Workboat articles from June 2004

Workboat archives from June 2004

A bright outlook for most.(Editor's Watch)(Alaska Marine Highway System)
June 1, 2004... As you glide your way through our annual Yearbook issue, it'll show that there's a lot going on in the commercial marine industry. Most of the news is good, with the exception of the moribund Gulf offshore service vessel market. ...

Solution needed for mariners seeking to renew licenses.(Mail Bag)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... I would like to support what Capt. Burroughs had to say about the loss of manpower in the shipping industry ("Who will man the vessels?" Mail Bag, March 2004). In my case I went from an engineering billet to a shoreside job when my son was...

Mariners have a legal right to shore leave.(Mail Bag)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... As a U.S. merchant mariner and the president of the Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America, I was very disturbed by the comments of Larry Gardner of Bellaire, Texas, that mariners abuse alcohol and drugs more than those ashore...

Reader says OSV was his father's supply boat.(Mail Bag)(Ocean Station Vessel)(Euro-Pirates International Inc.,)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... I have a question about a picture and the article next to it on page 64 of the April issue (WorkBoat Looks Back). On the bottom right is the cover of the April 1974 issue of WorkBoat that has a picture of a supply boat on it. The boat is...

Congress must act to keep river commerce flowing.(Mail Bag)
June 1, 2004... Environmental groups are battling the Army Corps of Engineers and several states over the Missouri River water flow and Congress' plans to modernize a number of locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio rivers. Expanding...

On the water; New towing licenses: Part II.(At a Glance)
June 1, 2004... The cornerstone of the new towing vessel license program is the requirement that an apprentice mate/steersman show proficiency in operating a tug or towboat before they are granted a license. This can be accomplished by attending a Coast...

Captain's table: crossing political boundaries.(At a Glance)
June 1, 2004... Ferry services continue to expand, especially in the number of locations, vessels and riders. The most visible growth is in large metropolitan areas such as Boston, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. Less obvious is ferry growth in places...

WorkBoat Composite Index: index bounces back.(At a Glance)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... After losing ground in the first quarter, the WorkBoat Composite Index rebounded in April gaining over 1 percent. For the month, winners topped losers by a 7-5 ratio. Suppliers and shipyards fared well, but operators were again the big losers....

Inland insider: for the Corps, the news is bad.(At a Glance)(Toward Integrated Water Resources Management)
June 1, 2004... Integrating economics and the environment for project planning purposes was the theme at the Corps of Engineers biennial "E & E" Analysis Conference held recently in Baltimore. The stated theme of the conference was "Toward Integrated...

OSV day rates: more rigs to exit Gulf.(At a Glance)(Ocean Station Vessel)(Gulf of Mexico)
June 1, 2004... Utilization for all vessel types remained fairly level in April. However, the Gulf of Mexico experienced lower day rates for supply and crew vessels due primarily to lower or flat rig utilization. The competition among vessel operators for...

Legal talk: sexual harassment may cost you your license.(At a Glance)
June 1, 2004... I previously wrote about sexual harassment and the liability employers face if they fail to take steps to prevent harassment on their vessels. Federal sexual harassment laws define rights and duties as between employers and harassed...

Finance talk: choosing the right financing option.(At a Glance)
June 1, 2004... What motivates an operator to consider one financing alternative over another? Obtaining the lowest interest rate possible is a strong motivator, but this can be detrimental if it ties up significant cash for a down payment or means committing...

The 20th consecutive running of the Seattle Tugboat Races was won for the eighth time by the Hunter, Crowley Maritime's 7,200-hp twin-screw tug.(News Log)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... The 20th consecutive running of the Seattle Tugboat Races was won for the eighth time by the Hunter, Crowley Maritime's 7,200-hp twin-screw tug. The Hunter, along with Foss Maritime's Justine Foss (above, right) and Island Tug & Barge's Norman...

Short-sea shipping may ease congestion woes.(News Log)
June 1, 2004... International trade is expected to double to two billion tons by 2020. More trade means more cargo must be moved on the U.S. transportation system. But with the highway and rail systems already reaching their saturation points and...

Private Seattle ferry services proposed.(News Log)(Aqua Express, Kitsap Transit)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... With the decision by Washington State Ferries to discontinue passenger-only service between Kitsap County and Seattle and with the failure of Kitsap County voters to approve a publicly funded passenger-only service, private operators are...

