NAVSEA Technicians Locate Lost Fishing Vessel

Technical specialists with NAVSEA's Naval Underwater Warfare Division, Keyport recently helped the U.S. Coast Guard to locate the sunken fishing vessel Arctic Rose that disappeared in the Bering Sea on April 2, with all 15 crew members aboard. Three Keyport personnel recently returned after completing a project supporting the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS). The technicians returned from 42 days in the Bering Sea and Bristol Bay, Alaska where they conducted a Side Scan Sonar survey to examine the effects of commercial trawling equipment on the sea floor for the NMFS. The survey work was conducted aboard the fishing vessel Ocean Explorer. At the request of the U.S Coast Guard, the trip was extended their trip to support efforts to locate the Arctic Rose. While commercial fishing is considered to be the nation's most dangerous profession, the Arctic Rose sinking with its loss of 15 lives was one of the worst accidents in recent times. The Keyport technicians were able to use the Side Scan Sonar and find the vessel within two hours. -- (by By David Caskey, NAVSEA Congressional and Public Affairs) Daewo Close To BP Platform Deal Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering reportedly is in the final stage of talks over a $1.5 billion order to build oil platforms for BP Plc. According to a report in the Korea Economic Daily and reported by Reuters, the company anticipates finalizing the deal by month's end. - (Reuters)