Workboat articles from April 2007

Workboat archives from April 2007

Support and scrutiny on the Hill.(EDITOR'S WATCH)
April 1, 2007... Over the years, the waterways industry has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support. Regardless of the party, lawmakers recognize that the nation needs a strong and efficient water transportation system. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But...

Reader expects the mariner shortage to continue.(MAIL BAG)
April 1, 2007... We are all aware of the shortage of mariners. There is the tired scuttlebutt that most young men and women don't want to lose their time at home with their families and do not want to relinquish their autonomy for a life at sea. An ordinary...

Big marine companies are 'weeding' out mariners.(MAIL BAG)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... I have watched and researched the issues surrounding the Transportation Worker Identification Credential and finally feel that I can weigh in on this issue with some knowledge. My view is that it is not unwelcome by the giants of our...

The pros and cons of hawsepipers and maritime academy graduates.(MAIL BAG)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... I have been an avid reader of WorkBoat for years, and I finally felt obligated to respond to several letters that have been published on that fun topic of hawsepiper versus academy graduate. I have worked on boats now for 10 years. I...

On the water: another license?--part II.(AT A GLANCE)
April 1, 2007... The licensing system needs some fine-tuning in order to accommodate the growing articulated tug-barge fleet and the need for properly qualified mariners to pilot them. At the same time, this must be done without compromising safety or making...

Captain's table: operators need to comment on new ADA rules.(AT A GLANCE)
April 1, 2007... The Department of Transportation is asking passenger vessel owners and operators to provide information concerning the application of new Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for large and small passenger vessels. This gives operators...

WorkBoat Composite Index: Dow and S&P down, Index up.(AT A GLANCE)
April 1, 2007... The Dow and S&P 500 took a big hit on the final day of February, with the Dow losing over 350 points for the month. The S&P lost over 2 percent. But the WorkBoat Composite Index didn't follow suit, gaining 67 points, or almost 5 percent. The...

OSV day rates: mixed signals.(AT A GLANCE)
April 1, 2007... "The market is slowing down, rates are dropping and vessels are available." "Business is still excellent." These seemingly contradictory statements are from two supply vessel owners with similar fleets. During February, vessel...

Inland insider: boom and bust.(AT A GLANCE)
April 1, 2007... A basic economic tenet is that behind every economic boom there is a bust. What everyone wants to know is how long a boom will last. Recent visits to Houma, La.-area shipyards suggest that the current boom has a long way to go before it...

Legal talk: liability may stem from unsuccessful wreck removal.(AT A GLANCE)
April 1, 2007... An interesting case recently surfaced down in Louisiana bayou country that may expand liability exposure in the towing and salvage industry. The U.S. Fifth Circuit's opinion in Fuesting v. Lafayette Parish (La.) Bayou Vermillion District...

Q&A: Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., chairman of the house subcommittee on coast guard and maritime transportation.(AT A GLANCE)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... WorkBoat: With the Democrats in control of Congress, will there be a difference in how Congress approaches maritime issues? Rep. Elijah Cummings: With Democrats in control of Congress, and specifically of the Transportation and...

Coast Guard comes under fire from Capitol Hill.(NEWS LOG)(Congress unhappy with mishandling of the Deepwater program)
April 1, 2007... The U.S. Coast Guard came under a barrage of criticism from lawmakers in March for its mishandling of the Deepwater program, an inadequate budget proposal for the next fiscal year, and an overemphasis on its growing role in national security....

TECO Barge Line may be put up for sale.(NEWS LOG)
April 1, 2007... TECO Energy is considering selling its profitable water transportation subsidiary to reduce debt. The Tampa, Fla.-based company has lined up Morgan Stanley to evaluate the market for TECO Transport, which one analyst estimates could fetch...

Florida fast-ferry service launched.(NEWS BITTS)
April 1, 2007... In early February, Key West Express inaugurated fast-ferry service from Miami to Key West, Fla., a route that's been eyed by many. The 155' Big Cat sails Friday through Sunday, making the trip in about four hours at 35-36 knots. "We're very...

Smoother sailing may be ahead for short sea.(NEWS LOG)
April 1, 2007... It finally looks like Washington is waking up to the promise of short-sea shipping. Often touted as a strong antidote to the nation's stifling traffic congestion problems, short sea has had a sluggish launch, sputtering under a lack of...

AIS implementation moves forward.(NEWS LOG)(Automatic Identification System)
April 1, 2007... The U.S. Coast Guard is ready to take a big step toward establishing a national Automatic Identification System (AIS) that will detect, identify, monitor and track vessels operating in all U.S. waters. The agency has won approval from the...

