Workboat articles from March 2005

Workboat archives from March 2005

Corps budget takes another hit.(EDITOR'S WATCH)(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... If the marine industry felt that the president's first term was tough on them, just wait. Expect the suffering to continue for the next four years. The big problem is funding, which is being drained by the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan....

Speak up hawsepipers, before it's too late.(MAIL BAG)
March 1, 2005... I feel its time that hawsepipers get to speak up and be heard. Too many regulations have been passed down from the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (Adm. Thomas H. Collins) that are binding to hawsepipers. I have recently learned that the...

Who designs and builds a better workboat?(MAIL BAG)
March 1, 2005... Mr. Hugh Ware wrote in the November Mail Bag ("Operator simply wanted a 'superb' vessel") in response to my letter in the October Mail Bag ("Proud of his U.S.-built and U.S.-designed boat"). I take exception to Mr. Ware on a couple of points....

Towboats need more than one engineer onboard.(MAIL BAG)
March 1, 2005... First, I feel that I am qualified to comment because I had 40-plus years of experience in the marine diesel engineering field and, until recently, held a high-level first engineers license and ran chief engineer on linehaul towboats for 20...

Reader fondly recalls his days as a 'Pirate'.(MAIL BAG)
March 1, 2005... I read with interest the article in the June 2004 Mail Bag about the OSV Jean Lafitte ("Reader says OSV was his father's supply boat"). I sailed on all the vessels of "The Great Pirate Fleet" during the 1970s, and the Jean Lafitte was the...

On the water; New rules for towing vessel inspection: Part 1.(AT A GLANCE)
March 1, 2005... For mariners who work aboard tugs and towboats, important changes are on the way. Under direction from Congress, the Coast Guard has been tasked with developing a process to bring uninspected towing vessels under inspection. But things are just...

Captain's table: passenger vessel accessibility guidelines.(AT A GLANCE)(Column)
March 1, 2005... I recently spent an uncomfortable afternoon in Washington, D.C., listening to comments from representatives of the disabled community and the passenger vessel industry to members of the federal government's Architectural and Transportation...

WorkBoat Composite Index: composite loses ground.(AT A GLANCE)
March 1, 2005... After gaining 9 percent in 2004, the WorkBoat Composite Index began 2005 on a down note, losing 3.5 percent. However, operators, led by oil service issues, helped winners top losers by a ratio of 10-9. Buoyed by strong energy prices and...

OSV day rates: optimism still rules in the U.S. Gulf.(AT A GLANCE)(Offshore Service Vessel)
March 1, 2005... Perhaps it was a bit premature to ring in the New Year with such high hopes for the Gulf oil service market. Several offshore service vessel operators that take part in WorkBoat's monthly day-rate survey reported a general softness in the OSV...

Inland insider: waterways can import industry.(AT A GLANCE)
March 1, 2005... A cartoon for "Santa's Workshop" had a sign that read: "Closed: Offshored our operations to the Caribbean. See our Web site: Santa.online." Some folks paint a similar doomsday scenario for the wholesale export of U.S. manufacturing...

Finance talk: the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.(AT A GLANCE)
March 1, 2005... The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, signed by President Bush prior to the election provides major tax incentives to operators of large vessels, makes other changes that affect operators of vessels in foreign countries, and changes the rules...

Q & A: a talk with Chris Brescia, former president of MARC 2000, the Midwest Area River Coalition 2000.(AT A GLANCE)
March 1, 2005... WorkBoat: For more than a decade you have fought to seek approval and funding for modernizing locks along the Upper Mississippi River. What are the biggest changes you have seen in your organization? Chris Brescia: MARC 2000 has evolved...

Ohio River barge mishap creates havoc for operators.(NEWS LOG)
March 1, 2005... Barge operators ended 2004 on an up note, with most expecting the improving market to carry over into 2005. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But for many companies, that optimistic outlook was dashed by high water problems that began shortly...

Marco Seattle shipyard closes.(NEWS LOG)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... It was sad news for many workboat operators, commercial fishermen and boatbuilders in the Pacific Northwest when Marco Seattle shut down its shipyard on the Lake Washington Ship Canal in January. Marco still operates its equipment manufacturing...

NAFTA members far apart on short sea.(NEWS LOG)(North American Free Trade Agreement)
March 1, 2005... A combination of marine laws and a host of operational difficulties cloud the future of short-sea shipping (SSS) as a viable transport mode between the U.S. and its trading partners in Mexico and Canada, according to three experts who addressed...

Oil spill may lead to tighter reporting.(NEWS LOG)
March 1, 2005... The recent oil spill on the Delaware River could lead to stricter requirements for mariners to report potentially dangerous objects that fall into navigable waters. On Nov. 26, the 750' Cypriot-flagged tanker Athos I hit an underwater...

