ABB HVDC Technology Aids Offshore Wind Power Transmission
World’s most powerful HVDC Light® sets new record voltage level of ±320 kV- more than 50 per cent higher than existing record. The HVDC Light converter station was…
Keeping a Grip on Where They Are
Pole Star Space Applications' Marine Asset Tracker (MAT) 2.0 monitors mixed fleets of tugs, barges, rigs & other assets; helps owners manage fleet-wide operations.
New Research Ship Named in Honor of Sally Ride
Navy names new Scripps Research Vessel to honor the legacy of space explorer and UC San Diego Professor Sally Ride. U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the nation's newest research vessel will be named R/V Sally Ride, in honor of the former UC San Diego faculty member who was the first American female astronaut and the youngest American to fly in space. Dr. Ride was selected for NASA's astronaut…
Moose Boats Deliver LAPD Police Boat
San Francisco Bay area-based Moose Boats recently delivered a new M1-46 Catamaran Dive Boat to Los Angeles Police Department. At 46 feet in length, the M1-46 is the largest vessel of the Moose Boats fleet to date. The M1-46 all aluminum catamaran, with a maximum speed of 38 knots, is powered by twin 600hp Cummins diesel engines coupled to twin Hamilton 322 water-jets and Hamilton Blue Arrow Controls.
Salvage Response under OPA 90: Non-Tankers are Next
Maritime casualties have always been tackled by a relatively small, egotistical, passionate and intrepid group of mariners called “salvors.” Salvage as history knows it, however, may be taking a sharp turn as a result of the new game rules being injected by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). Back in 2008 the USCG issued the tanker final rule for salvage and marine firefighting (SMFF) under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.
Hyde Guardian BWTS Earns USCG Approval
Calgon Carbon Corporation announced that its Hyde Guardian Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS), developed and manufactured by its wholly owned subsidiary, Hyde Marine, Inc., became one of the first BWTS to earn Alternate Management System (AMS) approval from the United States Coast Guard (USCG). AMS approval is a first step to achieving full USCG Type Approval and is an interim measure that allows…
The Glass Half Full
I tend to be a glass half full kind of guy, as even in the worst of times there tends to lie opportunity. I would not be remiss in saying there are more than a handful…
American Investors and Colombian Government Battle over $17 Billion Treasure Salvage
A group of investors sued the Colombian government for preventing American salvage group Sea Search Armada from recovering San Jose, a ship that sank in 1708, often…
Registration Opens for Transas Simulation User Conference
Registration has now opened for the Transas Simulation User Conference 2013, scheduled to be held in Maryland on July 15 - 19, 2013. The conference is jointly hosted…
Oils and Oil Analysis: What You Need to Know
In any given lubricant (such as engine oil, transmission fluid or gear oil), there are three main factors that influence the “useful life” of the lubricant: Viscosity Stability, Oxidation, and Contamination. While it is important to understand how these factors affect oil life, it is equally important to realize that none of these factors can be measured or monitored except through a thorough and ongoing oil analysis program.
WCI Reacts to Obama’s FY ’14 Budget Request
Waterways Council, Inc. • This budget is steady-state with the overall funding level essentially the continuation of the post-sequester level for the U.S. Army Corps…
Forbes Receives SCA's Maritime Leadership Award
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) presented its inaugural “SCA Maritime Leadership Award” to shipbuilding and repair advocate, Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R) from Virginia’s Fourth District. The award was presented Thursday, April 11, during SCA’s annual general membership dinner at the Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City. "Congressman Forbes has been a tireless advocate for a stronger shipbuilding and repair industry and a friend to the Shipbuilders Council of America.
Port of Los Angeles Container Volumes Drop in March
The Port of Los Angeles released its March 2013 cargo volumes. After a 17% surge in February cargo volumes, overall volumes in March decreased 22.6% compared to March 2012. The decrease was due in large part to the timing of the Chinese New Year, which slows production in Asian countries that export to the United States, as well as a vessel service that shifted out of the Port of Los Angeles. Imports dropped 28.7%…
Abandoned Crew Repatriated After Six-Month Ordeal
The majority of the crew of a ship that have gone unpaid and lacking in basic human requirements finally flew home over the weekend. For the last few months nine Pakistani crew onboard a reefer…
ABS Grants AIP for Small LNG Carrier Design
ABS granted engineering company GTT approval in principle (AIP) for a 32,000 m capacity LNG carrier design. "While a few membrane LNG carriers in the 20,000 m capacity range were built in the 1990s, this is the first new design to be introduced since that time," said ABS Vice President, LNG, Patrick Janssens. The reason for this innovation, Janssens says, is the development of new markets that have led to a keen interest in smaller LNG carrier designs.
Underwater Robotics National Challenge set for Indy
In only a few weeks, SeaPerch, a national educational outreach program using underwater robotics, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), will hold its 2013 National SeaPerch Challenge. Hosted by the Indiana State Regions this annual competition will take place on the campus of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at the University’s Natatorium housing the Olympic pool.
Cold SCAR Steel is Weapon of Choice on Baltic 2
Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) reported a successful start to a 10-week boulder clearing and trenching campaign on the Baltic 2 offshore wind farm project. Mobilized onboard the Siem Topaz anchor handling vessel, Ecosse Subsea’s SCAR subsea plough system is engaged on route clearing and pre-lay trenching operations on behalf of Siem Offshore Contractors. Soils have varied from dense sands and hard clays to high boulder density ranging up to four meters…
By the Numbers: Oil Spill Response
An explosion aboard the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon on April 20, 2010 set off a chain of events that led to its sinking and subsequent oil spill. That same day, the DHS Secretary declared the Deepwater Horizon incident a Spill of National Significance (SONS). Eventually, at least 47 offers of International assistance were received. Response to the incident required extraordinary coordination…
Newport News Completes Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is complete following the addition of the ship's upper bow section at Newport News Shipbuilding. The upper bow extends the overall length of the carrier to its full size, which is 1,106 feet—equal to a 75-story building lying on its side. Weighing 787 metric tons and comprising 19 steel sections, the addition of the upper bow brings Ford to 96 percent structural completion.
Editor's Note
Offshore energy is a unique animal. I say that because, increasingly, the vessels that provide offshore service are becoming the mainstream of our bluewater merchant marine.
