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East Texas News

20 Sep 2021

Ship of the Month: Mercy Ships and the Quest to Build Global Mercy

Global Mercy is diesel electric (4 x Wärtsilä 6L32s, just under 3MW).  Designed by DeltaMarin in Finland, the ship uses ABB pods for propulsion for a 12-knot service speed. Photo courtesy Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships is known globally for its charitable work performing medical procedures in developing countries. For the first time, the organization has a new ship, Global Mercy, recently delivered from a shipyard in China. Jim Paterson, Marine Executive Consultant, Mercy Ships takes Maritime Reporter & Engineering News inside the construction of the world’s largest civilian hospital ship.Jim Paterson already had a career and Chief Engineer’s Certificate when he joined Mercy Ships nearly 34 years ago, in search of a life change to make a difference.

31 Dec 2019

Castleton Closes Shell Shale Deal

Houston-based Castleton Resources said that its subsidiary Castleton Commodities International LLC (CCI) has closed on the acquisition of the East Texas and North Louisiana Haynesville Shale assets of BG US Production Company LLC, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc. Pro forma for the acquisition, Castleton Resources will hold approximately 222,400 net acres in the region and produce approximately 334 MMcfe/d (net). Castleton Resources is owned by CCI and Tokyo Gas America Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. Concurrent with the transaction, Tokyo Gas America Ltd. will increase its interest in Castleton Resources from 30% to approximately 46%.

27 Dec 2019

INSIGHTS: Niels Aalund

Niels Aalund was elected President of the International Propeller Club at their 93rd International Convention and Conference. The prominent maritime industry stakeholder will serve a two-year term, commencing from October 17th. Aalund, a well-known maritime subject matter expert and executive, also serves as an Officer and as Senior Vice President of the West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA). WGMA communicates and coordinates with various governmental entities throughout the West Gulf…

28 Oct 2019

Aalund Named International Propeller Club's President

Niels Aalund, President, International Propeller Club

Niels Aalund was elected at the 93rd International Convention and Conference in New Orleans on October 17th.New Orleans, LA: Prominent maritime industry stakeholder Niels Aalund has been elected President of the International Propeller Club. Mr. Aalund will serve a two-year term, commencing from October 17th. Aalund, a well-known maritime subject matter expert and executive, currently serves as an Officer and as Senior Vice-President of the West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA).

19 Sep 2019

Vessel Traffic Halted on Beaumont Ship Channel

Ship pilots stopped moving vessels along the Beaumont, Texas, Ship Channel due to severe weather caused by Tropical Storm Imelda, said the U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday.Imelda, officially downgraded to a tropical depression, dumped 24 inches (61 CM) of rain on east Texas is the past 24 hours, closing Exxon Mobil Corp's Beaumont refinery and chemical plant. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; editing by David Evans)

11 Jul 2019

New Orleans Braces for TS Barry

File Image: A containership transits the Port of New Orleans on a better day. Image CREDIT: Port NOLA

Some residents and visitors prepared to flee New Orleans on Thursday as Tropical Storm Barry closed in and city officials warned of severe flooding if it makes landfall by early Saturday as the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2019 season.The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour (64 kph) as of 10 a.m. CDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday, the National Weather Service said.Forecasters issued a storm-surge warning for a stretch of Louisiana coastline south of already-sodden New Orleans stretching from the mouth of the Atchafalaya River to Shell Beach.

23 Jun 2017

Cindy's Remnants Drench Gulf Coast, Wreaking Havok

The remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy brought tornadoes and flooding to the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday and its heavy rains will drench much of the eastern United States in coming days, forecasters said. Flooding and road closures stretched from east Texas into northwestern Florida after Cindy made landfall early on Thursday near the Louisiana-Texas border and weakened to a tropical depression, the National Weather Service said. Cindy is expected to dump 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) of rain as it heads north and east into the Ohio Valley and the Appalachian Mountains through Saturday, said Brian Hurley, a weather service meteorologist. Totals could reach 9 inches (22.5 cm) in some areas. "We're looking at quite a bit of rain. That's going to be the main threat," he said.

22 Jun 2017

Shipping Firms Pay $1.9 Mln for Pollution Cover-up

Two shipping companies based in Egypt and Singapore will pay $1.9 million in penalties after pleading guilty in federal court to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and obstruction of justice for covering up the illegal dumping of oil-contaminated bilge water and garbage into the sea. Defendants Egyptian Tanker Company and Thome Ship Management are the owner and operator of the offending vessel, the 57,920 gross ton, 809-foot long, oceangoing, oil tank ship called the M/T ETC Mena. The plea agreement was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston for the Eastern District of Texas.

19 Jun 2016

Houston International Seafarers Centers to honor Aalund in September

On September 24, 2016 the Houston International Seafarers Centers will host their Annual Maritime Gala . Niels Aalund, Senior Vice President, West Gulf Maritime Association, will be honored as the " Bronze Anchor Award” recipient. Niels Aalund, serves as an Officer and as Senior Vice-President, West Gulf Maritime Association, with primary responsibility for advocating on behalf of member companies (steamship agents, vessel owners, and industry stakeholders) with local, state and federal agencies. From organizations such as Washington, D.C, based, National Maritime Association, to the commercial sector, Aalund has provided leadership for a variety of maritime related positions. He has extensive strategic planning experience in both operations and commercial maritime activities.

