US Coast Guard Cutter Maurice Jester Commissioned
The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest cutter, the Coast Guard Cutter Maurice Jester (WPC-1152), was commissioned on Friday at Fort Adams State Park, R.I.Lt. Terry Netusil, assumed command of the cutter during a ceremony presided over by Vice Adm. Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander. The Maurice Jester is the third of six Fast Response Cutters that will be homeported in Boston, serving along the 1st Coast Guard District.Built by Bollinger Shipyards, the Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC) is designed for multiple missions…
Spaniards Sparkle in Volvo Ocean Race
Spanish boat MAPFRE led the Volvo Ocean Race fleet out of Newport, Rhode Island, and into the most challenging of the remaining three legs through the North Atlantic, reports AFP. Newport was the only North American stopover on this year's race, which ends in June in Goteborg, Sweden. The stopover has been so successful that race officials have changed their normal protocol and offered the Newport organizers an exclusive two-month window to seal a deal on the next race as the only North American stopover. During the 12 day stopover, the race village at Fort Adams State Park saw 125,000 fans come through and participate in the various events taking place. That number is five times the population of Newport and five times the number of visitors that last U.S.
Cutter Commissioned in RI
The Coast Guard Cutter Tiger Shark, an 87-ft. coastal patrol boat, was commissioned by Rear Adm. David Pekoske, Coast Guard First District commander, in a ceremony held at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, R.I., today. Key attendees included U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin, representative for the Second District of Rhode Island, who delivered the keynote address, the Congressman's mother June Barrett Langevin, was the cutter's sponsor, and a representative of Bollinger Shipyard Inc. Lt.j.g. Grant Thomas assumed command of the Tiger Shark. The cutter was named after one of the most feared sharks in the world and gets its name from the dark stripes across its back. Coast Guard photo by PA3 Lisa M. Hennings
Proposal: Safety Zone around LNG Tankers
The state Senate of Massachusetts could soon consider a bill that would effectively ban tanker ships carrying liquefied natural gas from moving along Narragansett Bay and the Sakonnet River. Lawmakers in the House passed the bill on May 10. If approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Don Carcieri, the legislation could severely hinder the operations of a proposed LNG facility in Fall River, Mass. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved Weaver's Cove Energy's plan to build a $250m LNG terminal at a former Shell Oil site on the banks of the Taunton River. The terminal would be serviced by tankers that move through Narragansett Bay.
