Florida Facility News

When he served as the commander of NWSC Carderock, Mark Vandroff woke every morning knowing that his counterpart in China had just gone to bed and had spent that day trying to make China’s Navy superior. His job, he figured, was to “get cracking and work to make our Navy even better.” Now the CEO at Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM), Vandroff brings that passion for navy shipbuilding – and delivering on the new USN Constellation-class frigates contract – to work every day.Introducing a new class of warship usually comes with a heaping helping of pain, from cost overruns to technical glitches.

When it comes to the EPA’s recent proposed delay to implementation of Tier 4 marine diesel engines ‘in certain high-speed commercial vessels,’ where you stand probably depends on where you sit.On September 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection agency (EPA) proposed to delay implementation of Tier 4 marine diesel engines “in certain high-speed commercial vessels.” Specifically; EPA mentions three kinds of vessels: lobster boats, pilot boats and a third, more open-ended reference to “other high-speed vessels,” possibly including hovercraft.

Elastec manufactures and markets innovative pollution control and recovery systems. The company’s core competency is oil spill response: skimmers, fire and containment booms, boom deployment systems, portable vacuum equipment, workboats, dispersant spray systems, oil spill aerial surveillance systems, storage tanks and pumps. The company also manufactures floating containment booms and barriers, turbidity curtains and fumigation tarps in its Cocoa, Florida facility. Elastec Hydro…

Weeks Marine, Inc. (WMI) and Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) signed a contract to complete the construction of its Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger, the MAGDALEN. This 356’ Twin Screw Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger will be constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Panama City, Florida facility. Weeks Marine is another Eastern repeat client. This new construction Dredger project continues our commitment to the US Jones Act maritime industry and its long history of being a successful diversified US Shipbuilder.

International Ship Repair & Marine Services, Inc. (ISR) was awarded a $980,260 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) to partner in the funding of its new, American made, 275-ton Manitowoc crawler crane. According to ISR, fierce competition for a portion of the total $9.46 million awarded through its Small Shipyard Grant Program was evident as MARAD received 113 grant applications requesting project funding of more than $96 million. ISR is one of only 11 other shipyard grant recipients from throughout the United States.

Resource Power Group (RPG) acquired the assets of Gen Turbo Inc., a supplier of parts and services for large bore diesel engine turbochargers in Miami, FL. Gen Turbo Inc. (GTI) is recognized in the industry for delivering to it’s customers a combination of affordable, high quality, and highly technical turbocharger services. Genato Samson and Celso Villanueva, the founders of  GTI, are considered to be experts with ABB, KBB, and Napier type turbochargers. Mr. Samson was previously employed by ABB turbocharger as a Service Engineer and an ABB turbocharger Workshop Manager. He will assume the role of RPG’s Turbocharger Workshop and Sales Manager. Mr. Villanueva was previously employed by MaK as a Service and Commissioning Engineer.

Resolve Maritime Academy, U.S. - based maritime emergency response training center, graduated seven students from Qatar on November 23. The graduates, who are land-based firefighters, came to Resolve’s South Florida facility for a customized program of marine- oriented fire, hazardous materials and safety courses. The program was organized in cooperation with the National Academy for Professional Training (NAPT) in Qatar. The students attended classes at Resolve Maritime Academy’s Port Everglades, Fla. facilities from October 4 through November 25.

To provide a level of service to the boat building industry, Southco Marine, Inc. has opened a new customer support center in West Melbourne, Florida. The 4,600 square-foot facility includes a 1,400 square-foot product showroom that will display the wide range of distinctive marine products and services provided by Southco Marine. The new Florida facility will also be used for product and application training, sales support, customer seminars and new product development. “We chose this location to be in closer proximity to our marine industry customers and to provide an unmatched level of service to boat builders,” said Richard Hipp, general manager of Southco Marine.

Miami Diver has led the development of a unique universal steel habitat to efficiently carry out underwater repairs on almost any ship. In July 1999, a leading cruise ship operator approached Miami Diver Inc. with a damaged lip type stern seal on one of its vessels. The 73,912-gt ship was reporting sea water ingress from the starboard side shaft seal, and the cruise operator was looking for options to prevent an untimely and expensive unscheduled dry-docking. This was a unique situation in the underwater bonding of a lip-type shaft seal had reportedly never been accomplished before. Miami Diver immediately responded and called upon the network companies based in Vancouver, B.C.

Imagine having your employer inform you that your only two-week vacation all year will be spent sitting in training courses to revamp or add to your skill base as an officer. Most would more than likely offer a collective groan of discontent by this suggestion since they often spend more than four months at sea in one given shot. Time spent away from relaxation with their families is precious to these individuals as it is hard to come by. Therefore RTM Star (Simulation, Training, Assessment & Research) Center, located in Dania Beach, Fla. And Toledo, Ohio, strives to give students who come to the training center an atmosphere that exudes a "home away from home" environment. Driving along the industrious thoroughfare of U.S.