Workboat articles from June 2007

Workboat archives from June 2007

The sky is not falling.(forecasting workboat industry)(Editorial)
June 1, 2007... Reporting on the workboat industry has become rather mundane. I just don't know how much more of this good news I can take. Events such as the Flood of '93, the offshore bust, the Exxon Valdez, etc., were big news, interesting to cover, and...

Barge company's biggest asset is its mariners.(MAIL BAG)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... As a barge company owner, I felt compelled to respond to the comments made by David Cook ("Reader expects the mariner shortage to continue") and Jason Owen ("Big marine companies are 'weeding' out mariners") in the April issue of WorkBoat...

Stuck in TWIC-sand.(Transportation Worker Identification Credential )
June 1, 2007... The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a sore subject with many passenger vessel companies. After 9/11 the Coast Guard was transferred from the Department of Transportation to the newly created Department of Homeland...

Mariners aren't the bad guys.(MAIL BAG)
June 1, 2007... Geraldo Rivera recently asked a question on his show, "Can anyone tell me what value Homeland Security adds to our nation?" The question was in response to a segment on the news show which highlighted the no-bid contracts being let in the...

Riverboat captain misses sunken sidewheeler.(MAIL BAG)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... The Beresford Lady was built by Richard and Ruth Knuebel, and the family has been operating lunch and dinner cruises on Lake Beresford and the St. Johns River in DeLand, Fla., for the past six years. Unfortunately, the Beresford Lady was sunk...

On the water: licensing SOS--part II.(AT A GLANCE)(Coast Guard)
June 1, 2007... When it comes to the Coast Guard's handling of merchant mariner licensing and documentation, the Gulf Coast Mariners Association's critique is right on. Moreover, GCMA's recommendation that these duties should be handed over to a civilian-run...

Captain's table: Title XI and small passenger vessels.(AT A GLANCE)
June 1, 2007... The Maritime Administration's Title XI shipbuilding program is usually not the best method to finance the construction of a new passenger vessel. The program provides federal guarantees to commercial lenders for the construction or...

WorkBoat Composite Index: Index up 41 points.(AT A GLANCE)
June 1, 2007... April was another strong month for the WorkBoat Composite Index, rising 41 points. The 2.7 percent increase was fueled by strong results from oil service companies and other marine operators. For the month, gainers topped losers by a ratio of...

OSV day rates: rig erosion continues.(AT A GLANCE)
June 1, 2007... The exodus of rigs from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico continues. ODS-Petrodata, Houston, reported that two fewer rigs were under contract at the end of April compared with a month earlier. Utilization dipped to 77.4 percent with 103 rigs...

Inland insider: off the beaten path?(Toyota Motor Corp. opening a facility at Blue Springs in 2010)
June 1, 2007... A full-page advertisement in a national daily newspaper shows a curving two-lane road with a sign proclaiming, "Welcome to Blue Springs, Mississippi, population 165" with the 165 crossed out and replaced with 2,165. This purportedly represents...

Legal talk: consult an attorney from the get-go.(AT A GLANCE)(Column)
June 1, 2007... I take the task of writing for this space seriously, and I try to steer clear of simply jumping on the old soapbox. Instead I work hard at shedding a little light on the bilgy recesses of the law. This month, however, I'm rolling the hatches...

Finance talk: don't delay estate planning.(AT A GLANCE)
June 1, 2007... Now is a good time for owners and key executives of workboat companies to review their estate planning. With the Democrats in control of Congress, it is unlikely that the federal estate tax will be repealed anytime soon. Also, the recent...

In late April, the refurbished Columbia Queen set sail on its inaugural voyage for Seattle-based Majestic America Line along the Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers.(NEWS LOG)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: In late April, the refurbished Columbia Queen set sail on its inaugural voyage for Seattle-based Majestic America Line along the Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers. The company was created by the...

USCG assumes control over Deepwater program.(NEWS LOG)
June 1, 2007... There's good news and bad news in the U.S. Coast Guard's decision to take control of its $24 billion Integrated Deepwater System fleet modernization project, which had been managed by two of the nation's largest military contractors. Adm....

ACL to open liquids transportation division office in Houston.(NEWS BITTS)
June 1, 2007... American Commercial Lines Inc. plans to open a Houston office for its new liquids transportation division later this summer. ACL plans to increase liquid tank barge capacity by more than 15 percent in 2008 by adding 30 new 30,000-bbl. tank...

Gulf of Mexico lease sale terms change.(NEWS LOG)
June 1, 2007... Several changes to lease terms, royalty rates and royalty suspension conditions in this summer's Western Gulf of Mexico lease sale could possibly affect the level of interest. The Minerals Management Service is offering 3,400 unleased...

