Insights: John Lotshaw, Gulf Coast Director of Training and Workforce Development Ingalls Shipbuilding
When it comes to training, recruitment and retention issues â serious matters facing all maritime employers today â John Lotshaw probably knows better than most; whatâs best for you. And, no matter what end of the maritime business model that you hail from, the challenge of hiring good people, training them and keeping them on payroll is an ongoing problem. Lotshaw joined Ingalls Shipbuilding in August of 2002 as the Director of Trades at the Avondale SiteâŚ
By the Numbers: Boats, Cargo & the Environment
U.S. The latest statistical roundup of the U.S. flag fleet (2012) shows some interesting trends. We know that the U.S. blue water, deep draft fleet continues to dwindle in size and numbers â albeit some exciting recent orders for tankers and containerships. But virtually 99 percent of our commercial fleet is now represented by inland and coastal pushboats, barges and offshore service vessels. Or, in other words, the demographic represented by the readership of MarineNews magazine.
Cammell Laird Begins âSecond Chapterâ of RFA Cluster Contract
Merseyside shipyard and engineering firm Cammell Laird has formally started the second five year cycle of its biggest single contract. Work began in June 2013 on the second period of Cammell Lairdâs through-life support cluster contract to maintain nine of the 13 ships in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) flotilla. The cluster contract was first awarded to Cammell Laird in 2008 and following reviews of performance and value for money the contract was extended for a further five years to 2018.
Mubarak to Build New Shipbuilding Facility in Dubai
Dubai Maritime City LLC (DMC), the world-class mixed-use maritime cluster, announced the signing of long term partnership agreement with Mubarak Marine LLC. The agreement is for the development of an industrial complex project for maritime services, shipbuilding and repair worth AED 130 million. This complex will enable Mubarak Marine to establish their headquarters as well as a major marine workshop and maintenance facility.
Port of Galveston Contributes to Cruise Industry
The Port of Galveston ranks as the fourth busiest cruise port in the U.S. based upon embarkation according to a recent study prepared by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA) for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). In 2012, the Port of Galveston, Texasâ only major cruise port, welcomed 863,000 passenger and crew, which is 4 percent of all passenger and crew visits at U.S. ports.
SECNAV Names New Naval Postgraduate School President
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the new President of the Naval Postgraduate School July 16. Vice Adm. (retired) Ronald A. Route will replace NPS Interim President Rear Adm. Jan E.
Korea Lines Upgrades Navigation Package
Thomas Gunn is delighted to announce that Korea Lines, the marine transportation services company, is the latest ship owner to choose new Voyager 4 for its navigation requirements. It will be upgrading four LNG gas carriers from Voyager 3 to the new Voyager 4 digital chart management system with immediate effect. When asked why Korea Lines selected Voyager 4, Mr Cho Han-Ung, Principal SuperintendentâŚ
Ferry Crew Fatigue the Cause of Hong Kong Accident
A Hong Kong Marine Department (MARDEP) enquiry into damage & passenger injuries caused when a local fast ferry hit the anchor cable of a vessel, found that 5 crew members were making their 15th voyage.of the day. "While the ferry was sailing at a speed of 22.5 knots at the Western Fairway, the coxswain and the assistant coxswain claimed to see a white light of a fishing boat crossing ahead of the ferry from port to starboard.
Harley Marine's New Tractor Tug Arrives
Harley Marine Serviceâs new Z-drive tractor tug, the M/V ROBERT FRANCO has arrived in Southern California. This 100âx40â tractor tug will enter the ship assist and tanker escort market for both Millennium Maritime and Harley Marine Services in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. This tug features Tier III engines and cold ironing/shore power capabilities. It also marks the second Tier III engine on a ship assist/escort tug boatâŚ
Shell's Olympus Platform Sails for GofM
Shellâs massive Olympus tension leg platform (TLP) sets sail from Ingleside, Texas for a 425 mile trek to its final home on the Mars Field in the Gulf of Mexico. For 10 days, tugboats will pull the over 120,000 ton platform to location where work will begin to secure the platform in place. The Olympus TLP will be moored to the seafloor by tendons grouped at each of the structure's corners and will float in approximately 3000 feet of water.
