Workboat articles from April 2004

Workboat archives from April 2004

Give Title XI another shot.(Editor's Watch)(Editorial)
April 1, 2004... In 2001, the White House Office of Management and Budget recommended the elimination of new Title XI program funding. Since then, the Bush administration has attempted to zero-out funding for the embattled ship-financing program in its last...

Says crews should not be permitted to go ashore.(Mail Bag)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... We think that Joel Milton overlooked at least one issue that helps explain why companies prefer to keep crewmembers on board vessels during their tenure. ("Security is hurting mariners," On the Water, February 2004.) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Mariners do speak up.(Mail Bag)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... I am writing in response to a Mail Bag letter from Bradd Burke in the February issue of WorkBoat. ("It's getting worse out there," page 9.) No offense to chief Burke, but most mariners I work with are smart enough to know that we need to...

Book on ferry disaster offers lessons on marine safety.(Mail Bag)(Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum)(Book Review)
April 1, 2004... Edward T. O'Donnell's "Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum[not equal to]" is a fine book that should be required reading for anyone having anything to do with the maritime industry. The book examines one of America's worst...

On the water; Seeing red: Part II.(At a Glance)(interior lighting)
April 1, 2004... So the question remains: Which nighttime interior lighting is better for marine use, red or green? The answer is not so simple. To a certain degree it is a matter of personal preference. An individual may see better with one than the other,...

Captain's table: use NVIC 04-03 as a guide for your security inspection.(At a Glance)(Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular)
April 1, 2004... Owners and operators of domestic passenger vessels now have a resource that describes what the Coast Guard will be looking for when they inspect security equipment and measures. The purpose of the inspections is to verify compliance with...

WorkBoat Composite Index: Index takes small dip.
April 1, 2004... The market was lackluster in February as the Dow and S & P 500 rose around 1 percent while the WorkBoat Composite Index posted a small loss. For the month, losers edged winners 18-17. Big percentage losers included Maritrans, which reported...

Inland insider: looking for capacity? Try the water.(At a Glance)
April 1, 2004... Highways, the traditional mode of transport for freight, are running out of capacity. That was the consensus among speakers at the recent Louisiana Planning Council Annual Statewide Conference on "Transportation Logistics Technologies." ...

OSV day rates: new wells come up empty.(At a Glance)
April 1, 2004... In February, rates and utilization mirrored Gulf rig activity--relatively unchanged. ODS-Petrodata reported that 116 rigs were contracted out of a fleet of 163 at the end of February compared with 117 units out of 163 at the end of January. The...

Q & A: Capt. William G. Schubert, Maritime Administrator, Maritime Administration.(At a Glance)(Interview)
April 1, 2004... WorkBoat: What have been your priorities as head of the Maritime Administration? Capt. William Schubert: I had three priorities when I started my term. One was the Maritime Security Fleet Authority Authorization, which are the contingency...

Legal talk: the consequences of marine casualties.(At a Glance)(ZIM Mexico III's collision Lee III vessel)
April 1, 2004... In mid-February, the containership ZIM Mexico III collided with the offshore supply vessel Lee III on the Lower Mississippi River. The collision occurred in the Southwest Pass entrance to the river from the Gulf of Mexico. The casualty resulted...

In a heavy fog just before dawn on Feb. 21, the 534-foot containership Zim Mexico III collided with the 178-foot offshore supply vessel Lee III in the Mississippi River.(News Log)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In a heavy fog just before dawn on Feb. 21, the 534-foot containership Zim Mexico III collided with the 178-foot offshore supply vessel Lee III in the Mississippi River. All five crew on the Lee were killed. The accident took place at Southwest...

Coast Guard issues lease-financing rule.(News Log)
April 1, 2004... Rulings by the Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration affecting foreign lease financing of vessels in domestic coastwise trade have both sides of the issue pleased, but for different reasons. In early February, the Coast Guard issued a...

Lawmakers question budget for Coast Guard Feepwater program.(News Bitts)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... At a March hearing, members of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee expressed concern over the Bush administration's proposed budget for the Coast Guard's Deepwater program and its request for port security grants. The...

Nine mariners may have ties to terrorist groups.(News Bitts)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... A 14-month Coast Guard and FBI investigation into document fraud associated with U.S. merchant mariner credentials revealed that nine credentialed mariners could have possible associations with terrorist groups. The Coast Guard, working with...