Towboat plays key role in space program.(NEWS LOG)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... One of the most vital parts in the U.S. space program is the 65'X26' towboat Clermont II. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The boat navigates the 7.5-mile canal system belonging to NASA's Stennis Space Center (SSC) in south Mississippi with...

Bay-Houston Towing buys Chouest tug.(NEWS BITTS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Bay-Houston Towing Co. announced recently that it had purchased the 102'X37'X17' tractor tug C-Tractor 1 from Alpha Marine Services. Alpha Marine is a subsidiary of Edison Chouest Offshore, Galliano, La. The tug, which will be renamed the...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2005... In the February issue we referred to New Orleans-based Bisso Towboat's Z-drive harbor tug as the Cecelia B. Slatten. The correct spelling of the tug is the Cecilia B. Slatten.--Ed.

Coast Guard unveils port security system.(NEWS BITTS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... In February, the U.S. Coast Guard demonstrated its new underwater port security system at Coast Guard Integrated Support command in San Pedro, Calif. The system, which has been in development and testing since November 2002, is now being...

USCG station readiness needs improving, GAO report says.(NEWS BITTS)(United States. Coast Guard)(Government Accountability Office)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The U.S. Coast Guard does not know the extent to which post-9/11 changes in the agency's mission priorities have affected its network of stations along the nation's coasts and waterways, according to a January report from the Government...

SNAME needs survey participants.(NEWS BITTS)(Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) M-16 Panel "Modernization of Propulsion Shafting Systems" is conducting a survey to present and analyze experiences and data from ship operators. The survey is being conducted to...

Capitol hill blues: new Congress, new term, same maritime issues.(FOCUS: MARITIME ISSUES)
March 1, 2005... The new Congress and the second term of President Bush offer a fresh opportunity to tackle some old issues dogging the workboat industry. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] And there's a lot on the to-do list, as the 109th Congress, energized by...

Pokey push: new orders are mainly lower horsepower from a few operators.(VESSEL REPORT: TOWBOATS)
March 1, 2005... For most boatyards, the newbuild market for towboats has been a real yawner in recent years. However, a few builders have consistently landed work from the handful of operators that have been ordering towboats at a healthy clip. As in past...

Gladding-Hearn pilot boat for New Orleans.(CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT WORKBOAT YARDS)
March 1, 2005... Somerset, Mass.-based Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding recently delivered the Nola, the second of two 52'6"X16'11"X4'8" pilot boats to Delta Launch Services, New Orleans. Delta Launch operates the fleet of boats belonging to the Associated...

Pollution testing boat for California's Orange County.(CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT WORKBOAT YARDS)
March 1, 2005... For some time, researchers with the Orange County Sanitation District in Southern California have been hiring out various boats to study pollution and sediment streams in the waters off the county's coast. But since December, Orange County...

Kennedy Ship delivers Alaskan patrol boat.(CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT WORKBOAT YARDS)(Kennedy Ship and Repair LP)(Alaska Department of Public Safety)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Kennedy Ship and Repair, Galveston, Texas, recently completed the 70'X22'X12' patrol boat Enforcer for the state of Alaska's Department of Public Safety. The vessel will be homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska. Chris Kennedy, the yard's...

Boatbuilding bitts.(ON THE WAYS)
March 1, 2005... Rolls-Royce has been awarded a contract to supply design and equipment packages for three icebreaking offshore supply vessels to be built in Norway for Swire Pacific Offshore, Singapore. The OSVs will be built at Aker Langston shipyard in...

Hanko's.(From the 2004 International WorkBoat Show)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... This 22'X7' aluminum rescue boat is powered by twin Honda 135-hp outboards and tops out at 48 mph. Designed for Mississippi River rescues, the self-bailing boat features a center console and a T-top. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Demaree.(From the 2004 International WorkBoat Show)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The 14' Mini Snout can handle up to 50-hp outboards. Designed as a man-overboard response boat, it also can be used for rescues in swiftwater flooding and for patroling rivers and surf zones. Working load is 1,700 lbs. [ILLUSTRATION...

Silver Ships/AMBAR.(From the 2004 International WorkBoat Show)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Silver Ships/AMBAR Marine 3410 patrol boat measures 36'X10' and is powered by three 250-hp Mercury Verados. The 11,000-lb. boat also has a 5kw generator. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Willard Marine.(From the 2004 International WorkBoat Show)
March 1, 2005... The 540 Patrol/Workboat RIB measures 18'X8'4" and can accommodate up to 115-hp outboards. The hull, deck and center console are all build with heavy-duty fiberglass. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Expansion team: shipyards are using public and private funding to stay competitive.
March 1, 2005... The concentration of shipyards along the Gulf of Mexico is unlike any other in the U.S. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The state of Louisiana says there are 160 yards that build and/or repair boats or service the shipbuilding industry in the...

