethel Energy Center. Under the $12 million contract, Wood Group GTS will be responsible for care, custody and control of the facility when it begins commercial operation in 2017. Construction is soon to begin for the plant in East Texas, which will utilize compressed air energy storage (“CAES”) technology. “We needed an O&M partner willing to work with us during the development stage of the project. In Wood Group, we found a highly experienced O&M service provider with an excellent reputation in the industry and is well respected by investors,” said Jack Farley, CEO of Apex.

Alaska Arctic Policy Commission Co-Chairs Senator Lesil McGuire and Representative Bob Herron have approved of a recent DoD report, introduced by United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, but pointed out that the overarching language is short on details and lacks a plan for implementation. Chuck Hagel, announced the release of his agency's 14-page “Arctic Strategy”, touting it as a plan to ensure security, support safety and promote defense cooperation in the region. Hagel chose the International Security Forum at Halifax…

Crowley Maritime Corporation recently awarded four Thomas B. Crowley, Sr., Memorial Scholarships to University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) students Alexandra Bateman, Gabrielle Bragg, Diloola Erickson and Kimberly Greenway. These students were chosen for their outstanding academic records and having met other scholarship criteria. They each received $2,500 toward tuition. Preferences for Crowley-funded UAF scholarships are given to Alaska natives from Crowley-served communities throughout the state…

Hong Kong's Cheoy Lee Shipyard has handed over the second in a series of five 50m Towing/Anchor Handling Tugs for Teras Offshore in Singapore. The new AHTS Teras Bethel sailed directly to Batam in Indonesia (dodging a typhoon) where she will enter service. Prior to departure, the vessel and crew were blessed by the reverend Stephen Miller of the Mariners’ Club in Hong Kong. Designed by Wärtsilä Ship Design Singapore, the capabilities of these vessels include; towing/moving barges and rigs…

​IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu  met with the new Chairman of IACS, Roberto Cazzulo, Chairman of RINA Services. Mr. Sekimizu congratulated Mr. Cazzulo on his appointment and expressed his appreciation to IACS for its long and ongoing support of IMO’s work on maritime safety, security and the prevention of marine pollution by ships and stated that he looked forward to their continued cooperation. IACS has held consultative status with IMO since 1969. At the meeting, held at IMO Headquarters in London, Mr. Cazzulo informed Mr. Sekimizu that IACS has agreed to instruct an advisory group of its experts to have an open discussion and exchange of information on the state of the art of containership structural design, construction, operation and survey. Mr.

Delaware's Vessel Management Services, Inc. has sold their twin-screw tug “Sinuk” to King River LLC of Palmer, Alaska. The 85.8’ x 28.5’ x 10.0’ depth, model bow tug was built in 1995 by J. Ray McDermott Shipyard in Morgan City, Louisiana. The tug, along with her sister “Siku”, were designed for coastwise towing and lightering of deck cargo / petroleum barges supplying the numerous remote sites and villages in southwestern and western Alaska. “Sinuk” is powered by a pair of CAT 3412DITA diesels totaling 1…

The American Maritime Officers Association (AMO) supports Senator Rockefeller's approach to the Cruise Lines International Association. The American Maritime Officers Association, the nation's largest professional merchant marine organization, says the widely publicised letter by U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, demanding the cruise line industry answer questions and provide details about safety procedures, mechanical problems and the number of U.S. residents employed by each shipping company is a substantial step in generating public awareness and political support of AMO's efforts to put Americans in command of American-owned passenger vessels – vessels that are mostly commanded and crewed by foreigners. "Although the best-known cruise lines are publicly-traded U.S.

