San Diego State University News

The National Shipbuilding Research Program’s (NSRP) Executive Control Board has selected a new round of research and development (R&D) projects aiming to spur technology advancements in order to reduce costs associated with shipbuilding and ship repair in the U.S. The seven projects – valued at over $13.3 million, including cost share – were selected from those proposed in response to research announcement issued in July 2017, and are outlined below. Objective: The primary goal…

New research solves a mystery behind the gunk that sticks to the bottoms of ships. The coating of barnacles and other growth along the bottoms of vessels is more than just an eyesore. Biofouling, as it is known, slows down ships and impedes the readiness of emergency response and military vessels. “Biofouling is an economic issue,” said San Diego State University biologist Nick Shikuma. A new study by Shikuma identifies key developmental steps these waterborne organisms must take to metamorphose from their larval to adult state.

Market volatility for the petroleum sector provides a backdrop to an evolving Merger & Acquisitions environment for the Offshore Sector. In the 3Q edition of Maritime Professional, this series of articles examined the overall evolution of maritime and offshore M&A activity since 2010, tracing the flow of deals in the post-financial crisis era. In this edition, we take a closer look at relevant U.S. offshore energy industry deal flow and market movements as they relate to oil prices over time, and highlight some recent middle market transactions.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners continued to fill key positions in Harbor Department leadership ranks this week with four additional appointments of experienced executives to oversee Port of Long Beach operations. The four professionals all have long and valuable experience in their fields of engineering, maintenance and finance, and come from outside the Port of Long Beach. Two of the positions are newly created and two were vacated earlier this year. Duane Kenagy has been appointed to the newly created position of Capital Programs Executive to oversee the Port’s capital improvement program and will report directly to the Chief Executive.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is committed to development of alternative energy sources, moves ahead with new research effort. The Energy Systems Technology and Evaluation Program (ESTEP) that has started in FY13 is bringing together key players during a five-year period to conduct real-world tests on advanced energy technologies at Navy and Marine Corps installations. Addressing the recent Naval Energy Forum in Washington, DC, Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder said: "The lifeblood of innovation is new ideas…

Lance Camarena joined Holland America Line and Seabourn as director, fleet training and performance management. He is responsible for the fleet training program of deck and engine staff, performance management and developing technology solutions that support fleet performance. Camarena will oversee the deck and engine fleet training team and report to Michiel Versteeg, director, safety and environmental compliance. Camarena previously spent 14 years with Holland America Line from 1995 to 2009.

The McLean Group, LLC appointed Harry Ward as Director leading the firm’s Transportation & Logistics practice. Ward has more than 20 years’ global strategy, business development and M&A experience supporting privately-held companies. He has worked across the transportation & logistics value chain, particularly in distribution, fulfillment and the maritime industry. Ward has expertise working with numerous business owners in both the sale and acquisition of mid-sized businesses. In his career, he has run a middle market distribution company and built global sales teams in the maritime equipment segment. Ward is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and earned an MBA at San Diego State University. “Transportation & Logistics is a dynamic and global subset of industries.

John A. Gurrad, MOL (America) Inc.’s former Vice President for Business Planning and e-Commerce, passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Gurrad’s 37-year career in the shipping industry included 10 years at MOL as vice president in Concord, Calif. He joined MOL in August of 1998 and retired in October 2008. Gurrad was 68. Gurrad was a valued and highly respected member of the MOL Team, and directed MOL’s business planning activities, advertising and marketing communications, and business process management. Under his guidance, MOL received numerous industry awards for marketing and advertising excellence. Prior to joining MOL, Gurrad spent 19 years with APL (1979-1998) in Oakland, California, eventually serving as Assistant to the Chairman of the Board (1995-1998).

Engineering students from 12 universities around the country will began competing in Hawaii in the conference finals of the American Society of Civil Engineers' 22nd Annual ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition. The winner of these races will earn a spot in the national championships in North Carolina this June. Before the concrete canoes could begin their sail to the finish line, however, they had to get to the starting line. Working together, Horizon Lines, LLC, and Horizon Logistics, LLC, coordinated the door-to-door delivery of the competition canoes from inland points in the continental United States to the Port of Los Angeles for ocean voyage aboard a Horizon Lines container vessel to Honolulu and on to final destination at the University of Hawaii.

The Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology (CCAT) in San Diego, Calif. announced that the Center has awarded business development grants and business support awards to three companies and one university that have developed technologies for use in military, security and commercial operations. Dr. William Tong, Distinguished Professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry at San Diego State University, was granted a $75,000 product development award, a market study and commercialization planning assistance for his methodology using laser wave mixing as a detector that can identify trace explosives and/or elements in dirty bombs. The technology offers a sensitivity level that has never been available in a portable unit.