Spirited cat: new passenger catamaran boasts high performance, low emissions.(BOATS & GEAR: 72' PASSENGER CAT)
March 1, 2005... The top three things that Tom Tougas of Four Seasons Tours likes about his new quad-jet excursion vessel are that it's fast, it's clean, and it's fuel efficient. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The boat is the Spirit, a 72'X26'...

Diesel doings: latest marine engines offer more power and less smoke.(BOATS & GEAR: DIESEL ENGINES)
March 1, 2005... This year's crop of new and soon-to-be-released diesels has something for everyone from small-boat operators to the big-boat boys. The latest engine lines will give you a little more power than previous models, better fuel consumption and fewer...

Control valves.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
March 1, 2005... Parker Hannifin Corp.'s hydraulic valve division has come out with a new series of direct-operated proportional control valves. The D1FP features high dynamics combined with maximum flow. It is used for high accuracy positioning of a hydraulic...

Electrical design.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
March 1, 2005... Phoenix Contact Inc., Harrisburg, Pa., is marketing CLIPLINE Complete, a new line of electrical terminal blocks. The line includes screw clamps, spring-cages, auto-springs and insulation displacement connectors. All connection systems work with...

Welder/generator.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
March 1, 2005... Lincoln Electric Company's new Vantage[TM] 300 welder/generator is housed in a compact, corrosion-resistant stainless steel case and features Lincoln Chopper Technology[TM] to deliver dependable starts and a smooth arc for stick, downhill pipe,...

Aluminum boat paint.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
March 1, 2005... E Paint Company, East Falmouth, Mass., has released its SN-1 HP, high performance antifouling paint for aluminum vessels. SN-1 HP is a harder version of E Paint's flagship product SN-1, the only antifouling paint specified by the U.S. Coast...

Boat pods.(PRODUCT LOCKER)
March 1, 2005... Ocean Equipment, Irving, Calif., has introduced its new Grand Prix Series NavPods and PowerPods, designed to provide operators with increased flexibility and mounting options for the latest marine electronics. The Grand Prix Series adds a...

Blessey Marine Services.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Blessey Marine Services, Harahan, La., named Raymond C. Schaefer as its new vice president, risk management and benefits. Schaefer has over 20 years experience in the maritime industry and was previously with Eckstein Marine and American...

Iridium Satellite.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Iridium Satellite, Bethesda, Md., donated more than $500,000 in satellite phones and airtime to The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The donation went directly to relief workers in the areas hardest hit by the...

Simrad Inc.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Paul Comyns is the new North America marketing director for Simrad Inc., Lynnwood, Wash. Comyns will oversee all advertising, public relations and marketing activities in North America, encompassing the company's three primary market...

Circle Line Harbor Cruises LLC.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... New York-based Circle Line Harbor Cruises LLC, a subsidiary of Circle Line-Statue of Liberty Ferry Inc., recently announced that it would begin offering high-speed ferry service between Manhattan and La Guardia Airport in Queens by midyear. The...

Midwest Area River Coalition 2000.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Paul C. Rohde is the new president of the Midwest Area River Coalition 2000. He replaces Chris Brescia who stepped down on Dec. 31 after serving as president for over 12 years. Rohde was formerly vice president of MARC 2000, which advocates for...

American Marine Holdings Inc.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... American Marine Holdings Inc. (AMH) Government Services, Sarasota, Fla., had a record sales year in 2004 and made a number of personnel moves. Former U.S. Navy Lt. Mike Page, formally with Boston Whaler and Night Vision Technologies, now heads...

Samson.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Samson, Ferndale, Wash., has been awarded a contract to provide mooring services required by Marine Transport Lines in conjunction with the Maritime Administration. Samson's Proton[R] 8 was chosen to moor a fleet of six Ready Reserve...

McMurdo.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... McMurdo, a Portsmouth, R.I.-based manufacturer of marine electronics and safety equipment, has received MED (Marine Equipment Directive) approval on its M-2 automatic identification system (AIS). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sea Tel.(WORKBOAT BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Sea Tel. Concord, Calif., part of the Chelton Group, and Telenor Satellite Services, a subsidiary of Telenor of Norway, have agreed to market a combined package of Sea Tel WaveCall[TM] equipment with Telenor's Sealink broadband communications...

Calendar.(Calendar)
March 1, 2005... March 1-2 SHIPBUILDING CONFERENCE Shiptech 2005: A Shipbuilding Technologies Information Exchange, co-sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, ManTech Program; National Shipbuilding Research Program; and the National Center for...

WorkBoat looks back.(WB ARCHIVES)
March 1, 2005... March 1945 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * It's rumored that the Army has assembled some interesting reports on the European system of inland waterways and the major role that the intertwining canals and canalized rivers have played in...