Samuel Norton News

EnerSea Transport LLC (EnerSea) announced that Mercuria Holdings Limited, a principal of the Tanker Pacific Group, purchased an equity stake in EnerSea. This investment positions Tanker Pacific as a strategic partner in the development of EnerSea's natural gas transportation and storage projects. Tanker Pacific will assist EnerSea in the development of its compressed natural gas (CNG) marine transport projects by providing offshore gas storage facilities and services using EnerSea's proprietary VOTRANSTM technology. The Tanker Pacific relationship also provides for further access to capital for EnerSea projects. Other terms of the deal were not disclosed.

SeaChange Maritime has completed a private placement of $100m, the proceeds of which will be used to invest in expanding its fleet of container ships. The company, which is registered in the Marshall Islands and operates from offices in Miami, Fla., was formed in 2006 by former Sammy Ofer group executives Samuel Norton and Yariv Zghoul to serve as a leading supplier of container vessels for charter to integrated liner operators. Prior to forming SeaChange Maritime, Norton served as the senior executive officer of Tanker Pacific Management in Singapore and founded Tanker Pacific Offshore Terminals, a market leader in offshore storage and production solutions for the oil exploration industry.

The amphibious transport dock ship USS Trenton (LPD 14), was decommissioned Jan. 17 in a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. Immediately following the decommissioning, Trenton was recommissioned and transferred to the Indian Navy, bearing the name INS Jalashwa. The event marks the first time a U.S. Navy vessel has been transferred to the Indian navy. “Trenton will continue to serve all the free nations of the world, just as she served the United States, as we expand ‘the 1,000-ship navy,’” said Rear Adm. Garry Hall, Commander, Amphibious Group 2. In recent months, the crew of Trenton has been working alongside Indian sailors, training them to operate the ship efficiently and safely. The commanding officer of Jalashwa, Indian Navy Capt. B.S.

More than 700 Sailors on two surface ships “surged” April 18 as part of the Global War on Terrorism Surface Strike Group (GWOT SSG) 06-2 from their homeports in Norfolk, Va. and Mayport, Fla. The amphibious transport dock USS Trenton (LPD 14), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, and the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, with embarked LAMPS Detachment, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 44, Det. 9 deployed. The guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) homeported at Naval Station Norfolk will depart at a later date to join the group. As a surface strike group, Trenton, Hue City, and James E. Williams will enhance naval presence for combatant commanders in support of the ongoing global war on terrorism.