Workboat articles from February 2003

Workboat archives from February 2003

Are we double-hulling quickly enough? (Editor's Watch).(Editorial)
February 1, 2003... The November sinking of the single-hull tanker Prestige and subsequent oil spill has raised a few questions, the most important being what are the chances of a major oil spill occurring in U.S. waters? In light of the Prestige spill off...

Mail bag.(letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Raise standards for uninspected vessels In the January 2003 Mail Bag ("Coast Guard responded well in North Cape spill"), Capt. Barney Turlo in writing of the 1996 Scandia fire and stranding noted: "The Scandia may have met uninspected...

Inland insider: Another chance to use container-on-barge. (At a Glance).(Column)
February 1, 2003... Opportunity strikes! West Coast ports are jammed. The recent dock strike has resulted in a backlog of loaded containers that will take months to work off. So what should West Coast ports do with all the empty containers taking up valuable...

On the water: Training schools are not all the same. (At a Glance).
February 1, 2003... Working on the water has become more complex over the years. Modern mariners must be more high-tech oriented and are required to receive more formal training and certification than ever before. The list of STCW '95 qualifications is...

WorkBoat's Composite Index: Index's winning streak ends.
February 1, 2003... After posting healthy gains in October and November, the WorkBoat Composite Index ended 2002 on a down note, losing 1.7 percent in December. Losers topped gainers by a 10-7 ratio. For the year, the Index lost 6.5 percent. Operators and...

Captain's table: What is ADA compliant? (At a Glance).(passenger vessels; Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)
February 1, 2003... There are currently no existing federal regulations or guidelines to ensure that your new small passenger vessel is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Nonetheless, passenger vessel operators are still subject to all legal...

OSV day rates: Don't believe those E&P spending surveys. (At a Glance).(offshore support vessels; exploration and production surveys)
February 1, 2003... Is it wise to believe what you read in the annual exploration and production spending surveys? Several Wall Street analysts publish comprehensive E&P spending surveys each year to help determining future activity. Two of the better-known...

Legal talk; Depositions: Nothing but the truth. (At a Glance).
February 1, 2003... In today's litigious society, most people manage to make it through life without becoming a party to a lawsuit. Although the odds of becoming a plaintiff or a defendant are slim, the chances that one may become a witness are substantially...

Northwest car ferry 'hijacked'. (News Log).(Washington State Ferries; SWAT team training )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... On Dec. 16, the Quinault, a car ferry operated by Washington State Ferries, was the scene of a simulated hijacking that was responded to by a variety of law enforcement agencies, including SWAT teams from the Washington State Patrol, Kitsap...

Washington State Ferries may eliminate passenger-only boats. (News Log).
February 1, 2003... In the aftermath of the failure of a November referendum that would have provided much-needed capital funds for public transportation projects, Washington State Ferries has proposed service reductions and fare increases. The proposal includes...

NY Waterway to buy two New York Fast Ferry boats. (News Bitts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... New York Fast Ferry, Highlands, N.J., is reportedly negotiating with Weehawken, N.J-based NY Waterway to sell its two boats and the rights to operate them on their current route. The announcement was made by New York Fast Ferry's parent...

BC Ferries set to auction off its three PacifiCats. (News Bitts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... BC Ferries has selected Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, a British Columbia industrial auctioneer, to sell its three PacifiCat-class fast ferries at an international auction in Vancouver in March. Ritchie Bros. officials have retained marine...

New IMO regs apply to all SOLAS vessels. (News Log).(International Maritime Organization, Safety of Life at Sea)
February 1, 2003... After 9-11, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) unanimously agreed to develop new measures for ship and port security. The measures, in the form of amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention, were adopted at the IMO's Diplomatic...

Two shipyards got their start in 2002. (News Log).(HBC Barge Inc., Eagle Dry-Dock & Marine Repairs )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, according to HBC Barge LLC president Gabe Centofanti. He and his two partners, Walt Kuhn and Scott Eicher, have salvaged a bankrupt yard and turned it into a thriving facility in Luzerne Township,...

Towing company moves plantation home. (News Log).(Creole Chief Inc.)
February 1, 2003... In late December, Capt. Stan Kraly, owner of Harvey, La.-based Creole Chief Inc., sent two of his company's pushboats and a 110'x52' deck barge about 170 miles across the state to pick up a 181-year-old plantation home. The home had to be...

Friede Goldman Halter sells Offshore Division. (News Bitts).( ACON Offshore Partners L.L.P.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The dismantling of bankrupt Friede Goldman Halter Inc. continued in December when the company received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the sale of its Friede Goldman Offshore Division, based in Pascagoula, Miss. The sale to ACON...

Show and tell. (Focus: The International WorkBoat Show).(industry news )
February 1, 2003... Bollinger to build new shipyard. Seabulk's CEO says the Jones Act must be protected Cummins unveils its biggest marine engine. OSHA and uninspected vessels. Show's job fair has another successful go. Donald "Boysie" Bollinger, chief...

Couples only: construction of double-hulled tank barges is still behind schedule. (Vessel Report: Oceangoing Tank Barges).
February 1, 2003... They're rectangular steel boxes that not only float and carry prodigious loads, but also cut through angry seas without putting their hazardous cargoes at risk of fouling the environment. They're not flashy, nor are their uninspired names such...