Independents are vital to Gulf of Mexico E & P.(News Log)
June 1, 2004... With strong commodity prices there are opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico. But in order to provide future energy supplies from the Gulf, access to new acreage is critical, a panel of independent Gulf operators said at the Offshore Technology...

Maritrans tabs marine veteran as new CEO.(News Log)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Jonathan Whitworth is the new chief executive of Maritrans Inc., one of the biggest players in the U.S. coastwise liquid transportation industry. Whitworth takes over for Philip Doherty, who had been running Tampa, Fla.-based Maritrans...

NOAA charts available in 24 hours or less.(News Log)(OceanGrafix)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Four years ago the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) struck a deal with St. Paul, Minn.-based OceanGrafix to produce navigation charts on demand. The new technology is designed to give customers the most up-to-date charts...

Corps releases plan for Upper Mississippi.(News Log)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... In early May, the Army Corps of Engineers released its draft proposal outlining its plan for navigation improvements to the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. The preferred plan, presented in the draft "Upper Mississippi River-Illinois...

Sen. Bond receives award from waterways group.(Christopher Bond awarded for demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the nation's ports and commercial waterways system)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., received the third annual Leadership Award from the Waterways Council for his longstanding support for the waterways system. The Waterways Council said it selected Bond "for demonstrating an unwavering commitment...

First wave to sell Houston shipyards.(News Bitts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... First Wave Marine Inc., Houston, has announced the pending sale of its two Houston subsidiaries, Newpark Shipbuilding-Brady Island Inc. and Newpark Shipbuilding-Pasadena Inc., to Channelview, Texas-based Southwest Shipyard LP. The transaction...

Court upholds liability limit in bridge accident.(News Bitts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A federal appeals court agreed in April to limit the amount of money the state of Oklahoma can seek from a Mississippi towboat company involved in a deadly bridge collapse. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to dismiss Magnolia...

House Committee approves Coast Guard fiscal '05 budget.(News Bitts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... In late April, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill authorizing $8 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard in fiscal 2005. The authorization includes $1.1 billion for the Deepwater Program, which would accelerate the...

Seabulk licenses tug technology.(News Bitts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Seabulk International Inc. has licensed its patented ship docking module (SDM) technology to an unnamed major European tug operator. Under terms of the deal, the operator may build two SDMs for use in its home operating area. Fort Lauderdale,...

Donjon Marine, SMIT Americas form pact.(News Bitts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Marine salvage and response companies Donjon Marine Co., Inc. Hillside, N.J., and SMIT Americas, Houston, have announced a new joint venture. Donjon-SMIT, An OPA '90 Alliance, is a new response organization created specifically for compliance...

Corrections & Clarifications.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2004... In the May issue of WorkBoat, the story "Moving Day" contained a portion of a report from the July 21, 2003, issue of Engineering NewsRecord ("Oil Industry Push Has Maine Contractor Looking Far Afield") that was inadvertently reproduced without...

PAC mentality: inland industry expands lobbying, but contributions are not a top priority.(Focus: Maritime PACs)(Political action committees )
June 1, 2004... Washington, D.C., has always seemed far removed from the inland waterways system and the industry that depends on its upkeep. It's the river rats vs. the fat cats. They do their thing and we do ours. That's how people in the inland industry...

Variety store: Canadian marine service company is more than just tugs.(In Business: Atlantic Towing)
June 1, 2004... It's late April on the Bay of Fundy and the tug Atlantic Spruce has left her berth in Saint John, New Brunswick, to assist a tanker in Courtenay Bay. For Capt. Derek DeLucry and the 4,000-hp Z-drive tug, it's their third job of the day. ...

First of three Staten Island ferries completed.(Construction Activity at Workboat Yards)
June 1, 2004... By July, the Guy V. Molinari, the first of three new Kennedy-class Staten Island ferries, should be operating in New York City. The 310-foot ferry, named after a former Staten Island borough president, was built at Marinette (Wis.) Marine Corp....

