Maritime Solutions Inc News

Defense Maritime Solutions, Inc. secured a contract from the U.S. Navy's Southwest Regional Maintenance Center in San Diego in support of the waterjets and seals that they originally supplied for the Littoral Combat Ship Independence Class.The $9,135,942 firm-fixed price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract includes four ordering year options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $60,582,873. Work will be performed globally and defined in each delivery order. The completion of the base year is expected to be twelve months after award.

It seems like a lifetime coming, but the IMO International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM) has been approved and will enter into force on September 8, 2017. Deemed as an environmental necessity, it creates an enormous operational challenge for the maritime industry. As ship owners, system installers and BWM system manufacturers alike prepare for the many challenges associated with implementation, it would be wise to more closely evaluate the real (and sometimes hidden) risks to system operators and manufacturers.

The Delaware River Pilots Association recently contracted with Carey's Diesel to repower a vessel with a pair of Isotta Fraschini marine diesel engines, rated at 550 hp @ 2,400 rpm. This is the third vessel the Pilots Association has chosen to repower using Isotta Fraschini engines. The first Isotta Fraschini repowers were two 56,000-lb. vessels named Wilmington and Delaware. Wilmington's two 8V-72T Detroit Diesel two-cycle, eight cylinder engines were replaced with two V1308T2 MLH Isotta Fraschini four-stroke, V-8 cylinder marine diesel engines. Delaware's two 8V-92 Detroit Diesel two-cycle, eight cylinder engines were replaced with a pair of V1312T2 MLH Isotta Fraschini four-stroke, V-12 cylinder marine diesel engines.

While ballast water environmental issues have been news for decades, a renewed focus on the marine industry, specifically the effects ships and boats have on the aquatic environment, is picking up steam and not looking to slowdown. Per an executive order from President Clinton, the U.S. Invasive Species Council is finally getting off the ground, a council which will study the problem and make recommendations regarding treatment. A recent report from the General Accounting Office (GAO-RCED-00-219) found that the U.S. federal goverment spent $513 million in FY ‘99 and will spend $631 million in FY ‘00 for activities related to invasive species.

Lifeboat and davit manufacturer Schat-Harding has purchased Maritime Solutions Inc, a Norfolk, Va.-based lifeboat and davit service company. Schat-Harding has a fabrication plant, spares and service base in Louisiana, service engineers based in Florida and now with the purchase of Maritime it will have eight fully trained engineers on the East coast. The Norfolk centre will have a full range of spares and will be connected to Schat-Harding's safety database SHIELD, which ensures timely servicing and delivery of spares. As owners turn to original manufacturers for service and maintenance, Schat-Harding continues to gear up its global network to meet their needs.