U.S. repair yards hit hard by competition.(NEWS LOG)
April 1, 2007... Most shipyards across the country are enjoying a booming business. Not so for some repair yards. "For many repair yards, there's no boom--it's not a good time for them," said Allen Walker, president of the Shipbuilder's Council of America,...

EPA proposes stricter emissions standards.(NEWS LOG)
April 1, 2007... In March, the Environmental Protection Agency released a proposal aimed at dramatically reducing emissions from all types of marine diesel engines below 30 liters per cylinder displacement. The EPA's proposed Clean Air Locomotive and Marine...

Study shows economic impact of U.S. OSVs.(NEWS BITTS)(offshore support vessels)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
April 1, 2007... The Offshore Marine Service Association has released a study showing the economic impact from the nation's fleet of offshore support vessels. According to the study, the OSV fleet pays over $750 million a year in wages to crews, with the...

Power shift: continued waterways support expected from the new Congress.(NEW CONGRESS)
April 1, 2007... On the surface, waterways interests in Washington say that the Democratic takeover of Congress won't make much of a difference when it comes to the issues they care about. Providing adequate funding for the waterways and passing the Water...

Vessel talk: passenger vessel officials meet in Charleston.(PVA CONVENTION)
April 1, 2007... Disseminating information was the name of the game at the annual meeting of the Passenger Vessel Association held in Charleston, S.C., in February. The information came in the form of seminars, the annual ferry conference, and a keynote...

Replacement surgery: strong rates have made it easier for companies to upgrade equipment.(BARGES AND TOWBOATS)
April 1, 2007... The inland towboat and barge construction market continues to move along at a healthy clip. Although the past year didn't see as many new inland tank barges built as the year before, that's not necessarily a bad thing. [ILLUSTRATION...

Kvichak delivers cats for Puerto Rico resort.(ON THE WAYS)
April 1, 2007... El Conquistador Resort and Golden Door Spa in Las Croabas, Puerto Rico, doesn't have a good beach right at the hotel, but the resort does own a large sandy beach on a small private island nearby. That's why the resort constantly shuttles...

Blount passenger/car ferry for Puerto Rico.(ON THE WAYS)
April 1, 2007... After Luther Blount, the founder and driving force behind Blount Boats, died this past September, a lot of people have been watching the Warren, R.I., boatyard to see what direction it takes. But it appears there are no big changes in the...

Verret delivers another towboat to Blessey.(ON THE WAYS)
April 1, 2007... Verret Shipyard Inc., Plaquemines, La., recently delivered the 74'X30'X10' steel-hulled push-boat Capt. Lance Dragon to Blessey Marine Services, Harahan, La. The new vessel is the 47th pushboat in Blessey's fleet. The boat is named...

Boatbuilding bitts.(ON THE WAYS)
April 1, 2007... Conrad Industries' Orange Shipbuilding Co., Orange, Texas, delivered the 124'X34'X10' towboat General Warren to the Corps of Engineers' St. Paul (Minn.) District in early March. Twin Caterpillar 3512B engines, rated at 1,500 hp at 1,200 rpm...

Viking Welding completes patrol boat for Mass.(ON THE WAYS)
April 1, 2007... In Massachusetts, the town of Somerset's fire and police departments are sharing a new aluminum 29'6"X10'2"X1'9" patrol boat with firefighting, rescue and law enforcement capabilities. Designed by Response Marine in Newburyport, Mass., the...

Follow the rules: since 9/11, the barge industry has had to deal with a regulatory onslaught.(COVER STORY)(Cover story)
April 1, 2007... Mark Knoy, president of MEMCO Barge Line, likens the regulatory climate to a "paint brush that colors the brownwater and the bluewater industries in the same swath." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Knoy, like many other top inland waterways...

Protective cover: Seattle's big new fireboat has a unique protection system.(SEATTLE FIREBOAT)
April 1, 2007... When firefighters enter a burning building, they rely on protective equipment such as helmets with face shields and special heavy coats, boots and gloves. They also depend on self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) to protect their...

Fancy stuff: new winches have more automatic features.(DECK EQUIPMENT)
April 1, 2007... Years ago, when describing what he did for a living, a tug winch designer said to "never think you are anything more than a blacksmith." Maybe modern winch designers need to keep those words in mind so they don't get too cocky, but with...

Calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2007... April 16-18 SHORT SEA SHIPPING The 4th Annual Short Sea Shipping Conference, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, Orlando, Fla. Tel: 760-294-5563 Contact: Renee C. Jacobs E-mail: rjacobs@joc.com www.joc.com April...

