Anti-Piracy Distress Call Procedures
The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued an Advisory providing suggested anti-piracy distress calling procedures for commercial vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden: (1) when in distress…
NMSAC Re-established
The US Coast Guard issued a notice stating that the Secretary of Homeland Security has re-established the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC). (Source: Holland & Knight)
MPAFAC Meeting
The Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (MPAFAC), sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will meet in Monterey, California on November 18-20.
Fednav - Complete IMOS Solution
Veson Nautical, the US-based developer of software solutions for the commercial maritime community, announced that Fednav Limited of Montreal, a Canadian ocean-going…
Keppel Shipyard Delivers 9th FPSO
Keppel Shipyard Limited has delivered the floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) Espirito Santo to SBM Offshore. The vessel has left Singapore for deployment in the Espirito Santo field in offshore Brazil. The FPSO is capable of processing 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) with a maximum storage capacity of two million barrels of oil. It will be leased to the BC-10 Joint Venture, which is operated by Shell with ONGC Campos Ltda. and Petróleo Brasilieiro S.A.
1st Ship Built to Lloyd’s Winterization Rule
The first vessel built to new global standards for ice-class vessels was unveiled on Nov. 10 when the Primorsk Shipping Corporation (PRISCO) named the MV Prisco Alexandra…
Statoil Appoints Michelsen, Nes, Myrebøe
As of Nov. 10, Øystein Michelsen, Helga Nes and Gunnar Myrebøe have been appointed members of StatoilHydro's corporate executive committee. Mr. Michelsen will take…
This Day in Naval History – Nov. 11
1870 - Navy expedition to explore the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, southern Mexico, commanded by CAPT Robert W. Shufeldt, enters the Coatzacoalcos River to begin a survey for possible interoceanic canal.
This Day in History – Edmund Fitzgerald
On this date, Nov. 10, 1975, the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior during a strong storm. All 29 crewmembers died. (Source: Holland & Knight)
Hawaii – Urgent Superferry Barge Repairs
According to a report from the Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii’s state Department of Transportation plans to spend $414,284 for immediate repairs to the Hawaii Superferry…
New Navy Contract
Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $7,191,000 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-08-C-5122 to exercise…
UK Defense Contract to LSA
Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA) has secured a contract worth approximately $4.8m to supply Marine Evacuation Systems to the UK Ministry of Defense for use on two new British aircraft carriers. LSA European Manager Mr. Peter Rea said it was the biggest single contract since the company was founded over 16 years ago. “LSA has been working on finalizing this contract for about 18 months after we were…
USS Carl Vinson Readies
Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) are conducting general quarters (GQ) drills this November after a three-year pause while…
Pac Fleet Commander Discusses the LCS
In his latest edition of the "Rat-Pac Report" podcast, posted Nov. 5, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Robert F. Willard discussed the importance of the Navy's latest addition to its surface forces, the littoral combat ship (LCS). "The littoral combat ship is going to bring us a shallow draft ship that's very fast, carries a lot of capacity with a small crew size, that's going to be very, very efficient but also, we think, very, very effective," said Willard.
USS Blue Ridge Gets Comms Upgrade
Months of planning to create the Navy's most sophisticated at-sea communications platform went on-line Oct. 10 aboard amphibious flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) to provide Commander, 7th Fleet and his staff with increased command and control capabilities. According to Lt. Cmdr. Mark Baehr, the flagship's communications information systems officer, the estimated $3.5m project was necessary to upgrade the aging hardware and dated software to keep up with the ever changing world of technology.
Eye on the Fleet - USS Mount Whitney
Sept. 1, 2008, the amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) departed Souda harbor following a routine port visit. Mount Whitney is homeported in Gaeta, Italy, where she received humanitarian aid supplies destined for the Republic of Georgia. Mount Whitney is transiting to the Black Sea for delivery of the humanitarian assistance cargo to the Republic of Georgia. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. Paul Farley. (Source: Navy News Service)
This Day in Naval History – Nov. 10
1775 - Congress votes to raise two battalions of Continental Marines, establishing the Marine Corps. 1941 - U.S.
Retail Container Traffic Lowest Since 2004
Cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports fell again in October, and 2008 is now expected to be the slowest year since 2004 as the downturn in the nation’s economy continues…
Wärtsilä Acquires Vik-Sandvik
Wärtsilä has acquired the global ship design group Vik-Sandvik, an independent group providing design and engineering services to ship owners and the ship building industry worldwide. The value of the acquisition is $169.9m, with an additional maximum sum of $48.9m to be paid based on the performance of the business over the next three years. In 2007, Vik-Sandvik’s turnover was $70.8 millions and the profitability is on a very good level. The number of employees is 410.
StratoilHydro Seeks New Opportunities
StatoilHydro has submitted an application for new production licenses both in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea in the 20th licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf.
