If You Have DPS Questions ... OSVDPA Has Answers
Over the past two years, the only constant in the dynamic positioning industry has been uncertainty. A new certification scheme, a long-awaited revision of the industry standard and threats of regulation continue to cause oscillating senses of hope and fear. As a result, the DP industry has a collective case of whiplash. However, even today few answers exist as to what direction the industry should take toward a worthwhile system of DPO certification.
Maritime Reporter @ 75: The Daily Cartoon
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was founded by John J. O'Malley (1905-1980) in 1939, and today ranks as the world's largest audited trade publication in the world serving the maritime industry, with a circulation of more than 35,000 worldwide, including ship and boat owners, ship and boat builders, naval architects and marine engineers. Today Maritime Reporter heads a group of four print and 10 websites serving the global maritime, offshore and subsea sector.
New Conept Under Test: Arctic Drillship
When Ulstein Sea of Solutions (USOS) took part in a concept design competition for an arctic drillship, MARIN was asked to investigate the concept variations. USOS was asked to participate in a concept design competition for a drillship capable of operating in arctic conditions for several months a year. Special requirements are posed for the design of such a vessel due to the cold climate and the probability of encountering sea ice during operations.
U.S. Coast Guard Doing Less with Less
Funds appropriated for use by the US Coast Guard are about to be decreased – again. The service’s funding has decreased in four of the previous five fiscal years, generally by 1% each year. The Administration’s budget request for FY 2016 has just been submitted to Congress. It calls for a 6.2% decrease in Coast Guard funding. For FY 2015, the Coast Guard was appropriated $10,438,120. For the upcoming year, the Administration is requesting only $9,796,995.
Grounded Navy Ship Repaired, Returns to Fleet
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50), homeported in Mayport, Fla., successfully completed post-repair sea trials, April 21, the U.S. Navy reported. Taylor was operating in the Black Sea when she ran aground in Samsun, Turkey, Feb. 12, damaging the ship's propeller hub assembly. Taylor was towed to Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, to complete replacements of the propeller blades and hub.
Grounded Bulker Refloated off Virginia Beach
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) said it oversaw the refloating of the 751-foot bulk carrier, Ornak, Friday. At approximately 9:35 a.m., the Ornak was refloated offshore of the Virginia Beach Resort and Convention Center and repositioned to the Lynnhaven anchorage. Agencies involved in the removal of the grounded ship were Svitzer, the contracted salvage company, McAllister towing, the Virginia Pilots and the Coast Guard.
Armed Security Scares Off 2 Skiff Approaches
The U.S. Navy Maritime Liaison Office in Bahrain (MARLO) has advised that on or about 7 a.m. UTC on April 17, the Master of a motor vessel reported being approached…
Coast Guard Concludes Great Lakes Icebreaking
The U.S. Coast Guard concluded icebreaking operations on the lower Great Lakes, Monday, more than four months after it started, Dec. 15, 2013. Operation Coal Shovel is a binational domestic icebreaking effort covering the St. Lawrence Seaway, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, the Detroit/St. Clair River System and southern Lake Huron. Crews aboard Coast Guard Cutters Mackinaw, Hollyhock, Bristol Bay, Neah Bay and Morro Bay were joined by crews from Canadian Coast Guard Ships Samuel Risley…
PTS Pro Offers Advanced Maintenance Planning
PTS Pro enables users to target unplanned downtime with advanced maintenance planning. PTS Pro, the latest addition to the Parker Tracking System (PTS) suite of products, gives subscribers a proactive tool against unplanned downtime, while maximizing uptime and profitability. Developed by Parker Hannifin, a company in motion and control technologies, “The new PTS Pro features powerful asset tracking and maintenance tools that extend the capabilities of the original PTS application…
EBDG’s Turner, Wood Earn PMP Designation
Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), a provider of architectural and engineering services to the marine industry with offices in Seattle, New Orleans and Ketchikan, announced that David Turner and Mike Wood have earned the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. David Turner joined Elliott Bay Design Group in August 2010 bringing over 12 years of naval architecture experience to his role. Turner…
Genco Shipping Files for Bankruptcy Protection
Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd said it filed for prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after struggling with weak rates due to an oversupply of vessels. The drybulk shipper said it expected its operations to continue normally and did not require debtor-in-possession finance. Lenders backing a $1.06 billion credit facility would convert their debt into about 81.1 percent of company's stock, the company said earlier this month.