21 Apr 2015

ConocoPhillips Weighs Sale of North Sea Assets in Norway

ConocoPhillips Inc is weighing sale of some of its North Sea assets in Norway which may fetch as much as $1 billion, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The largest independent producer of oil and natural gas may sell assets that are operated by others including stakes in the Aasta Hansteen, Alvheim and Grane fields, Bloomberg said, citing the sources. (http://bloom.bg/1J7KJ8g). The company is also said to have contacted potential buyers, Bloomberg reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. ConocoPhillips said it does not comment on ongoing business development or commercial activities. Reuters last week reported that the company was preparing the sale of noncore oil and gas producing acreage in the United States…

26 Apr 2014

Wood Group awarded $12Mln Operations & Maintenance Contract by Apex

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.

26 Aug 2011

Darling Named President of AEP River Operations

American Electric Power has named Keith Darling president of AEP River Operations LLC. Darling, 60, will oversee all managerial and operating activities related to AEP River Operations, including sales, planning and budgeting, accounting, business development, logistics, operations and maintenance. He replaces Mark Knoy, who left the company. "Keith's river operations experience is both broad and deep, and he has a unique understanding of how our river operations fit with our broader corporate strategy," said Tim Light, senior vice president – Fuels, Emissions & Logistics. Darling has served as managing director of boat operations for AEP River Operations since 2002.

15 Mar 2010

Hearings Adjourn in Port Arthur

Photo courtesy USCG

The Coast Guard adjourned the formal hearings, Thursday, March 11, concerning the Jan. 23, 2010, incident involving the tank vessel Eagle Otome, the Gull Arrow and the tug Dixie Vengeance. The incident resulted in more than 400,000 gallons of oil being spilled into the Sabine-Neches waterway. Eric Lewis, the VTS watchstander, testified concerning his training, maritime experience, and the details of the displays and sensors he monitors as a watchstander. He also described his watch and the geographic area of the waterway he monitors.

10 Oct 2001

Houston Exploration Announces Changes, Reorganizations

Houston Exploration announces a corporate realignment to facilitate the Company's operating strategy and growth plans. They have created two operating divisions: Onshore and offshore, which will function as strategic business units for the Company's oil and gas operations. Steve Mueller will join the Company as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Onshore Division, a business unit currently producing 110 Mmcf/d from fields in South Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, East Texas and West Virginia. Mueller brings over 26 years of industry experience. Most recently, Mueller was senior vice president of exploration and production at Belco Oil and Gas Company. Prior to Belco, Mr.

27 Sep 2001

Oil and Gas Job Growth in 2002-2003 to Bolster Louisiana Economy, Researchers Report At Hibernia

Oil-patch industries, shipbuilding and, to a lesser extent, business services, hotels and gaming will lead Louisiana's employment growth in 2002-2003, according to a report by Louisiana State University (LSU) economists and sponsored by Hibernia National Bank (NYSE:HIB). The researchers released their findings today at the fifth annual Hibernia Economic Outlook Conference at the Hibernia Tower. However, the researchers caution that it is difficult to determine the impact of the Sept. 11 tragedy on consumers and businesses. "It's still much too early to get an accurate reading of the impact on the national and local economies due to these events," said Loren C. Scott, one of the LSU economists who compiled the report.

02 Aug 2006

Stallion Acquires AOQ

Stallion Oilfield Services Ltd. completed the acquisition of Abbeville Offshore Quarters, Inc. (AOQ). The purchase marks the entrance of Stallion into the global offshore accommodations market. AOQ, based in Abbeville, Louisiana, provides workforce accommodations to the worldwide offshore oil and gas industry. With over 275 rental units in inventory, AOQ custom-designs, manufactures, and leases a variety of accommodations from multi-story and modular living quarters to electrical buildings, recreational rooms, and galleys. AOQ also delivers U.S. Coast Guard-approved accommodations on floating platforms and vessels including FPSO's, flotels, semi-submersibles and other drilling and production projects. The management team led by Tommy Putnam will continue in place.

17 Apr 2006

J. Ray McDermott Celebrates 50 Years in Morgan City

1956: Elvis released his first album; the film debut of Invasion of the Body Snatchers was frightening American audiences; My Fair Lady opened on Broadway; and J. Ray McDermott began operations at the offshore industry's first dedicated steel fabrication yard near Morgan City, Louisiana. Among the major events of early 1956, many are now trivia, but the Morgan City "fab yard" continues to have a profound and lasting effect on the region and the world. Since its humble beginnings on April 1, 1956, J. Ray's Morgan City fabrication facility has built more offshore structures than any other fabrication facility and has served as the model for new offshore fabrication yards around the globe.

02 Jul 2003

Port of Beaumont to Install of Homeland Defense System

e-Smart Technologies, Inc. announced that its Homeland Defense, Inc., affiliate has reached an agreement with the Port of Beaumont to install the Company's Biometric Verification - Homeland Defense System (BV-HDS(tm)) together with a number of the Company's subsystems including but not limited to the Super Smart Card(tm) identity verification and sure credentialing subsystem, the Robotic Eye(tm) video surveillance and emergency response subsystem and the AutoTrafficCop(tm) port protection subsystem. This agreement is the result of the port security concerns expressed by Texas Congressman Nick Lampson (D - Beaumont) and the cooperation of the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Beaumont as represented by its Executive Director, Chris Fisher, and the diligent work of Ms.

20 Nov 2002

K-Sea's OK Seas

Even on New York harbor, where the tugs range from burly to brutish, K-Sea's biggest are easy to pick out. Standing as tall as a seven-story house, they're the white ones. Their red trim makes them all the more conspicuous, like huge decorated lateens on the horizon as they move monster barges from the Kills. For giants like these, of course, harbor chores like bunkering would be almost recreational, something to keep them exercised between the coastal jaunts for which they're designed - and for which their owners are expanding. K-Sea has a dedicated harbor fleet too. They're as brawny as any but look a little moreso - muscular, almost hulking with those white superstructures stark against the sky. K-Sea also has a pushboat, the curious Odin, odd to the eye but insistently practical.