Former American Classic cruisers may have a new home.(NEWS LOG)
June 1, 2007... After languishing for nearly six years, the Cape May Light and Cape Cod Light finally may have new owners. Buyers, the names of whom were not disclosed, have put up a non-refundable deposit for the two 224-passenger, 300' vessels that have...

TWIC costs and delays frustrate Congress.(Transportation Worker Identification Credential)
June 1, 2007... Despite some major program and technological changes, it's not likely that a congressionally mandated July deadline can be met for enrolling port workers in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. Meanwhile, inland...

GE adds $250 million in marine assets.(NEWS LOG)(GE Capital Solutions)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The workboat business is strong, and one lending institution made a move earlier this year to take advantage of it. In January, GE Capital Solutions, Danbury, Conn., acquired CitiCapital's Marine Finance division. Now, almost six months...

TECO Transport could be sold by the fall.(NEWS BITTS)
June 1, 2007... TECO Energy could seal a deal for the sale of its TECO Transport unit by the end of September. The Tampa, Fla.-based company put the profitable barge and oceangoing vessel operation on the market to reduce debt earlier this year. There's been...

Canadian Coast Guard to build six new vessels.(NEWS BITTS)
June 1, 2007... Responding to widespread concern about the age and condition of its Coast Guard vessels, the Canadian government has allocated $324 million for the purchase and maintenance of six new boats. The six vessels include four 141' patrol vessels, a...

Academy rewards: for academy grads, brownwater is now a viable career option.(MARITIME ACADEMIES)
June 1, 2007... Maritime academies, long the training grounds for licensed officers for ocean shipping and military jobs, are increasingly preparing graduates for a marine sector plagued by personnel shortages--the inland and coastal waterways. ...

Maritime high school sought for New Orleans.(MARITIME ACADEMIES)
June 1, 2007... With maritime commerce serving as a backbone of the Lower Mississippi River's economy, industry officials hope to ease a skilled-labor shortage by creating the region's first maritime high school. While more than a dozen such schools exist...

Falling short? Feds say it's up to the private sector to jump-start short sea.(SHORT-SEA SHIPPING)
June 1, 2007... Short-sea shipping supporters that have been hoping for financial support from the federal government may be in for a long wait. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Congress may provide relief from the Harbor Maintenance Tax, often cited as a...

Close inspection: new towing vessel inspection system is still a few years away.(TOWING VESSEL INSPECTION)
June 1, 2007... Some have described the effort to remove the uninspected label from towing vessels as the most significant regulatory project in the history of the tug, towboat and barge industry. It's now been over four years since the industry began...

More in store: Vane expands beyond its ship's stores roots.(Vane Brothers Co.)(Company overview)
June 1, 2007... It's been over a century since William Burke Vane and his brothers opened a ship chandlery to cater to ship operators and crews in Baltimore Harbor. Since then, Vane Brothers Co. has grown to provide a wide range of supplies and services in the...

All American completes fuel-efficient tour boat.(ON THE WAYS)
June 1, 2007... As the price of diesel fuel approaches $3 a gallon, Kenai Fjords Tours knows it made a smart move when it abandoned the monohull design of its existing 13 boats and went with a hyrdrofoil-supported catamaran for its newest 150-passenger tour...

Breaux's Bay Craft delivers crew-supplier.(ON THE WAYS)(Gulf Offshore Logistics)
June 1, 2007... Loreauville, La.-based Breaux's Bay Craft Inc. recently delivered the Miss Caroline, a 175'X31'X14' crew/supply boat, to Gulf Offshore Logistics, Mathews, La. This is the first of a four-boat contract. The remaining three OSVs will be...

Geo Shipyard finishing up 149-passenger Hysucat.(ON THE WAYS)
June 1, 2007... Geo Shipyard Inc., New Iberia, La., is on schedule to deliver an 81'X24'X8'6", 149-passenger aluminum high-speed catamaran in June to a West Coast customer. Geo would not disclose the owner. Staunton, Ill.-based Viking Fast Craft...

Retros & refurbs: steam-powered paddlewheeler now working in Alaska.(ON THE WAYS)
June 1, 2007... Alaska doesn't lack for tour boats, but along the Ketchikan waterfront this summer, the one that will surely stand out will be the 147'X26' Alaska Queen. The steam-powered sternwheeler is owned and operated by Alaska Travel Adventures,...

Boatbuilding bitts.(ON THE WAYS)
June 1, 2007... Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La., has completed conversions and modifications to three separate dive support vessels for EPIC Divers & Marine, Harvey, La. The first of the three conversions was done at the Bollinger Algiers yard where the...