Chiasson delivers crew/supplier to Abdon Callais.(Construction Activity at Workboat Yards)(Chiasson Welding Service Inc.)
June 1, 2004... Larose, La.-based Chiasson Welding Service Inc. recently delivered a 187'X32'X13' aluminum crew/supply boat to Abdon Callais Offshore, Cut Off, La. The Miss Danielle was designed by Picciola & Associates, also of Cut Off, and was built...

Steiner begins work on steel 'K' ferry for Maine.(Construction Activity at Workboat Yards; Steiner Shipyard Inc.)
June 1, 2004... Steiner Shipyard Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., has begun construction of a 399-passenger, steel-hulled ferry for Portland, Maine-based Casco Bay Lines. The 110'X32'X8'8" passenger-only ferry was designed by Seaworthy Systems, Essex, Conn. ...

VT Halter launches another logistics support vessel.(Construction Activity at Workboat Yards)(VT Halter Marine Inc.)
June 1, 2004... VT Halter Marine, Pascagoula, Miss., recently hosted a launching ceremony for the Army's latest addition to its Tank-automotive and Armaments Command--the Robert Smalls--a 313'X60'X19' logistic support vessel (LSV). The vessel is named...

New patrol boat for Plymouth, Mass.(Construction Activity at Workboat Yards)
June 1, 2004... If you're Joe Ritz, the harbor master for the town of Plymouth, Mass., there's always something to do. To start with, he has 35 miles of coastline to patrol, including the shoreline along the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. Add to that a large...

Boatbuilding bitts.(On the Ways)
June 1, 2004... Bay State Cruise Co. has a 149-passenger cat under construction at Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corp., Somerset, Mass., for service between Boston and Provincetown, Mass. The vessel has a June delivery date. The new boat will replace the...

Yearbook.
June 1, 2004... Some of the big topics in the marine industry are OPA '90 construction, fast ferries, and the dismal domestic offshore market. Shipyards that build for more than one of these markets have done well. For the passenger vessel industry, security...

Tug talk: a report from the international Tug & Salvage Convention.(Boats & Gear: ITS Convention)
June 1, 2004... Several hundred representatives from the tug world gathered in late April at the biennial International Tug & Salvage Convention held this year in Miami. A total of 27 papers were presented at the four-day event. Six technical workshops...

Special K: Lake Michigan gets the first Subchapter K fast vehicle ferry.(Boats & Gear: 192' Hi-Speed Ferry)
June 1, 2004... Aluminum catamaran ferries that offer an irresistible combination of speed, comfort and safety are making their mark in the U.S. market. The latest entry is the 192'X57' Lake Express, destined for a 34-knot run across Lake Michigan between...

American Commercial Lines LLC.(Workboat Business)(Seaspan International Inc)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Stephen A. Frasher has stepped down as president and CEO of Jeffersonville, Ind.-based American Commercial Lines LLC to join Seaspan International Inc. as its CEO. Richard L. Huber has taken over as ACL's CEO. Huber has over 40 years of...

Hershel T. Vinyard Jr., vice president of Atlantic Marine Holding Co., was elected chairman of the Shipbuilders Council of America.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Hershel T. Vinyard Jr., vice president of Atlantic Marine Holding Co., was elected chairman of the Shipbuilders Council of America. Cherrie Felder of Channel Shipyards, New Orleans, was elected vice chairman.

Robert D. Somerville has been elected chairman of the American Bureau of Shipping.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Robert D. Somerville has been elected chairman of the American Bureau of Shipping. He replaces Frank J. Iarossi. Somerville was also re-elected CEO. Somerville, a 34-year veteran of ABS, had served as president since 1993. Iarossi will remain...

John Atanasio is the new president of Alfa Laval Inc.'s equipment division.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... John Atanasio is the new president of Alfa Laval Inc.'s equipment division. Atanasio had been with the Warminster, Pa.-based company since 1982, most recently as parts and service division president. Brent Smith has now assumed that position....

Global Industries Ltd.(Workboat Business)(PEMEX Exploration & Production)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Carlyss, La.-based Global Industries Ltd. has received a letter of intent from PEMEX Exploration & Production to install two 24"-dia. pipelines and a single 12"-dia. pipeline in Mexico's Bay of Campeche in 165' of water.

Bernard Bentgen has been named vice president of marine sales, NAFTA, for MTU, Detroit.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Bernard Bentgen has been named vice president of marine sales, NAFTA, for MTU, Detroit. Bentgen had been project manager for deepwater for Detroit Diesel Corp. prior to his promotion. He has also held positions with General Dynamics, Marinette...

