LA SHIP

Senate and House Appoint Maritime Conferees

The Senate and House recently appointed conferees to the pending conference on maritime security legislation. The conferees will work through the many differences between the Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001 (S. 1214, as passed by the Senate on December 20, 2001), and the Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002 (S. 1214, as amended and passed by the House on June 4). Also expected to be considered in the conference is Senator John Breaux's (D-LA) Ship, Seafarer and Container Security Act (S. 2329). S. 2329 was approved the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on May 17 and is awaiting consideration by the full Senate. Senator Breaux has stated that his intent is to try to incorporate the bill in any House-Senate conference report on maritime security. Source: AWO Letter

Massive Oil Spill Clean Up Underway

Despite initial contentions that there were only two major oil spills in the wake of Katrina, details released by the U.S. Coast Guard indicate that the problem is much larger. According to the USCG, oil pollution containment and recovery operations continue in Southeast Louisiana resulting from the destructive force of Hurricane Katrina. The following information on each spill is current as of 5 p.m., September 15.

Bachrach & Wood Celebrates 50 Years

Bachrach & Wood was formed 1953 to provide marine surveying and consultant services to the shipping industry in New Orleans. This year marks its 50th year of service. Over the years, Bachrach & Wood has changed its focus from bluewater shipping to the offshore oilfield, now providing builder’s risk surveys for heavy lifts and pipeline construction, warranty surveys for trips-in-to, vessel safety and security audits, and on/off charter surveys for barges and boats

Textron Receives LCAC Extension

Textron Marine and Land Systems, New Orleans, La., is being awarded a $30,301,153 firm-fixed-price modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-03-C-2200) for the service life extension of four landing craft air cushion craft. Work will be performed in New Orleans, La., and is expected to be completed in November 2006. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity

Seafuture Sponsored by Italian Trade Commission

The Italian Trade Commission and the Liguria Region are sponsoring an event in La Spezia to facilitate and create collaborations and partnerships between universities, companies, research centers, and other stakeholders in the maritime field. Seafuture will host engineers, designers, manufacturers and distributors of sea-related equipment and technology. The event will feature a number of thematic and technical seminars, forums

Innovative Tugboat Delivered to Columbia

Tugboat 'Cabo de la Vela' an AVT 3000-Class Voith Schneider vessel designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for Carbones del Cerrejón delivered by Uzmar Shipyard, Turkey. This is the second of a two boat order from Carbones del Cerrejón for the AVT 3000 Class Tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C., Canada.  Cabo de la Vela will join her sister vessel, the Media Luna, in Puerto de Bolivar.

MEMCO Christens Joy Anne Keller

MEMCO Barge Line, the inland barging subsidiary of Electric Fuels Corp. (EFC), christened a new towboat in New Orleans. M/V Joy Anne Keller, named after the wife of EFC President and CEO Richard D. Keller is the 22nd towboat in MEMCO's fleet. Built by Quality Shipyards, of Houma, La., the 8,000 hp twin-screw towboat measures 180 x 48 x 11.5 ft., and is designed to operate on the Lower Mississippi River between Cairo and New Orleans. MEMCO Christens Joy Anne Keller

Seafuture Sponsored by Italian Trade Commission

The Italian Trade Commission and the Liguria Region are sponsoring an event in La Spezia to facilitate and create collaborations and partnerships between universities, companies, research centers, and other stakeholders in the maritime field. Seafuture, occurring June 11 through 14, is the first exhibition in the Mediterranean area, open both to companies and research centres. It will host engineers, designers, manufacturers and distributors of sea-related equipment and technology

Changing Climate and Its Impact on Ship Routing

The warming planet and more predictable El Niño and La Niña cycles are presenting challenges and opportunities to shipping companies in ways that were not realized in the past. With each passing year we are seeing more transits along the Northern Sea Route (north of Russia) and through the NW Passage Route (through the Canadian Arctic). In addition to these climatic changes in the far northern latitudes, we are seeing short term pattern changes that are altering the face of how

US Navy Awards Landing Craft Contract to Textron

The Navy awards a $212 million contract for Textron Inc. to design and build an amphibious landing craft called the “Ship-to-Shore Connector.” In March 2011 a solicitation for Ship-to-Shore-Connector landing craft was issued  by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command. The request for proposals began the process of building a replacement for the Landing Craft Air Cushion amphibious craft that first entered service in the mid-1980s.