NNS Supports Local STEM Summer Camp
Volunteers from Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division are trading in their safety gear for school gear this summer at the STEM Summer of Innovation Academy.
China Rongsheng Delivers Fourth Vale VLOC
China Rongsheng Heavy Industries Group Holdings Limited has delivered the 380,000 dwt class Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) 'Vale Caofeidian' to Brazil's Vale S.A. The vessel is the fourth 380,000 DWT class VLOC delivered by the Group this year and its eleventh delivery of VLOC's overall. The Chinese shipbuilders have successfully delivered 11 VLOCs, while most of those remaining have been launched and are under outfitting process.
Hijacked Turkish Ship Released by W. Africa Pirates
Pirates have released a Turkish cargo ship with a crew of 24 Indians which they hijacked near Port Gentil off the coast of Gabon in West Africa last week, reports BBC News. Citing officials at Geden Lines, the Turkish company owning the MT Cotton the BBC report that the captain has been asked to move the ship at "fullest possible speed" from its present location at the Gulf of Guinea to a "safe port" in West Africa. It is unclear if a ransom demand was made by the pirates.
Gulf of Mexico Jack-up Rig Evacuated
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) & the U. S. Coast Guard have set up a Command Center in their continued response to the loss of well control event 55 miles offshore Louisiana in 154 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico. * AM UPDATE: The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has confirmed a fire on board the Hercules 265 Rig located approximately 55 miles offshore Louisiana. The natural gas leaking from the well ignited at 10:50 p.m. CDT July 23, 2013.
Costa Concordia: Lawyers Maintain Owners Criminally Liable
Ronai & Ronai, LLP, a New York law firm that represents victims, including Sandor Feher, a musician who lost his life while trying to evacuate passengers, believes that the criminality of the deaths should also be placed on Costa Crociere/Carnival Corp., which was able to escape criminal liability simply because of their ability to pay a monetary fine. On July 20, 2013, five crew members of the Costa…
Solstad Offshore Fix Vessel Charters
Solstad Offshore ASA (SOFF) has extended contracts for vessels in its offshore fleet. A new contract with BG Tunisia for hire of SOFF’s anchor handling vessel (AHTS) “Nor Star” is for a duration of 2 years firm and with one yearly option. SOFF has also extended its contract with Efadco Petrolcum Services Co for hire of SOFF’s AHTS “Nor Chief”. The duration of the new contract is 8 months firm starting January 2014, and with one yearly option.
International Shipping Corp Public Share Offering
US-based International Shipholding Corporation (NYSE: ISH) plans to offer shares of its Series B Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock in an underwritten registered public offering.
Tug Boat, Barge, Guide Against Piracy Published
ReCAAP ISC and Information Fusion Centre (IFC) have jointly published a Tug Boats and Barges Guide (TaB) against piracy and sea robbey. The purpose of this guide is to capture tips, guidelines, reporting procedures and contact details for tug boat owners, operators and crew in avoiding hijacking and robbery onboard tug boats and barges. The guide contains inputs and experience of tug boat owners, operators and masters whose vessels had been robbed or hijacked…
NZ Jet Boats Collide: Drivers to be Prosecuted
Charges have been laid against two commercial jet boat drivers following a collision on the Dart River, near Queenstown, in which a passenger suffered a broken clavicle & several others suffered bruising. The incident involved jet boats from Dart River Safaris (who do not face any charges as a result of the incident) one jet boat carrying 11 passengers and heading upstream and the other, carrying the driver alone, heading downstream.
USCG: Meeting Arctic Missions
With a stifling heat wave affecting most of the country last week, it’s hard to picture U.S. Coast Guard units focusing on our nation’s Arctic interests. But for a dedicated group of Coast Guard men and women, the Arctic is all that is on their mind. As the nation’s lead federal agency for ensuring maritime safety and security in the Arctic, the Coast Guard will perform its statutory missions to ensure the Arctic remains a safe, secure and environmentally protected region.
Today in U.S. Naval Hisory: July 23
Today in U.S. 1947 - First Navy all jet squadron (VF-17A) receives its first aircraft (FH). 1948 - USS Putnum (DD-757) evacuates U.N. team from Haifa, Israel and becomes first U.S. Navy ship to fly the U.N. flag. 1958 - USS Nautilus (SSN-571) departs Pearl Harbor for first submerged transit of North Pole. 1993 - Sarah Deal becomes first woman Marine selected for naval aviation training. For more information about naval history…
IMSN Launches New CBT Course
International Maritime Security Network LLC, an International maritime security training and consulting company based in Pennsylvania, now offers a computer based training (CBT) course that satisfies the new STCW security training requirements for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties (2010 Manila Amendments). “Seafarers around the world have a relatively short timeframe to meet new STCW training requirements that involve security training,” said Captain Tim Nease (Ret.), IMSN’s CEO.
NOIA President Supports Energy Exploration, Development
During the testimony today at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on offshore energy revenue sharing, National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA)…
Port of Houston, Princess Cruises Lock Two More Seasons
The Port of Houston Authority reached an agreement with Princess Cruises to make passenger calls for two additional cruise seasons, in addition to the sailings that…
ValvTect Completes Fuel Tank Testing at 600+ Marinas
Unfortunately, it is all too common for gasoline and diesel storage tanks at marinas to contain excess water and other contaminants such as bacteria and debris. These contaminants can be pumped into boaters’ fuel tanks and can cause an engine to shut down or cause permanent damage. The presence of ethanol gasoline, ultra low sulfur diesel fuel and biodiesel makes this situation even worse. To combat this problem…
HB Rentals Names New VP
HB Rentals, a Superior Energy Services company, has named Peter Armstrong as vice president of business development, announced Deidre Toups, HB Rentals president. Based in Houston, Armstrong’s responsibilities include new market analysis, managing the corporate marketing function and driving growth through global customer relationships. Consistent with HB Rentals’ global focus on innovation, Armstrong…
BIMCO Launch Ship Efficiency Package
BIMCO have launched an exclusive package for its members to aide efficiency improvements within their operations. The package, consisting of both a supportive guide to efficiency technologies and the market and a two-day conference and workshop summit, has been put together by Fathom, in recognition of BIMCO’s ongoing support. The publication included in the package, Fathom’s Ship Efficiency: The Guide…
Severn Glocon Acquires Calidus Engineering
Control valve engineering specialist, Severn Glocon Group has strengthened its presence in the subsea oil and gas market with the acquisition of HPHT downhole tools company Calidus Engineering. Now renamed Severn Subsea Technologies Ltd, the company will provide research, development and test facilities to enhance Severn Glocon’s subsea valves capability. A former subsidiary of Badger Explorer (Norway)…
New Powder Coat Paint Booth from Hartzell
Hartzell Air Movement now offers powder coated products. The addition of their new paint booth will increase product consistency and quality control. This new process is also safer on the environment compared to liquid paints since it does not contain any solvents. Powder coating is universally accepted and specified as the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to reduce air pollution. Tom Gustafson, Chief Technology Officer commented, “Our powder coat paint booth has many advantages.
Trelleborg Offers Recourses to Help Customers Select Fenders
Trelleborg released a whitepaper, webinar, short film and specification tool that highlight and explain the importance of understanding rubber compound composition when selecting marine fender systems. The resources discuss the properties of superior rubber compounds and the use of rubber compound composition to optimize fender performance. They also detail a new test method available to help specifies determine the formulation of the fenders they procure.
