Today in U.S. Naval History: June 3
![USS Merrimac at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia in 1891 (Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/uss-merrimac-at-the-norfolk-29717.jpg)
Today in U.S. 1785 - Order to sell last ship remaining in Continental Navy, frigate Alliance . No other Navy were ships authorized until 1794. 1898 - Collier Merrimac sunk in channel leading to Santiago, Cuba in unsuccessful attempt to trap Spanish fleet. The crew was captured and later received the Medal of Honor. 1949 - Wesley A. Brown becomes the first African-American to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. 1966 - Launch of Gemini 9, piloted by L.Cdr. Eugene A. Cernan, USN.
The Switch to Be Acquired by Yaskawa
![Image courtesy of The Switch](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-courtesy-of-the-switch-29713.jpg)
Yaskawa Electric Corporation, a company in motion control and robotics, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire The Switch, a supplier of megawatt-class permanent magnet generator and full-power converter packages for wind power and other renewable energy applications. The estimated schedule for closing the deal is within a few weeks. The Switch brand will continue as its own entity for selected markets and applications.
The Port of Halifax Becomes a Member of HHM
![Photo courtesy of Port of Hamburg](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-port-of-29705.jpg)
The Port of Halifax has joined the Port of Hamburg Marketing organization (HHM) as its first member from North America. The universal ports of Halifax and Hamburg are linked by Transatlantic trade and the cruise business. With its internationally active marketing organisation, Hamburg as a port and logistics base offers the Port of Halifax optimal conditions and an ideal marketing platform for building up contacts with shipping companies and shippers in trade and industry.
WRRDA: Charting a New Course
Out of a Congress long on budgetary constraints and short on bipartisanship has come the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA)āand by wide margins, no less.
Maritime Propulsion: Select Your Engines Wisely
![Scania builds every engine specifically to a customerās individual order. Quality is a primary focus and any member of the production team is empowered to stop the production line if something is not right.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/scania-builds-every-engine-specifically-29703.jpg)
Advance Work on Engine Selection with the OEM pays handsome dividends when your vessel is delivered. Donāt skip this necessary step. It is hard to say why the phenomenon occurs, but with every new engine that arrives in any boat yard comes a sense of approval and appreciation. Heads turn and work even stops as the iron horsepower machines make their way onto the production floor. Such admiration is warrantedā¦
GAC Pindar Named Official Logistics Provider for Foiling Week
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-29700.png)
GAC Pindar has been appointed official logistics provider for the inaugural Foiling Week event, to take place on Lake Garda, Italy from July 4 ā 10. Foiling Week is a new event dedicated to foiling (āflyingā) boats, their designers, builders and athletes. Three events will run during the course of the week, The Moth National Open Championship, the TFW Core Event with forums, races and on water tests, and the final Full Foiling Catamaran Race.
Arthur Becomes Atlantic's First Hurricane of 2014
![Source: NOAA](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/source-noaa-29699.jpg)
Storm Arthur became the first hurricane of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Thursday. Arthur was about 190 miles (305 km) south-southwest of Cape Fear, North Carolina with maximum sustained wind of 75 mph (120 kph), NHC said. (Reporting by Anupam Chatterjee in Bangalore; Editing by Alison Williams)
Capesize Bulker Over-supply in Asia Trade: Rate Slide Forecast
Rates for capesize bulk carriers on key Asian routes are set to slide next week as too many ships chase too few cargoes from Australia and Brazil, brokers said.
Coast Guard Medevacs 19 Crew from Cargo Ship
Nineteen sick crew-members, thought to be suffering from food poisoning aboard the 584-foot cargo ship 'JS Comet' have been hoisted from their anchored vessel 3 miles off Port Canaveral, Florida.
Maersk Line Implements DNV GL ShipManager Software
DNV GL inform that Maersk Line has started the implementation of ShipManager software, with pilot testing on five vessels. The installation of ShipManager on allā¦
Cost-Cutting Container Carriers Forge Ahead: Analysis
As freight rates keep declining, cost reductions are the top priority for box carriers, according to Drewry's 2Q14 'Container Forecaster', highlighting that thereā¦
Keppel FLNG MOSS Vessel Conversion Contract Activated
Keppel Shipyard says that the contract it entered into earlier with Golar Hilli Corporation to perform the world's first-of-its-type conversion of an existing Moss LNG carrierā¦
Safe Boats Awarded Big Navy Construction Contract
U.S. Department of Defense informs that Safe Boats International, LLC, Bremerton, Washington, is being awarded a US$34,518,536 firm-fixed-price contract for theā¦
Technical Superintendents' Module 3 Training Course
Netherlands Maritime Technology inform that it has developed a dedicated course for technical superintendents. Ensuring that participants can fully comply with the ISM codeā¦
New Director-General Appointed at Gazprom Export
Gazprom informs that due to a considerable increase in the day-to-day business and its geographical expansion, as well as product diversification within the Companyās international activitiesā¦
Use of Tug Boat Services in Bangkok Port
Request for PAT tug boat service must be made for berthing at: East Quay Berths (No. - Vessels with LOA exceeding 250 ft. must use at least one tug boat of 1200 HP up. West Quay Berths (No.
Ships Calling at Dubai to Comply with Environmental Norms
Ships calling DP World/PCFC ports in Dubai are required to strictly comply with PCFC-EHS Ports and Maritime Regulations and IMO Marpol Annex VI āRegulations forā¦
Private Maritime Security: SAMI Secretariat Update
"Initially the doors within the shipping industry had been closed to private maritime security companies, and there was a definite āthem and usā divide. SAMI hasā¦
Port of Tallinn invests in Paldiski South Harbor
The council of Port of Tallinn approved an investment of 1.8 million euros for deepening the aquatory of Paldiski South Harbor in order to enable the harbour toā¦
Danelec DM100 VDR Type Approved to New IMO Standard
Danelec Marine A/S announced introduction of their new-generation DM100 VDR, the first VDR on the market to be type-approved and Wheelmarked under the new IMO standard.