Pilot town: Maryland Pilots rely on launch crews to get them safely onboard ships. (In Business: Maryland Pilots).
February 1, 2003... It was still dark when Michael Hanna pulled his truck into the parking lot at the Association of Maryland Pilots' lower bay station at Cape Henry, Va. He immediately headed to the bulkhead in front of the brick station house. After checking on...

Fast SES cat floats on air. (On the Ways).(surface effect ship catamaran )
February 1, 2003... Featuring what's called surface-effect hull design, a new catamaran passenger boat is now ferrying passengers in Florida between Fort Myers and Key West at a 40-knot service speed. Called the Purrseaverance, the SES (surface effect ship) design...

VT Halter to complete LSV for U.S. Army. (On the Ways).(VT Halter Marine Inc. to finish Logistics Support Vessel for Army)
February 1, 2003... VT Halter Marine Inc., Gulfport, Miss., has agreed to finish the construction of a 314'x60'x19' steel-hulled Logistics Support Vessel (LSV) for the U.S. Army. Friede Goldman Halter Inc. originally had the contract and began construction on...

From the International WorkBoat Show. (Show Boats).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... With the market currently hot for patrol boats, the recent International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans featured lots of offerings in this category from builders all around the country. Some of those boats, shown here, include the Freedom 28...

Verret completes Blessey's newbuild program. (On the Ways).(Verret Shipyard Inc. completes fleet refurbishment, new towboats for Blessey Marine Inc.)
February 1, 2003... In mid-December, Blessey Marine Inc. christened its latest towboat on the New Orleans riverfront. The delivery of the 86'x30' Randy Martin marks the end of a major newbuild program for Harahan, La.-based Blessey Marine. Since 1997, the company...

Boatbuilding bitts.(several boatbuilding industry news briefs)
February 1, 2003... December's International WorkBoat Show served as the backdrop for the official introduction of the Liberty 129[TM], the first U.S. design for a high-speed catamaran passenger boat. Developed by Bristol Harbor Marine Design, Bristol, R.I., the...

Moving inland: The future of the inland waterways is still about funding and lock expansion. (Cover Story).(Cover Story)
February 1, 2003... Looking out from the veranda of a hotel room along any of our inland waterways, it might seem bizarre to think of the "traffic" below in the same light as trucks zooming down a six-lane highway, or long lines of rail cars or jets lined up on an...

Going wireless: New high-performance synthetic ropes can replace wire, but not in all cases. (Boats & Gear: Rope).
February 1, 2003... To listen to the marketers of modern, high-tech ropes, you'd think that wire rope can only be found in maritime museums. "Look children, your grandfather used to drag that heavy, dangerous line from the boat to the barge. Now, of course,...

Vessel directory. (Product Locker).
February 1, 2003... Oilfield Publications Ltd. recently published the 9th edition of Anchor Handling, Tugs and Supply Vessels of the World. The new edition, which sells for $332, includes full information on over 2,400 vessels, including all essential...

Communications system. (Product Locker).
February 1, 2003... SIMRAD Inc., Lynnwood, Wash., has introduced its new boat communications system, the RS 86/87 dVHF. The heart of the system is the "black box" transceiver that can be mounted in a number of different areas, freeing up space at either the helm...

Scum buster. (Product Locker).
February 1, 2003... Quebec-based Gotar Technologies is seeking a bigger niche in the marine industry. The company markets its industrial pipe and engine cleaners, such as Gotar-D, as more effective than existing cleaning agents, safe, and nontoxic. Gotar-D was...

Sonsub Inc. (Workboat Business).(president Bruce Gilman steps down, replaced by Max Ferraris)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... In mid-December, Bruce C. Gilman left his post as president and CEO of Houston-based Sonsub Inc. Sonsub specializes in subsea construction engineering and remote intervention. Gilman has been an active participant in the marine/offshore...

Mercer Management Consulting. (Workboat Business).(Brent Dibner leaves, founds Dibner Maritime Associates L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... After 25 years with Mercer Management Consulting, Brent Dibner has founded his own consulting firm--Dibner Maritime Associates LLC (DMA), Boston. Dibner has specialized in a number of industry sectors including bulk shipping, energy and process...

VT Halter Marine. (Workboat Business).(names Boyd E. King COO)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Boyd E. "Butch" King has been appointed chief operating officer at VT Halter Marine, Gulfport, Miss. King was with the U.S. Army for 35 years where he held the position of director of transportation, energy and troop support. Prior to joining...

Furuno USA, Camas, Wash., has signed a contract with the U.S. Coast Guard. (Workboat Business).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Furuno USA, Camas, Wash., has signed a contract with the U.S. Coast Guard to replace the radar systems on all of the agency's 41-foot patrol and rescue boats. The $11 million contract calls for Furuno to install its Scalable Integrated...

Hudson Drydocks Inc. (Workboat Business).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Hudson Drydocks Inc., Morgan City, La., recently completed the lengthening and widening of one of its drydocks. Its original 180'x70' drydock was lengthened by 40' and widened by 30, making it 220'x100'. This was done by attaching a new...

Manitowoc (Wis.) Marine Group. (Workboat Business).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Dennis E. McCloskey has been named president of Manitowoc (Wis.) Marine Group and vice president of The Manitowoc Company Inc.