Workboat articles from June 2003

Workboat archives from June 2003

Operators must be patient--again. .(Editorial)(Industry Overview)
June 1, 2003... David R. Krapf Each year, we take a look back at what's been happening in our industry over the past 12 months. As always, there's good news and bad, with some workboat sectors faring better than others. This year's bad news could also...

Mail bag.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... Says reader is wrong about illegal crews I read your March 2003 Mail Bag with genuine interest. I really appreciate the contrasting views of the different participants in the maritime community. On many occasions I am amazed and...

On the water; all tied up: part I. (At a Glance).(safety measures for vessels)
June 1, 2003... Mariners who assume that they are always on a securely tied-up vessel can be in for a big surprise. Spring runoff from melting snow packs can cause rivers and bayous located hundreds of miles away to swell and rise rapidly. The increased flow...

Captain's table: only one ferry? (At a Glance).(ferry services)
June 1, 2003... It is interesting how frequently we hear about proposals for new ferry services that will use only one vessel. To me, it seems like a risky approach for starting up a new transit route. In general, it is difficult to create new ferry...

WorkBoat's Composite Index: index surges 8 percent. (At a Glance).
June 1, 2003... After losing 7 percent in the first quarter, the WorkBoat Composite Index made up all of its losses for 2003 and nudged into the black. In April, the Index jumped 45 points, or about 8 percent, as winners topped losers by a 3-1 ratio. The...

Inland insider: hopper dredge restrictions are costing us money. (At a Glance).(Congress restricts Corps of Engineers)
June 1, 2003... Corps hopper dredges are sitting idle and many are asking why. The reason is Congress, which placed restrictions on the Corps of Engineers' utilization of two of its four hopper dredges--the Wheeler and McFarland. These restrictions cost...

OSV day rates: mixed outlook for the Gulf. (At a Glance).(offshore support vessels)
June 1, 2003... Standard supply vessel utilization and day rates posted significant increases during April. The rate increase may have been related to a rise in shelf drilling activity in March when nine additional rigs were contracted. However, only one...

Legal talk: protection for seamen. (At a Glance).(wages)
June 1, 2003... Maritime workers should be aware of the many workplace protections that are provided to them by Congress. One of the best examples of such protective statutory schemes is a pair of similarly worded wage penalty statutes (46 U.S. Code...

Q&A: a talk with Adm. Vivien S. Crea, commander, first Coast Guard district, Boston. (At a Glance).
June 1, 2003... WorkBoat: How has heightened security affected the daily operations of ports in your district? Adm. Vivien S. Crea: We have called up 600 reservists to help us, we're using the Coast Guard Auxiliary much more, and we have increased water...

Finance talk: pros and cons of life cycle cost. (At a Glance).
June 1, 2003... Workboat operators have a tough time sustaining operating margins while caught in a squeeze between low fleet utilization and soft day rates. How can you make the most of your fleet investment or maintenance and repair dollars during these...

USCG must sustain all mission areas, commandant says. (News Bitts).(U.S. Coast Guard)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... At a recent Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing, Adm. Thomas Collins, commandant of the Coast Guard, testified that the agency's goal is to create sufficient capacity and capability to implement the maritime component of the president's...

Feds investigating NY Waterway's post-9/11 FEMA-funded contract. (News Log).
June 1, 2003... NY Waterway, New York City's largest private ferry operator, is under investigation by federal authorities who allege that the company submitted inflated bills to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The inquiry relates to a...

Gas tax will help fund Washington State Ferries. (News Log).
June 1, 2003... Washington state gas taxes will jump by 5 cents a gallon this summer (from 23 to 28 cents per gallon) if, as expected, Washington Coy. Gary Locke signs a bill recently passed by the state Legislature. Revenues from the new tax will go...

Judge issues gag order on barge-tow suit settlements. (News Bitts).(lawsuits by families of the 14 people who were killed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The families of 14 people who were killed last year after a barge tow hit a bridge in Oklahoma have settled their lawsuits against two Mississippi marine companies-Magnolia Marine and its parent company, Ergon Inc. Details of the settlements...

OMSA and vessel operator at odds over Jones Act. (News Bitts).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Harahan, La.-based Offshore Marine Service Association and Rigdon Marine LLC, New Orleans, are locked in battle over Jones Act compliance. OMSA represents mostly Gulf of Mexico offshore marine operators and affiliated companies. Rigdon Marine,...