Austal making plans for Hawaii ferries.(News Log)(Hawaii Superferry plans to buy two catamarans)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... If all goes according to plans recently unveiled by Hawaii Superferry, the privately owned, Honolulu-based company will purchase and operate two 340-foot aluminum catamarans. The four-deck vessels, to be built by Austal USA, Mobile, Ala.,...

San Francisco voters approve ferry measure.(News Log)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In early March, San Francisco Bay Area voters agreed to come up with $26 million annually to fund the construction of eight new commuter ferries and the expansion of downtown San Francisco's ferry terminal. Regional Measure 2 (RM2), a $3...

Economic index to include waterways.(News Log)(The federal government is launching a new economic index.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The inland waterways system is finally getting some national recognition for its contributions to the U.S. economy. The federal government is launching a new economic index to measure the performance of the economy that will include traffic...

ACBL plans to come out of bankruptcy.(News Bitts)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Jeffersonville, Ind.-based American Commercial Barge Line LLC filed for bankruptcy in January 2003. The barge company now expects to break the chains that bind them later this year. "We'll file a plan by spring 2004," ACBL's Tom Waters told an...

First USCG Deepwater vessel delivered.(News Log)(United States Coast Guard )
April 1, 2004... In early March, the top U.S. Coast Guard official accepted delivery of the agency's first vessel built as part of its $17 billion Integrated Deepwater System Program. HBJV, a joint venture of Bollinger Shipyards LLC, Lockport, La., and...

Waterways watch: the inland waterways may be insular, but they are still vulnerable to terrorism.(Port Security)
April 1, 2004... Deirdre McGowan doesn't mince words when it comes to security along the inland waterways. "Any inland river port that thinks it is safe is totally in error," said the executive director of the Inland Rivers Ports & Terminals Inc., Jackson,...

Patrol power: the patrol-boat market continues to sizzle.(Patrol Boats)
April 1, 2004... Security concerns are driving the patrol boat industry to new heights. Though patrol-boat construction has been steadily accelerating for over five years, it has moved into overdrive since 9/11. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We do about 120...

Another Bollinger OSV for Tidewater.(Construction Activity at Workboat Yards)
April 1, 2004... In February, Bollinger Shipyards Inc., Lockport, La., delivered the third of four 220-class offshore service vessels the yard is building for New Orleansbased Tidewater Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Jonathan Rozier, a 207'X53'X19'...

Marine subcontractors finishes research boat.(Construction Activity at Workboat Yards)(Marine Subcontractors Inc)
April 1, 2004... It was minus 4 on Jan. 10 when the John H. Chafee, a 50-foot fisheries research boat for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) was launched at Southwest Harbor, Maine. It was so cold that when the bottle of champagne...

Verret delivers towboat to blessey marine.(Construction Activity at Workboat Yards)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Plaquemine, La.-based Verret Shipyard Inc. recently delivered a new steel-hulled 85'X30'X11' towboat to Blessey Marine Services Inc., Harahan, La. The shipyard designed the Hugh S. Monsted, which will push black-oil barges along the U.S....

Boatbuilding bitts.(On the Ways)
April 1, 2004... Neuville Boat Works Inc., New Iberia, La., recently delivered the 160'X30' crewboat Colin B. McCall to McCall Boat Rentals, the crewboat arm of Seacor Marine. (The vessel was named for long-time mechanical engineer Colin Black of Cummins...

Unique aluminum monohull for British Columbia.(On the Ways)(ABD Aluminum Yachts )
April 1, 2004... ABD Aluminum Yachts in Burnaby, British Columbia, started out building aluminum seiners in 1987 for western Canada's commercial salmon fishermen. When the commercial fishing market dried up, the boatyard switched to semicustom aluminum yachts...

Title role: Marad's ship-financing program seeks to come off 'probation.'.(Maritime Administration)(Title XI loan-guarantee program)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2004... It's been called everything from vital to political to a waste of taxpayers' money, but "controversial" may be the most apt description of the Title XI loan-guarantee program. The battle lines have been drawn over Title XI ever since the...

Foiled again: hydrofoil hybrids boost catamaran performance.(Hydrofoil Cats)
April 1, 2004... Back in the 1960s, hydrofoils were touted as the future of vessel design and construction. Different versions of the vessels, which were marketed as a more efficient and smoother riding alternative to standard hull forms, were designed and...

Salt busters: mind your membranes and reverse osmosis watermakers will provide steady supplies of high-quality water.(Watermakers)
April 1, 2004... The term "watermaker" cannot be taken literally. To do so would be to accept the concept that a machine can actually "make water." Just mix two parts hydrogen with one part oxygen and simply open the valve. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] All the...