Shipyard slots remain a hot commodity.(COVER STORY)
June 1, 2007... YEARBOOK Some of the significant news items in the workboat industry over the past year were the continued strong demand for shipyard space to build new boats, security and other regulations, the industrywide labor shortage, and...

More profits for barge operators.(COVER STORY)(Financial report)
June 1, 2007... 2006 was another strong year for the inland barge and towing industry, which rode the wave of a buoyant national economy that produced high demand for products moved by barge. Strong demand for grain, manufacturing products, petroleum and...

Passenger vessel operators expect strong season.(COVER STORY)
June 1, 2007... Among the passenger vessels debuting this year, it's likely that none will make a bigger splash than the first ferry for Hawaii Superferry. The 353'X78' catamaran ferry, scheduled to enter service in July, will not only be a record size...

Tugboat surge continues to make waves.(COVER STORY)
June 1, 2007... From one corner of the U.S. to the other, construction of new tugs continues at a steady pace. In the Pacific Northwest, pieces of three new escort tugs are scattered all over the yard at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, Wash....

OSV operators are basking in strong earnings.(COVER STORY)
June 1, 2007... If you're an owner of a fleet of offshore supply vessels, business has been good lately, no matter where you operate. But while Gulf OSV operators are doing just fine, the bottom lines are much better for those that have significant fleets...

Easy riders: Sause Bros. adds comfortable and efficient tug-barge combinations.(128' TUGS)
June 1, 2007... Well known for its large fleet of tugs and barges that ply the West Coast and beyond to Alaska and Hawaii, Sause Bros. Inc. has steadily developed an expertise in ocean towing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Starting with one small wooden tug...

Impressions from a visiting tug captain.(128' TUGS)(Column)
June 1, 2007... It's not everyday I climb aboard a tugboat and get greeted by a captain who is so proud of his new command that he pulls out "a speech" and proceeds to read it to me: "As far as fuel efficiency, this is the hybrid of towboats. Coupled with...

Super boats: new ferries for the Hawaiian Islands will provide an option to flying.(Austal USA's Hawaii Superferry)
June 1, 2007... Superman, supersonic, supertanker, you name it, anything with "super" attached to it is likely to receive more than its share of scrutiny. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A visit to Mobile, Ala.-based Austal USA for the christening of Hawaii...

Workboat business.
June 1, 2007... Russ White has been promoted to district sales manager for Honda Marine Group, Alpharetta, Ga. White is responsible for Honda Marine outboard sales to dealers in the Gulf Coast. He joined American Honda in 2005 after working in sales for both...

Foam-filled fenders.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
June 1, 2007... Blue Ocean Tackle has introduced two new products to its line of marine fenders. The Ocean Guard Netless and the Ocean Cushion with Chains and Tires are designed for docking and ship-to-ship applications. Closed-cell construction of energy...

Pipe cutter.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
June 1, 2007... T-DRILL Industries Inc., Norcross, Ga., has introduced the TCJ-50 Tube Cut-Off System. The new product extends T-DRILL's chipless, rotary cut-off technology into a small, bench-mounted system designed for short production runs from straight...

Plasma cutting system.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
June 1, 2007... Hypertherm Inc., Hanover, N.H., says it has simplified mechanized plasma cutting system integration by introducing PowermaxEDGE. The bundled solution integrates a patented Powermax G3 Series plasma system with either a standalone Sensor PHC...

Fire-resistant cables.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
June 1, 2007... Belden Inc., a manufacturer of signal transmission solutions for wired and wireless networks, and audio/video and fire/life safety systems, has added the PLTC Circuit Integrity (CI) cable for industrial systems to its New Generation line of...

Tug and mooring lines.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
June 1, 2007... Ferndale, Wash.-based Samson has introduced Quantum-12--the latest addition to its product line of tug and mooring lines. Samson's high performance commercial marine lines are designed to replace wire ropes of the same strength and diameter, at...

Valve replacement.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
June 1, 2007... NLB Corp. has introduced what it describes as the first field-repairable Bi-Mode valve for rotating ultra-high-pressure (UHP) waterjet lances (industrial pressure washers). The NLB 8488 minimizes downtime with two disposable cartridges that can...

Calendar.(Calendar)
June 1, 2007... June 11-12 TUG CONFERENCE Tugnology '07, De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton, UK. Tel: 44 (0) 1225 868821 www.tugandsalvage.com July 19 SERVICE VESSEL MEETING The Offshore Marine Service Association...

Workboat looks back.(WB ARCHIVES)
June 1, 2007... June 1947 * On this month's cover, the towboat Donna Lee pushes a coal tow on the Tennessee River near Lock 1. The 810-hp towboat is owned by A.L. Mechling Barge Line, Joliet, Ill. * Representatives from 25 of the nation's largest...