USJ-IMECO Completes RAACI Acquisition
Affiliates of USJ-IMECO Holding Company, LLC, a portfolio company of J.F. Lehman & Company (JFLCO), announced the acquisition of Robichaux Automation and Control, Inc. (RAACI).
Time Charter of DP-1 Research Vessel Fixed
Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington reported that Stabbert Maritime of Seattle has time chartered the U.S. flag, DP-1, research vessel Ocean Pioneer (ex: Seabulk Montana, Montana, Seabulk Montana, Indian Seal) to FMC Technology of Davis, California. The 205' x 40' x 17' depth vessel was built in 1974 by Burton Shipyard in Port Arthur, Texas for Seal Fleet of Galveston, Texas and acquired by Hvide Marine, Inc. in 1996, along with seven other offshore supply boats.
Trojan Marinex on Course for Type Approvals
On March 10, Trojan Marinex announced that its entire Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) product suite obtained International Maritime Organization (IMO) Type Approval, but rather than harp on being among the first to get IMO Type Approval and testing to minimum standards, the company said it instead placed focus on the continual refinement of the BWT technology and a robust testing protocol. Trojan Marinex said it performed its certification process…
Today in U.S. Naval History: April 21
Today in U.S. 1861 - USS Saratoga captures slaver, Nightingale. 1898 - U.S. at war against Spain. 1906 - Commander Robert Peary discovered supposed Arctic Continent did not exist. 1972 - Moonwalk in the Descartes Highlands by Capt. John W. Young, USN Commander of Apollo 16. He was the ninth man to walk on the moon. LCDR Thomas K. Mattingly II, USN was the Command Module Pilot. During the 11 day, 1 hour and 51 minute mission, 213 lbs. of lunar material was collected.
ISR Holds Crawler Crane Dedication Ceremony
International Ship Repair & Marine Services, Inc. (ISR) was awarded a $980,260 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) to partner in the funding of its new, American made, 275-ton Manitowoc crawler crane. According to ISR, fierce competition for a portion of the total $9.46 million awarded through its Small Shipyard Grant Program was evident as MARAD received 113 grant applications requesting project funding of more than $96 million.
Eastern Awarded NYC Firefighter Plate
Monday, April 7, 2014, at the Sea Air Space Exposition at the Gaylord National Convention Center - National Harbor, MD, Brian D’Isernia, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc’s president, was presented a NYC Firefighter Plate which honors the 343 NYC firefighters who sacrificed their lives during the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster. Presenting at Eastern’s booth was Jim Carney with the JCarney Company, a retired NYC Firefighter and Kevin Traver…
ESAB Releases Updated Columbus III
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products announces the release of Columbus III version 1.2, a powerful CAD/CAM programming and nesting software optimized for plasma, oxy-fuel, laser and waterjet cutting. This latest version of Columbus III offers many new features and updates to make programming easier and more efficient, improve material utilization, increase productivity, and streamline workflow. The new…
U.S. Supreme Court Declines Exxon Mobil Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to review a ruling against Exxon Mobil Corp that ordered the company to pay $105 million in damages for polluting New York City's groundwater with a toxic gasoline additive. The decision not to hear the case leaves intact a July 2 U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that upheld the judgment. In 2009, a jury concluded that Exxon contaminated water supply wells when the additive…
Wheelabrator Tallies 1 Million Safety Hours
Wheelabrator Group said it reached a major milestone during the first quarter of 2014 with 1 million hours without a lost time incident. More than 200 Wheelabrator employees and guests marked the event during a safety luncheon at their LaGrange facility, March 13. Featured speakers included Robert E. Joyce, President & CEO of Norican Group (parent company of Wheelabrator and DISA); Poul Erik Arre, Director of HS&E…