Finalists for USCG response boat named. (News Bitts).(United States. Coast Guard)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The U.S. Coast Guard recently named three finalists for a contract that could top $200 million to build its new response boat-medium (RBM) to replace its aging fleet of 41 utility boat's. The finalists are Textron Marine and Land Systems, Ocean...

MMS defends deep-shelf royalty relief program. (News Log).(Minerals Management Service)
June 1, 2003... Since the Minerals Management Service introduced its deep-shelf royalty relief program at the March 2001 Central OCS Lease Sale, there has been no clear upward trend in the number of deep wells drilled. In fact, the number has decreased by...

Armed USCG copters to be used for port security missions. (News Bitts).(U.S. Coast Guard)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Department of Homeland Security recently approved the use of the U.S. Coast Guard's helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) for armed specialized missions in U.S. ports and waterways. The USCG has used HITRON helicopters and...

Workers reject union at offshore towing company. (News Log).(Guidry Brothers Towing Inc., Offshore Mariners United)
June 1, 2003... Mariners employed by a south Louisiana towing and supply boat operator overwhelmingly rejected union representation this spring. A collective bargaining referendum was held in early April at Galliano, La.-based Guidry Brothers Towing....

Grounding may have caused crack in barge.(Bouchard Transportation Company Inc. Buzzards Bay barge oil spill investigated)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The tank barge that spilled 15,000 gals. of No. 6 fuel oil into Massachusetts' Buzzards Bay in late April may have grounded. Coast Guard officials are investigating whether contact between the barge and a shallow area of the bay called...

Image conscious: the inland waterways industry wants to get its message out. (Focus: Inland Waterways).
June 1, 2003... It's the invisible industry. For years, barge and towboat companies have quietly gone about their daily business. Operating in relative obscurity, tugs, towboats and barges seem to appear in the public spotlight only when one of them hits a...

Fill 'er up: Florida company delivers diesel to workboats and yachts. (In Business: Peterson Fuel Delivery).(Company Profile)
June 1, 2003... There's nothing new about transporting fuel to customers' vessels, instead of making them come to you. Large-scale hunkering operations take place daily on the Lower Mississippi River and many other waterways. But what about bringing...

Perfect placement: Jacksonville's climate and location give rise to a healthy marine industry. (In Business: Jacksonville Yards).(Company Profile)
June 1, 2003... From a small crossing at the St. Johns River in the early 1800s, to a major coastal city with deep industrial roots, Jacksonville, Fla., is ideally suited for commercial marine business. Today, Jacksonville is the state's leading banking...

LaForce 'bends rules' with new crew/supplier. (On the Ways).
June 1, 2003... LaForce Shipyard, Bayou La Batre, Ala., recently built a 160'x32'x12'6" aluminum crew/supply boat for an unnamed owner. The vessel is currently on charter to Hombeck Offshore Services LLC and carries the name HOS Hot Shot. Naval architect...

Bay Ship builds new cam ferry for Wisconsin. (On the Ways).(Bay Shipbuilding Co., builds Timothy Graul Marine Design ferry for Washington Island Ferry Line Inc.)
June 1, 2003... Washington Island, Wis., is the year-round home for 700 people and a tourist destination for thousands of visitors each year. It is also home to the Washington Island Ferry Line Inc., a company that provides a vital transportation link across...

Retros & refurbs: master boat converts OSV to dive support vessel. (On the Ways).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Bayou La Batre, Ala.-based Master Boat Builders Inc. recently finished the conversion of a steel 145' offshore service vessel into a dive boat for Oceaneering International Inc., Houston. Part of the conversion included extensions of the boat's...

Master Boat. (On the Ways).(product design)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Located in the new foc'sle extension are two new decompression chambers, one head/shower, two washers, two dryers, and a five-ton air conditioner. The pilothouse extension was filled with a day berth, two settees, one bookshelf, and two...

Fast cat for Rhode Island and other markets. (On the Ways).(Merrifield-Roberts Inc. builds Crowther Design catamaran for New England Fast Ferry )
June 1, 2003... The Ocean State, a 65'x24' catamaran I fast ferry built for the 24-mile run between Providence and Newport, R.I., is due to be launched by the end of June. Designed by Crowther Design, Sydney, Australia, the 149-passenger aluminum ferry...

Bollinger Shipyards Inc. (Boatbuilding Bitts).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Bollinger Shipyards Inc. recently launched the double-skinned tank barge B. No. 225 at its BollingerGretna yard in Harvey, La. The 430'x80' barge was built for Hicksville, N.Y.-based Bouchard Coastwise Management Corp. as part of an articulated...

