Resolve Fire News

Joe Farrell needs no introduction to the marine salvage community or, for that matter, MarineNews readers. Originally from the Boston, Mass., area, he began by enlisting in the United States Coast Guard, eventually attending the U.S. Navy diver school, becoming a ship’s diver. After two years at sea and diving in Arctic waters, he volunteered for service and became an explosives advisor, offloading ammunition ships in Vietnam. Eventually, Farrell became a civilian diver at the U.S.

Resolve Fire and Salvage signed an agreement with Fire Department New York (FDNY) last week, allowing the vast resources of the FDNY to be included in Resolve’s network of first responders that are available to vessel owners and operators, under the OPA90 Salvage & Marine Firefighting (SMFF) requirements. “FDNY has an excellent marine division that already responds first to marine incidents. This agreement simply formalizes FDNY’s role in the Vessel Response Plan (VRP), as a fellow marine firefighting responder, under the OPA90 SMFF regulations.

Daina Shipping fined $300,000 in NZ Court for discharge of harmful substances following grounding of the ship Oct. 2011. “The guilty plea by the owners has led to this case being resolved in a timely fashion and that is to be welcomed,” MNZ Director Keith Manch said. “The completion of this prosecution marks another step in the response to the grounding of the Rena. Daina Shipping Co. was charged under sections 338(1B) and 15B of the Resource Management Act 199, for being the owner of a ship from which harmful substances and/or contaminants were discharged into the coastal marine area.

Captain Marine Services, Inc. of Dana Beach, Fla. has been servicing the yachting and sport diving industries for the last nine years for all of their need above and below the waterline as well as, providing immediate procurement consolidation and delivery of marine parts, supplies, and diving equipment. President Capt. Thomas J. Dunzelman recently announced the opening of a new shipping, receiving and agents office in Turtle Cove Marina, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI. With many years of experience in the Turks & Caicos Islands, they can advise your clients as well as your crew on what to do and see while visiting Providenciales. Captain Marine Services provides an office where a captain can talk to another captain/engineer about their equipment needs.

Prior to the outbreak of WWII the Japanese began construction of several different types of midget submarines. Recognizing the strategic importance of such a weapon for combat use, Japan built hundreds of these "mini subs" ranging in size from just under 80 ft. to over 100 ft. Designed to carry a crew of 2 to 3 sailors and armed with two torpedoes, these small subs were originally intended to be transported on ships and deployed in the path of an enemy fleet. However, very quickly the Japanese saw the advantages of using the mini subs for special operations inside enemy harbors where conventional submarines could not go. To enhance their stealth capability, the midget subs were modified to ride atop full size subs and be deployed at sea near the target location.

It was hot. Really hot, the smoke was getting denser by the moment as the fire grew larger. It was getting darker. I couldn't see the flames any more from my position on the hose line but I could certainly feel the heat. "Here it comes," announced Todd Duke, the instructor leading my team into hell. All of a sudden the compartment lit up as a ball of flames raced across the overhead. The heat was intense. Two quick bursts from the nozzle, more darkness. The steam created made an evil hissing noise. I had just experienced my first flashover. I was beginning to wonder why I had chosen this line of work. Our instructor is telling us this is what we don't want to happen onboard our vessels. The overhead flashes over again. Two more bursts of water.