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.
Maritime Anti-Piracy, The Captain’s Guide Book
The fight against global piracy is as old as the seas themselves. Recent years have seen huge increases in pirate attacks against commercial shipping and, while the risk of piracy off East Africa is now believed to be somewhat diminished, the threat remains in the region and the cost to the global economy has been estimated to be as much as $6 billion by Oceans Beyond Piracy in their 2012 report. Piracy in West Africa and the South China Sea, meanwhile, is very much on the increase.
General Dynamics Begins $9.5 Million Maintenance Project for U.S. Navy
The U.S Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $9.5 million contract modification to plan and perform maintenance and modernization work on USS Hartford, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under the contract, Electric Boat will perform a dry-docking selected restricted availability at the company’s shipyard in Groton. Work is expected to be completed by September 2013.
Being LNG Ready could be the Best Option for Many Ships
DNV now offers shipowners the support they need to make newbuilds and existing vessels LNG ready with class approved designs, ready for later, simple retrofit of LNG technology. The service enables shipowners to make smart choices and minimal investments now in readiness for when LNG bunkering becomes widely available. Shipowners are supported through all stages of the decision-making process as they prepare to meet the IMO air emission regulations entering into force from 2015.
Comark’s Shipboard Applications Display Passes MIL-STD-901D Shock Testing
Comark Corporation completed full environmental testing of its latest version of the MDU19PC ruggedized COTS computer including MIL-901D grade-A lightweight shock test. The MDU19PC is an all-in-one display and computer designed and tested to meet military requirements for shipboard applications including propulsion, machinery control and ECDIS navigation. The panel is NEMA 4 rated when panel mounted and is available with an array of options including touchscreen…
USCG Accepts BWTS as Alternate Management Systems
The U.S. Coast Guard announced the acceptance of nine ballast water treatment systems today as Alternate Management Systems (AMS) in compliance with the service’s…
North Star Announce £63million BP Contract
North Star Shipping, a division of the family-owned global shipping and energy services firm The Craig Group, entered a £63million contract with BP. The multi-service contract is for five years with a possible extension of five years and includes tanker assist, platform supply and emergency and response rescue vessels, all supporting BP’s operations in the North Sea. Four vessels, with a possible fifth to be added are being contracted – the Grampian Talisker…
Rina Announces Annual Results
The Board of Directors of Rina S.P.A approved the consolidated balance sheet for the period 2012: revenues of 280 million Euros (+23%) were achieved and the operating income reached 26.3 million Euros. The Board of Rina S.p.A. – holding company of the RINA Group – has approved the consolidated balance sheet for 2012 which confirmed the growth trend of recent years with revenues of 280 million Euros (+23% compared to 2011). For the first time, the balance sheet of Rina S.p.A.
Shell Considering Sale of Downstream Businesses in Italy
Shell announced it is considering the sale of its Retail, Aviation and Supply and Distribution Downstream businesses in Italy. Shell’s non-service station Lubricants and Marine businesses are not part of this announcement. This announcement also has no impact on the Upstream and Gas and Power businesses in Italy. These businesses present strong growth opportunities for the company in Italy. The potential…
Turkey Raises the Stakes on Pollution Fines
Turkish authorities implemented a revised Pollution Fine Tariff that will apply to pollution incidents taking place in this calendar year. In an urgent alert to American P&I Club members…
Grandweld Shipyards to Build Fast Aluminum Crew Boat
Dubai-based Shipbuilder Grandweld Shipyards has signed a contract to design, build and deliver 33.5-meter Fast Aluminum Crew boat for LIWA Marine Services LLC, Abu Dhabi. The contract was signed on April 9, 2013. The 33.5-meter crew boat will be designed by Grandweld Shipyards and will be powered by three high-speed diesel engines driving three fixed pitch propellers to reach speeds in excess of 25 knots. The vessel can seat 60 passengers, and will have 80 square meters of deck cargo area.
Nordic Cold Storage Blasts into Savannah
Nordic Cold Storage announced the grand opening of the first phase of its storage and blast facility, located just minutes from the Port of Savannah. The site has over 200,000 square-feet of convertible temperature-controlled storage space and is capable of blasting more than 10 million pounds of product, ranging from fresh poultry to produce, per week. This $30 million facility currently employs 150 workers…
Coastal Riverine Sailors Injured in U.S. Navy Training Mishap
Three U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 10 were injured in a training accident when their 34-foot patrol boat ran aground near Charleston Harbor April 13.
Transas Supplies Vessel Traffic Management in Johor
Transas Marine Pacific together with its local partner Global Teamwork Sdn Bhd has been awarded a contract to supply and install a Vessel Traffic Management System for Pengerang Oil Terminal in Johor by Dialog Pengerang Sdn Bhd. The Vessel Traffic Management solution will allow for the Pengerang Oil Terminal compliance with the ISPS requirements. Based on the Transas Navi-Harbour VTS software package…
USCG Rescues Four from Tug off California Coast
The Coast Guard rescued four people from a liferaft after their tugboat sank. The Coast Guard received a distress called from the tug Delta Captain at 2:55 p.m.
U.S. Coast Guard to Host Public Meeting
Media are invited to attend the public meeting on the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Reader Requirements Notice of Proposed Rulemaking April 18, 2013.
MacGregor Offshore Cranes Meet Specialist Operator's Needs
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, secured its third identical offshore crane contract for Volstad Maritime AS series of 125m offshore construction vessels being built by Bergen Group Fosen shipyard in Norway. The order is booked in the first quarter 2013 order intake. Two more active heave-compensated (AHC) MacGregor offshore cranes have been ordered for hull 091, the third in a run of 125m-long offshore construction vessels (OCVs) for Volstad Maritime AS.
Global Shipping Industry Slams European Parliament Proposals
The world’s national shipowners’ associations in nearly 50 countries – represented by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF) – have united to condemn proposed amendments, to be voted on by the European Parliament this week (probably on April 18), on a new EU Ship Recycling Regulation. Shipowners especially…
Maritime Piracy: Armed Security a "Game Changer"
Following closely upon Congressional testimony about international maritime piracy offered by a U.S. State Department official, who called the use privately contracted…