Blessey Marine Services Inc.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Tim Allen is the new president, sales and marketing, for Blessey Marine Services Inc., Harahan, La. Allen has been director of liquid sales for American Commercial Barge Line. Blessey also announced that Charles Monsted has been named residual...

The National Marine Charter Association, Alexandria, Va., has developed a voluntary self-regulation program for marine charter vessels.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The National Marine Charter Association, Alexandria, Va., has developed a voluntary self-regulation program for marine charter vessels. The Accredited Vessel Inspection Program (A-VIP) promotes preferred industry operating practices, equipment...

ACR Electronics Inc.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Jack Ryan has been promoted to customer service technician at ACR Electronics Inc. ACR, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., designs and manufactures safety and survival products. Ryan will work with customers providing technical support for sales...

Ed Fleming has taken on the responsibilities of president of Atlantic Marine Inc., Jacksonville, Fla.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Ed Fleming has taken on the responsibilities of president of Atlantic Marine Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. Fleming has been with Atlantic Marine for more than 25 years, most recently as president of Atlantic Dry Dock Corp. Ron J. McAlear, former...

FW Murphy.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Robert W. Healey has been named vice president, engineering and R & D, for FW Murphy, Tulsa, Okla., a manufacturer of engine and engine-driven equipment controls and monitoring systems. Healey comes to FW Murphy from Mercury Marine, where he...

Norman Hodge has been tabbed by Senesco Marine, Quonset, R.I., as its vice president of new construction.(Workboat Business)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Norman Hodge has been tabbed by Senesco Marine, Quonset, R.I., as its vice president of new construction. At Senesco, Hodge will oversee the construction of all new barges. Most recently Hodge was general manager of Conrad Industries' Orange...

TAVCON Consultants.(Workboat Business)(relocated)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... TAVCON Consultants, an engineering firm specializing in marine electronics and vessel monitoring systems, has relocated its company head-quarters from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Houston. TAVCON's new address is P.O. Box 580121, Houston, TX...

Security via satellite.(Product Locker)
June 1, 2004... World Communications Center (WCC), a provider of global satellite voice and data communications, has announced the launch of MariTrack, an end-to-end maritime security and communications solution. MariTrack leverages the global coverage and...

Communication system.(Product Locker)
June 1, 2004... Seattle-based Japan Radio Co. Ltd.'s Inmarsat Fleet F77 terminal, the JUE-410F, is a ship/shore based communication system that offers a variety of services, such as voice, data, e-mail and fax, designed to increase the ease of operation for...

Connection protection.(Product Locker)
June 1, 2004... Del City's new Marine Grade Tinned Wire is flexible and features a PVC jacket that exceeds all test standards for moisture and oil resistance, flammability and cold bend. It is manufactured to meet and exceed UL 1426, U.S. Coast Guard Charter...

3-D sonar.(Product Locker)
June 1, 2004... FarSounder Inc., Kingston, R.I., and a University of Rhode Island researcher have begun commercial production of the FS-3, the first 3-D, forward-looking sonar designed as an aid to marine navigation, according to FarSounder. With a range of...

Float level switch.(Product Locker)
June 1, 2004... K-TEK, Prairieville, La., a manufacturer of level instrumentation for liquid and bulk solids detection, has released the company's latest float level switch--the MS50. Priced up to 25 percent less than competitive models, the MS50 is designed...

Security training video.(Product Locker)
June 1, 2004... As part of its Homeland Security training curriculum, Coastal Training Technologies Corp., Virginia Beach, Va., has produced Port Security: We're Counting on You, a comprehensive 28-minute training video. The video is specifically targeted to...

Calendar.(Calendar)
June 1, 2004... June 2-3 MERCHANT MARINE MEETING The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Building, Washington, D.C. Contact: Mark Gould Tel: 202-267-6890 Fax: 202-267-4570 E-mail:...

Work boat looks back.(WB Archives)(Calendar)
June 1, 2004... June 1954 * With a lull in defense orders, New Orleans-based Higgins Inc. is re-entering the commercial business. Their "first" commercial job was a drag-line barge for John E. Jumonville Pipe and Machinery Co., Plaquemines, La. Higgins...