Coast Guard Monitors Oil Recovery Ops near Bayonne, NJ
Coast Guard crews are continuing to monitor oil recovery operations (ORO) in the water near the International-Matex Tank Terminal (IMTT) Bayonne, New Jersey, Monday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New York received notification at approximately 10 p.m. Saturday from IMTT crewmembers of an oil spill as a result of an allision between a tug and a fuel terminal pier. The Coast Guard immediately launched members from the Sector New York Pollution Response Team to investigate. A Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, also responded. At this time, it is estimated that less than 1,000 gallons of oil entered the water and contracted crews are in the process of recovering the product.
Transas Simulators Boosts Western Shipping Training Center
Transas Marine Pacific has successfully completed the upgrade of a simulator complex for Western Shipping Pte. Ltd. training center. The simulator class was upgraded to the latest version of the Transas navigational simulator NTPRO 5000 to fully support ECDIS training as per STCW 2010. In addition, a new full mission shiphandling simulator Class A was installed for advanced training capabilities. The Transas Full Mission Bridge Simulator is equipped with standard 8.4” panel touchscreen…
Coast Guard Reopens Mississippi Following Collisions
Coast Guard Captain of the Port, New Orleans, informs that the Mississippi River has been re-opened to all traffic transiting around the International Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT) between mile marker 96 and mile marker 98. The disabled vessel, Flag Gangos, is no longer impeding traffic. The slow-bell requirement is still in effect in the vicinity of the IMTT facility. Late Tuesday watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector New Orleans command center received a report that the Maltese-flagged vessel Flag Gangos lost power and steering near mile marker 97.4 on the Lower Mississippi River and collided with the Liberian-flagged vessel Pamisos and the barge Web 235, both moored at the International Matex Tank Terminals conducting transfer operations.
Macquarie to Control IMTT
Macquarie Infrastructure Co LLC said it would buy the 50 percent stake in liquids storage provider International-Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT) that it does not control for $1.03 billion in cash and stock. Macquarie, which owns half of IMTT since 2006, said it expects the deal to add to its free cash flow this year given "a number of opportunities" to implement better expense controls and processes at the liquids storage provider. Macquarie said it would pay $910 million in cash and the rest in stock to buy out the remaining stake from IMTT's founding Coleman family, at least three of whom are expected to retire after the deal closes later this month.
Coast Guard Responds to Ship Collision
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the cause of a collision between two ships that occurred at the IMTT Myrtle Grove facility near Point A La Hache, La. The collision occurred between the Heidelberg Express, a 773-foot German container ship, and the Yerot Sakos, a 737-foot Liberian cargo ship full of iron ore. The Heidelberg Express experienced a loss of power when traveling outbound at mile marker 57 along the Lower Mississippi River, and the crew of the Heidelberg Express dropped both anchors in an attempt to stop the vessel. There were no reports of injuries or pollution at the time of the incident and the waterway remains open and unrestricted. Investigators from Coast Guard Sector New Orleans are on scene to investigate the cause of the collision.