Superior Energy Services.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)
April 1, 2007... Chuck Malley is the new vice president of business development for Harvey, La.-based Superior Energy Services' Well Solutions Group's Rocky Mountain Region. In other news, the company will replace Mercantile Bankshares Corp. in the S&P MidCap...

Crowley Maritime Corp.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)
April 1, 2007... Oakland-based Crowley Maritime Corp. recently purchased SeaRiver Maritime's tug business in Northern California, which includes two tugs. The purchase effectively doubles the size of Crowley's tug fleet in the San Francisco Bay Area. The two...

Minerals Management Service.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Chris Oynes appointed)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Chris Oynes is the new associate director of the Minerals Management Service's Offshore Minerals Management Program. Oynes has served as regional director of MMS's Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region for the past 13 years. In...

Radio Holland USA Inc.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)
April 1, 2007... Bill Thompson is the new branch manager for Radio Holland USA Inc.'s Long Beach, Calif. office. The Long Beach office has been a service center supporting the Radio Holland Group brand for the past 23 years.

Waterways Council Inc.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)
April 1, 2007... On Feb. 28 in Washington, D.C., Sen. Robert C. Byrd, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, received the Waterways Council Inc.'s 6th Annual Leadership Service Award for his commitment to the nation's waterways and port system. Byrd...

American Commercial Lines.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(increase in wages)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... American Commercial Lines recently agreed to increase wages an average 11 percent for hourly production and maintenance employees at Jeffboat LLC, the company's Jeffersonville, Ind., shipyard. Certified welders will see wages increase by over...

Passenger Vessel Association (PVA).(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)
April 1, 2007... The Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) elected new officers and board members at its annual convention in Charleston, S.C., in February. The new officers are Capt. Jonathan Claughton, River Street Riverboat Co., Savannah, Ga., PVA president;...

Jonathan Sherman is the new president and CEO of Ritchie Navigation.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)
April 1, 2007... Jonathan Sherman is the new president and CEO of Ritchie Navigation, a 150-year-old marine compass manufacturer based in Pembroke, Mass. Sherman was formerly the sales and production coordinator for the brand. He replaces Paul Sherman, who will...

Charles Industries.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)
April 1, 2007... Morten Andreasen has been named director of product development and engineering for Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based Charles Industries. The company manufactures AC and DC electrical products including battery chargers, inverters, isolation and...

Monitoring software.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
April 1, 2007... Krill Systems, Bainbridge Island, Wash., a manufacturer of digital marine instruments, has announced a new enhancement for its Krill Soft Display digital instruments line. A software interface for personal computers, the Soft Display provides...

Two-component adhesive.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
April 1, 2007... ConProTec Inc., a manufacturer of two-component adhesive dispensing systems, is marketing its MIXPAC Hand-Held Adhesive Dispensing System. The new system consists of a manual or pneumatic dispensing gun, a cartridge and a static mixer, all...

Welding wire.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
April 1, 2007... Troy, Ohio-based Hobart Brothers now offers Fabshield 21B self-shielded flux-cored wire for general-purpose welding, light fabrication, and for use on non-critical applications. Fabshield 21B wire works well on fillet and lap welds on...

Marine charting software.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
April 1, 2007... Northport Systems Inc., a manufacturer of GPS mapping software and GPS applications, has released Fugawi Marine ENC version 4.5, the latest version of its user-friendly marine charting software. Two significant enhancements for added safety and...

TV antennas.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
April 1, 2007... Sea Tel, Concord, Calif., a manufacturer of stabilized marine antenna systems, has introduced the newest and smallest of its Coastal Series of TV-at-Sea antennas. The Sea Tel Coastal 14 antenna features a 14"-dia. dish inside a white radome...

Marine circuit breakers.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
April 1, 2007... Chanhassen, Minn.-based Waytek Inc., a distributor of electrical wiring supplies, now carries Bussmann's Series 187 Marine Rated Circuit Breakers. Designed for the marine industry, the Series 187 features a single lever for manual reset and...

Electronics upgrade.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
April 1, 2007... Jeppesen Marine is now distributing two new lines of C-Map MAX-compatible GPS/chart plotters and multifunction units--11 in all--from marine electronics manufacturer Northstar. The M-Series provides advanced multifunction performance in a...

WorkBoat looks back.(WB ARCHIVES)(Chronology)
April 1, 2007... April 1947 * There is reportedly another effort underway by maritime labor unions to bring inland water carrier workers under the certificated system that now applies to deep-sea vessel personnel. The system is overseen by the Coast...