Industrial Object Design LLC. (Boatbuilding Bitts).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Industrial Object Design LLC, Covington, La., reported recently that the fifth of its Cape Fear-class crewboats is currently under construction in Chesapeake, Va. The 56'x16' vessel is designed for speed and efficiency, according to the...

ABCO Industries Ltd. (Boat Building Bitts).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Canadian Coast Guard recently took delivery of a 48'x16' aluminum cutter, the Geliget. Designed and manufactured by the marine group at ABCO Industries Ltd., Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, the new patrol boat will be based in Yarmouth, Nova...

Kvichak Marine Industries. (Boat Building Bitts).(United States. Army. Corps of Engineers)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Kvichak Marine Industries, Seattle, recently delivered the first of two foil-assisted catamarans to the Army Corps of Engineers. The Irvington has been dispatched to the Corps' Mobile (Ala) District. The second vessel will be delivered this...

Inflatable hovercraft in a compact package. (On the Ways).(Airide Technologies)
June 1, 2003... Airide Technologies, Langley, British Columbia, has introduced a new type of hovercraft called the Impulse. Unlike most hovercraft, this has an inflatable rather. than rigid hull. The inflatable structure allows the craft to be collapsed into a...

Yearbook.(Industry Overview)(Cover Story)
June 1, 2003... Shipyards find work across several sectors BY KATHY BERGREN SMITH, CORRESPONDENT After dire forecasts last year, shipyard operators across the nation are reporting improvement in several sectors. Despite a weak economy and soft energy...

Premium passage: new passenger boat for Nantucket Island packs more and gets there faster. (Boats & Gear: 143' Ferry).(Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding Duclos Corp. builds Grey Lady for HyLine Cruises)
June 1, 2003... In the summertime, they roll into the parking lot at Hyannis, spill out of cars and buses with "tons" of luggage,, and head for the ferry to Nantucket Island, 26 miles to the south across Nantucket Sound. The tourists have arrived. It's...

Handheld GPS. (Product Locker).(Navitrak International Corp. Digital Navigation Assistant global positioning satellite receiver )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Navitrak International Corp., Halifax, Nova Scotia, has a new handheld global positioning satellite (OPS) receiver that is shock and water-resistant. The Navitrak[TM] Digital Navigation Assistant even floats. The DNA units are based on a color,...

Bowthruster. (Product Locker).(Western Marine Electronics Co.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Western Marine Electronics (WESMAR), Woodinville, Wash., has introduced its new WESMAR DC PRO bowthruster. The system is the first continuous DC bowthruster on the market and gives captains the ability to apply the appropriate amount of power...

PLC/embedded controller. (Product Locker).(Amot Controls Corp.'s Hawk-I 8633A)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... AMOT Controls, Richmond, Calif., has introduced the Hawk-I[TM] 8633A, a new product that combines the power of a PLC and the ease of an embedded controller. It is suitable for the most demanding engine, motor, pump, compressor, and process...

AC/DC inverter. (Product Locker).(Thermal Arc Inc. PROWAVE 185TSW )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... St. Louis-based Thermal Arc[R] Inc., a Thermadyne company, has introduced the PROWAVE 185TSW AC/DC inverter. The company says it can handle almost any TIC welding job while generating TrueSquare wave AC/DC output with full-range capability from...

Low-VOC coatings. (Product Locker).(Sherwin-Williams Industrial and Marine Coatings Group's ControlTech range)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Sherwin-Williams Industrial and Marine Coatings Group has introduced the ControlTech[TM] line of coatings for tank linings, secondary containment and corrosion control. The new line includes 26 low-VOC (volatile organic compounds), advanced...

Extended range TV. (Product Locker).(KVH Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... KVH Industries has introduced the Trac Vision G8 maritime satellite television antenna. The G8 is equipped with a 32" carbon fiber antenna and fiber optic gyro stabilization system housed in a dome that is 35 percent smaller than the...

Back-up flanges. (Product Locker).(Marzolf Co.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Marzolf Co., St Paul, Minn., is marketing its two-piece back-up flanges as cost-effective alternatives to standard lap joint or Van Stone type flanges. The two-piece concept eliminates the problem of cutting and re-welding stub ends and...

Elliott Bay Design Group. (Workboat Business).(appoints Reginald Wren)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Reginald Wren is the new senior mechanical engineer for Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group. Wren is a licensed professional engineer with over 27 years of experience. Previously, he was the principal engineer and owner of WRENgineering Ltd....

