Irma Kills Eight on Saint Martin
At least half of Puerto Rico's island without power; storm likely to hit Florida Saturday or Sunday. Hurricane Irma killed eight people on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin and left Barbuda devastated on Thursday as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a century took aim at Florida. Television footage of the Franco-Dutch island of Saint Martin showed a damaged marina with boats tossed into piles, submerged streets and flooded homes. Power was knocked out on Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy and in parts of the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. "It is an enormous disaster, 95 percent of the island is destroyed. I am in shock," Daniel Gibbs, chairman of a local council on Saint Martin, told Radio Caribbean International.
Daspos Opens its Doors in the US
Danish manufacturer of oil mist and gas leakage detection systems Daspos A/S has opened its new Daspos International, Inc. office in the greater Seattle area to service the maritime industry. Daspos manufactures and markets the patented LAS-10 oil mist and gas leakage detection system for surveillance and prevention of on-board fires through early discovery of either oil mist or gasses in primarily the open engine room. According to Daspos, two thirds of all on-board fires start in the engine room.
Historic Cannon Returned to its Dutch Home
An official ceremony marking the handing back by the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency of a bronze cannon to the city where it was first made, has been held in Zierikzee, Netherlands. The cannon had been brought ashore by commercial diver Vincent Woolsgrove from off the Kent coast but was recovered by the MCA during a search warrant executed in 2011. Woolsgrove was charged with fraud offences relating to other Dutch cannons and is currently serving a two year sentence after pleading guilty.
TNO, Imtech to Partner on Research and Development
TNO and Imtech Marine have signed an agreement expressing intent to work together on research and development projects. The signing took place on January 21 at Imtech Marine in Rotterdam. TNO and Imtech have joined forces many times over the years and see possibilities to further strengthen each other and in doing so deliver added value to the market and society, said the contract signatories, Henk Geveke, General Director of Defence & Security on behalf of TNO, and André Meijer, Managing Director on behalf of Imtech Marine.
Van Aalst Brings Platform-fitted CargoMaxx to Houston
Van Aalst Marine & Offshore, inventors of the multi application tank system CargoMaxx, have opened an office in Houston, TX. CargoMaxx is swiftly gaining ground in the offshore support sector, allowing supply vessels to deliver dry cargo to a platform and carry drill cuttings to shore in the very same tanks. Van Aalst is looking to extend the concept to offshore platforms for space-saving, below deck bulk storage of drill cuttings. Wijnand van Aalst, CEO: “A proven concept on board supply vessels, CargoMaxx not only saves a lot of space. It is a safe, closed system with zero environmental impact. The entire discharge process is basically a single and continuous flow through a hose connection between platform and ship…
Hatenboer-Water to Supply Dutch Royal Navy
Hatenboer-Water has received an order for a ‘GloEn-Patrol™ Ballast Water Treatment System.’ Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (The Netherlands/Vlissingen), the company building the Dutch Royal Navy’s Joint Support Ship (JSS), entrusted the order to Hatenboer-Water. The ship is to take to the seas in 2014. In addition to the ballast water treatment, Hatenboer-Water is also taking responsibility for this logistical support ship’s drinking water supply; the complete drinking water production, the distribution and the after-treatment to ensure the quality of the water.
Imtech Receives Contract
Imtech N.V., a technical service provider in Europe, has been commissioned by the Jan De Nul Groep and the wharf Schelde Marine Bouw to automate a number of dredgers and naval vessels. The Imtech Marine & Offshore division acquired the orders, worth a total of $15 million. Commissioned by the Jan De Nul Groep, Imtech is responsible for the on-board integrated dredging automation and instrumentation, navigation and communications for two 11,300 m³ Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers. Both dredgers are being built at the IZAR wharf in Bilbao, Spain. The UniMACS® navigation technology (integrated navigation, propulsion, alarm, monitoring, control and communications) patented by Imtech will be installed on these ships.