American Maritime Officers Association (AMO) president follows up on his recent appearance on FOX News Channel. The AMO president says his April 15 live appearance on FOX News Channel's segment, "Remembering Titanic 101 years Ago Today," which highlighted concerns about the rising tide of marine mishaps, has drawn undue criticism from the cruise ship industry's lobbying group, yet, has ignited overwhelming positive public and professional support of putting highly-trained AMO-member U.S. merchant mariners in command of more passenger vacation vessels. A few days after American Maritime Officers President Tom Bethel appeared on "FOX & Friends," the Cruise Lines International Association issued a news release in the form of an open letter from CEO Christine Duffy to Mr. Bethel.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD begins a new speaker series entitled “Working Waterfront” on Thursday, November 1, with later sessions on Friday, November 16 and Thursday, November 29. Held in the Van Lennep Auditorium along the museum’s waterfront campus, the series welcomes CBMM members and the general public, with pre-registration needed. From 6-8pm on Thursday, November 1, “Working Waterfront: Delaware” gives participants an in-depth look at the museum’s 1912 river tug, Delaware. Now celebrating her centennial, the Delaware was built in Bethel, DE, and is one of the last survivors of Bethel’s great age of wooden boatbuilding.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that Ketra Anderson has been named director of safety, security, quality and environmental (SSQE). She is domiciled in Crowley's Seattle, Wash., office, and will report to Cole Cosgrove, vice president of SSQE. In her new role, Anderson will ensure that the services Crowley provides to its customers conform to established procedures and requirements. She will be primarily responsible for Crowley's adherence to international and domestic quality…

Mr Archie Bethel CBE has succeeded Mr Alan Johnston CBE as Honorary President of the Society of Maritime Industries at the Society’s Board meeting today. Archie Bethel is Divisional Chief Executive of Babcock International Group plc’s marine and technology division. In acknowledging his appointment Archie Bethel commented: “I am honoured to have been appointed as the President of the Society of Maritime Industries. In particular, I look forward to representing the maritime engineering sector which contributes so much to the UK economy. In welcoming Archie Bethel to his role, the Society’s Chairman, Peter French said “I am delighted Archie has agreed to be our President. We are fortunate that he already knows the Society well, having served on the Board since 2007.

Archie Bethel, CBE, has succeeded Alan Johnston, CBE, as Honorary President of the Society of Maritime Industries at the Society’s Board meeting today. Archie Bethel is Divisional Chief Executive of Babcock International Group plc’s marine and technology division. In welcoming Bethel to his role, the Society’s Chairman, Peter French said “I am delighted Archie has agreed to be our President. Bethel joined Babcock in January 2004 and was appointed Chief Executive of Marine on its formation in mid June 2007.

In recognition of her upcoming centennial, the tug Delaware is now being restored to her 1912 appearance in full public view at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland. Delaware is a rare example of a typical early 20th century wooden river tug. Built in 1912 in Bethel, Delaware by William H. Smith, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s tug Delaware measures 39’8” x 11’4” and is now a floating exhibit at the museum’s waterfront campus. Delaware is a product…

Marine electronics industry still has major concerns. An official of LightSquared, the company that has been under fire for its plan to offer mobile satellite services that could seriously interfere with Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, told a gathering at the 2011 NMEA International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo that solutions were in the works to prevent disruptions from occurring. “Our integrated network will bring great benefits to wireless users nationwide, but at the same time we’re committed to ensuring this service doesn’t interfere with any GPS devices.

The Army vessel reportedly struck an object and began taking on water in Chiniak Bay. A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was launched with dewatering and rescue equipment, to assist the Army crew aboard the Monterrey, a landing craft with the 481st Transportation Company located in Vallejo, Calif. To keep the vessel from sinking, the Monterrey crew successfully beached the vessel on Puffin Island. The crew reported a breach in an 8,000-gallon fuel tank and Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak personnel responded. The Coast Guard has contracted Alaska Chadux Corporation to assist in containing and cleaning up the fuel leak. While only one fuel tank has been reported as damaged, the Monterrey is reportedly carrying up to 40,000 gallons of fuel on board.

Erik Bethel, of SinoLatin Capital addressed the question at recent Latin America China Investors Forum in Shanghai. Amidst much speculation regarding the slowdown of China’s GDP, with 2012 estimates likely to fall below 8%, SinoLatin Capital dispelled fears of a “China Meltdown” to an audience of 500 delegates from Latin America and China. “Latin America will continue to be an indispensable commodities supplier for China. “The majority of the China analysts in the western media are focused on the short-term,” noted Bethel. “Will China’s GDP growth decline by one percent or by two percent this year? I think people are missing the more important medium and long-term picture. The China story is about demographics and urbanization.