Global Vessel Newbuildings: Latest News
The past week has been another active one, reports Clarkson Hellas S+P Weekly Report, with notable levels of ordering across all sectors. In Dry and whilst understoodâŚ
NCL Order Second Meyer Werft Breakaway Plus Cruise Liner
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) confirms an order for a second âBreakaway Plusâ cruise ship from Meyer Werft of Papenburg, Germany for delivery in spring 2017. Along with the first Breakaway Plus ship, which is scheduled for delivery in October 2015, these two new vessels will be the largest in the lineâs fleet at approximately 163,000 gross tons and 4,200 passenger berths each and will be similar in design and innovation to the lineâs current Breakaway classâŚ
Fincantieri to Build Fourth Ponant Cruise Ship
French cruise line Compagnie du Ponant has contracted with Fincantieri to build a twin to "Le Soleal", the mini-cruise ship delivered last month, following three others. Like the previous three ships, the new ship will also be assigned to Ancona shipyard and is scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2015. It will fly the French flag and will be approximately 11,000 gross tons, about 142 metres long, 18 metres wide and will have a cruise speed of 16 knots.
Bimini Superfast Ferry Cleared to Sail Miami
The Bimini Superfast Ferry has received its Initial Certificate of Compliance (ICOC) by the U.S. Coast Guard Monday and is now cleared to embark passengers in U.S. ports of call. On 26 and 27 June 2013, the Coast Guard first inspected the Bimini Superfast Ferry in Miami. As a result of that inspection teamâs initial findings, the ferry was issued a work list of items that needed to be corrected which included such items as: providing proper operation of the emergency source of powerâŚ
Greece's Box Ships Announce Preferred Stock Offering
Box Ships Inc. (NYSE:TEU) intends to offer shares of its newly designated Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Shares in an underwritten public offering. The public offering price and other terms of the Series C Preferred Stock are to be determined by negotiations between the Company and the underwriters. The Company also plans to grant the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase additionalâŚ
Norway First to Sign IMO Fishing Vessel Safety Protocol
The Kingdom of Norway has become the first State to sign the Cape Town Agreement of 2012 on the Implementation of the Provisions of the 1993 Protocol relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977. Ms. Ida Skard, Director General, Maritime Department, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Norway, signed the Agreement, at IMO Headquarters. The Cape Town Agreement of 2012 updates and amends a number of provisions of the Torremolinos Protocol.
Petrobas Signs for US$1.5-Billion Japanese Bank LOC
The lines of credit are for Petrobras to purchase equipment & services from Japanese companies in Brazil & abroad, based on an earlier MOU that established a strategicâŚ
INTTRA & Craft Group Sign Stategic Agreement
INTTRA, the multi-carrier e-commerce network for ocean shipping, announce that Craft Multimodal has entered into an agreement to join the INTTRA Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) network.
Port of Long Beach June Cargo Numbers Flat
Cargo volume rose slightly in June at the Port of Long Beach compared to the same month one year ago, while year-to-date figures show an increase of 14.2 percent for the first half of 2013 compared to the first half of 2012. A total of 565,476 TEUs (or twenty-foot equivalent container units) were moved in June, up 1.8 percent from the same month last year. Imports increased 3.5 percent to 290,448 TEUs. Exports were up by 0.1 percent to 133,800 TEUs.
ACL Appoints Capt. White as Director of Marine Operations
American Cruise Lines (www.americancruiselines.com) has announced that Captain Andrew White has joined the company as Director of Marine Operations. Captain White joins American Cruise Lines after his recent retirement from twenty-seven years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard. Thirteen of those years were spent on Coast Guard cutters on both the East and West Coasts of the United States, as well as the Caribbean Sea.