International Ship Repair & Marine Services Inc. (Workboat Business).(Dennis D. Buffo appointed vice president)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Dennis D. Buffo is the new vice president for International Ship Repair & Marine Services Inc., Tampa, Fla. His new duties include contract negotiations and administrative oversight. Buffo has over 31 years experience in ship repair, and...

Conrad Industries Inc. (Workboat Business).(Thomas Kitchen named to the board of directors)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Thomas Kitchen has been named to the board of directors at Conrad Industries Inc., Morgan City, La. Kitchen is the former president of Avondale Industries in New Orleans. Conrad also announced that it has opened a new repair and conversion...

Unidynamics Inc. (Workboat Business).(LOPAC Pty. Ltd. and HHR Enterprises to market products in Australia and Taiwan)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Unidynamics Inc., Conroe, Texas, has selected LOPAC Pty. Ltd. of Australia and HHR Enterprises of Taiwan to market the company's services in those two countries. Unidynamics designs and builds equipment for material handling applications in...

Kvaerner Masa Marine. (Workboat Business).(Ron Pearson to manage Houston office)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Ron Pearson has been selected to manage Kvaerner Masa Marine's new Houston office, which opened in May. With more than 25 years of engineering experience, Pearson will be charged with supporting Kvaerner's current ship-related client base in...

Tidewater Inc. (Workboat Business).(Dean Taylor and Michael Carthew elected to the American Bureau of Shipping )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Dean Taylor, president and CEO, Tidewater Inc., and Michael Carthew, president, Chevron Texaco Shipping, were recently elected to the American Bureau of Shipping board of directors at the classification society's annual members meeting held in...

Bisso Marine Co. (Workboat Business).(launches 150'x36'x11' deck cargo, roll-on/roll-off vessel )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Bisso Marine Co., New Orleans, successfully launched a 150'x36'x11' deck cargo, roll-on/roll-off vessel at Mariner Shipyard, Houma, La. The 375-ton vessel was slung with lifting cables and placed in the water dockside. The boat, w h o s e owner...

Seamen's Church Institute Center for Maritime Education. (Workboat Business).(U.S. Coast Guard approves inland waters radar renewal course)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The U.S. Coast Guard recently approved the Seamen's Church Institute Center for Maritime Education's Inland Waters Radar Renewal and Western Rivers courses. The Inland Waters Radar Renewal course uses post-it note observation as an alternative...

National Marine Charter Association Inc. (Workboat Business).(Charternet.com to provide member web services)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The National Marine Charter. Association Inc., Washington, D.C., has selected Charternet.com, Orlando, Fla., to provide Web services to its members. NMCA is the charter boat industry's voice on key legislative and regulatory issues. It also...

Seaworthy Systems Inc. (Workboat Business).(Martin Toyen becomes president)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Martin Toyen has been promoted to president of Seaworthy Systems Inc., Essex, Conn. Seaworthy offers a variety of services including marine and mechanical engineering, naval architecture, shore-side pollution reduction applications, shipboard...

Minerals Management Service. (Workboat Business).(Johnnie Burton named top of 100 Key Women in Energy-Americas awards)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Minerals Management Service director Johnnie Burton was named as the top leader among women in the energy field at the 100 Key Women in Energy-Americas awards ceremony held in Washington, D.C., recently. Burton received the award for her...

Calendar.(Calendar)
June 1, 2003... Visit www.workboat.com or information on other commercial marine events June 4-5 TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE RECORDER SYMPOSIUM The National Transportation Safety Board, in conjunction with the Society of Automotive Engineers, is...

Work boat looks back. (Archives).
June 1, 2003... June 1983 * The latest additions to the Edison Chouest fleet are the Gary Chouest and the Dino Chouest. The Gary Chouest is a sophisticated 210'x44' seismic research vessel powered by two Fernstrum keel-cooled Caterpillar D-399 diesels...

Over the years, we've learned a thing or two about filters.(Parker Hannifin Corp. Racor Div.)(Chronology)
June 1, 2003... Whether on lake, river or ocean, sailors have come to depend on Racor-quality filtration for optimum engine performance, for reliability... for a safe journey. FUEL 1969 It all began with a patented, exceptionally efficient fuel...

Kalakala Foundation. (News Log).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Once a proud and gleaming symbol of Puget Sound, the Kalakala now lays rusting and delapidated at a temporary berth on Seattle's Lake Union. Legally and financially, the Kalakala remains in limbo despite sometimes heroic efforts to save what...