Delta Queen Steamboat Co.(Workboat Business)(Passenger Vessel Association elects Cornel Martin, Troy Manthey, Robin Trinko-Russell and Robert Dahmer)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Cornel Martin of Delta Queen Steamboat Co., New Orleans, has been elected to serve a one-year term as president of the Passenger Vessel Association. Also elected to one-year terms were Troy Manthey, Starship Dining Yacht, Tampa, Fla., as PVA...

D.N. Kelley & Son Inc. Shipyard.(Workboat Business)(Norlantic Diesel is acquired by D. N. Kelley and Son Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... D.N. Kelley & Son Inc. Shipyard has completed its acquisition of Norlantic Diesel. The shipyard offers vessel repair and refits. A new railway, its third, is capable of hauling vessels up to 1,300 tons. The Fairhaven, Mass.-based yard is also...

Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group.(Workboat Business)(Jim Towers promoted to chief engineer)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) has promoted Jim Towers to chief engineer. He has 30 years experience in vessel design and construction. EBDG created the chief engineer position to enhance its processes for creating, reviewing,...

Bass Products LLC.(Workboat Business)(Fred Anderson joins Bass Products LLC, as director of marine sales)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Fred Anderson has joined Bass Products LLC, Bristol, Conn., as director of marine sales. An electrical designer, Anderson has worked for some of the premier yacht builders in the U.S. He came to Bass from Lazzara Yachts. In his new position...

The Woods Hole Group.(Workboat Business)(Dr. Andrew K. Rogers joins the Woods Hole Group)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Dr. Andrew K. Rogers has joined The Woods Hole Group, based in Falmouth, Mass. Rogers directs and manages systems specification, architecture development, scientific research, consulting, and technical support efforts in the area of applied...

AmerCable Inc.(Workboat Business)(Company relocates to Bondeson Business Park in northwest Houston)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... AmerCable Inc., Houston, has relocated its oil and gas world headquarters to the Bondeson Business Park in northwest Houston. The move included the company's distribution group, Offshore Marine Cable Specialists, and its assembly product...

Diesel engines.(Product Locker)
April 1, 2004... Iveco Motors of North America, Inc., Carol Stream, Ill., has unveiled its NEF series of diesel engines. The NEF series offers a range of three-, four-, and six-cylinder diesel engines that can be specified to meet any marine application. NEF...

Rig directory.(Product Locker)(RigData publishes a directory of land and offshore drilling rigs called Rigs and Drillers)(Directory)
April 1, 2004... Fort Worth, Texas-based RigData has published a comprehensive directory of all U.S. land and offshore drilling rigs called Rigs & Drillers. The directory is organized in a tabular format by driller and rig and includes rig type, horsepower,...

Electronics decals.(Product Locker)
April 1, 2004... Furuno USA, Camas, Wash., has introduced its new Helm Planning Kit. The kit allows boat owners to place actual-size static cling decals of electronics products on the dash and move them around so that they can see how the helm will look after...

Tank monitor.(Product Locker)
April 1, 2004... Ian-Conrad Bergan Inc., Pensacola, Fla., is now handling the Multifunction Tank Display (Guard Level[R] MTDE), designed to give the tanker operator reliable and meaningful indication during loading and unloading for vessels without a...

Anti-aging units.(Product Locker)
April 1, 2004... Dieselcraft, Fluid Engineering, Richmond, Va., has developed a line of strontium ferrite fuel stabilizers that will decontaminate and stabilize diesel fuel without the use of chemical additives. Dieselcraft fuel stabilizers will reconstitute...

Marine radio.(Product Locker)
April 1, 2004... Bellevue, Wash.-based Icom America announces the new M302 VHF, a compact-sized, fixed-mount marine radio that comes in black, white or gray. The M302 is built using a one-piece, die-cast aluminum chassis for ruggedness, signal clarity, and...

Battery power.(Product Locker)
April 1, 2004... Associated Equipment Corp. has added a 12/24 volt DC power supply to its equipment line. The Kwikstart 6290 is made up of two 12- volt 22-amp-hour DC batteries and provides up to 100 hours of 12-volt DC power for cell phones, power tools, work...

Workboat looks back.(WB Archives)
April 1, 2004... April 1954 * Avondale Marine Ways Inc. delivered a 99'X30'X11' towboat to Plaquemines Towing Corp. The three-deck George W. Banta was built to ABS specifications and is powered by a pair of GM diesels producing 900 hp each. Two GM 6-71...