Workboat articles from March 2008

Workboat archives from March 2008

Fast-ferry foibles.(Editor'sWatch)
March 1, 2008... In Washington, California, Alaska, New York and many other states, ferries play an important role in people's everyday lives. In many cities, ferries improve the quality of life for commuters that would otherwise be stuck in cars on...

Is there really a shortage of qualified mariners?(MailBag)
March 1, 2008... I've got a third mate license, ocean endorsement, ARPA, unlimited radar and Master of Towing endorsement, and an AB unlimited with tankerman/PIC. I'm currently working for a company as a tankerman and would like to work on my license....

On the water: full speed ahead for novice mates.(At AGlance)
March 1, 2008... This year, the first graduating class from the "Workboat Mate" program will be hitting the decks on a tug or OSV near you. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two affiliated training institutions, one on each coast, launched the "Workboat Mate"...

Captain's table: why do we have cabotage laws?(At AGlance)
March 1, 2008... U.S. Customs and Border Protection wants to amend our cabotage laws to crack down on foreign-flag cruise lines that offer cruises with just one short stop at a foreign port. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An example of what CBP is targeting...

WorkBoat Composite Index: oil service companies hit hard.(At AGlance)
March 1, 2008... In January, the WorkBoat Composite Index was unable to avoid Wall Street's woes and posted a big loss. Losers topped winners by a 4-1 ratio. For the month, the Index lost 50 points or almost 3 percent. Oil service issues were hard hit, as...

OSV day rates: shallow vs. deep water.(At AGlance)
March 1, 2008... The U.S. Gulf workboat industry was a tale of two markets in 2007. Vessels that service the shallow water have seen day rates and utilization dip while rates for deepwater OSVs stayed strong in 2007. However, an improved shallow-water...

Inland insider: big tug, small port.(At AGlance)
March 1, 2008... The children's book "The Little Engine That Could" describes how a little steam railroad engine saved the day by helping to move the train. WorkBoat's February cover story, "Florida Muscle," brought back memories of "The Little Tugs That...

Legal talk: OSHA flexes its enforcement muscle.(At AGlance)
March 1, 2008... The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently addressed whether the execution of an administrative search warrant by force violates constitutionally protected rights against unreasonable search and seizure. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Employee investigated for deepwater disclosures.(NEWS LOG)(Editorial)
March 1, 2008... Problems surrounding the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater program just keep getting deeper. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Department of Homeland Security is investigating a civilian employee whose attorney said he disclosed problems with the...

Pipeline operator purchases Cenac's tank-barge fleet.(NEWS LOG)
March 1, 2008... The $500 million purchase of Cenac Towing Inc.'s fleet by pipeline operator TEPPCO Partners LP might appear--at first glance--contrary to the trend of large energy-related firms divesting themselves of captive transportation assets. The...

More problems for worker ID program.(NEWS LOG)
March 1, 2008... Five-hour delays. Computer breakdowns. Data loss. Understaffed enrollment centers. Additional long waits to pick up cards and activate them. These are just a few of the glitches that have surfaced during the rollout of Uncle Sam's much-delayed...

Union airs it out with Coast Guard chief.(NEWS LOG)
March 1, 2008... Figuring they'd take their concerns to the top, a maritime union recently gave the commandant of the Coast Guard an earful about issues ranging from medical standards to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential. The meeting with...

Strong '08 expected for inland traffic.(NEWS LOG)
March 1, 2008... There's been a lot of gloom and doom on the economic front lately, with housing woes, troubled bond insurers, and talk of recession. In most workboat sectors, however, there are still no signs of a slowdown. And that's especially true when...

Nichols Brothers yard sold for $9.2 million.(NEWS BITTS)
March 1, 2008... After shutting down its yard and declaring bankruptcy in November, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Free-land, Wash., was purchased at auction on Jan. 28 for $9.2 million. The new owner is Ice Flow LLC, which is backed by Treadstone Capital...

Chouest eyes shipyard.(NEWS BITTS)
March 1, 2008... Edison Chouest Offshore is interested in adding a Savannah, Ga., property to its shipyard portfolio. The Galliano, La.-based workboat operator's name popped up in a recent bankruptcy case involving Global Ship Systems, a 22-acre vessel repair...

AEP MEMCO completes deal with B & H Towing.(NEWS BITTS)
March 1, 2008... AEP MEMCO LLC, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, has leased five towboats and purchased related assets from B & H Towing Inc. and its affiliate Lay Leasing Inc. The Paducah, Ky.-based privately-held companies have supplied towboats to...

Kirby to add more pilots.(NEWS BITTS)
March 1, 2008... Amid an upbeat financial report and outlook, Kirby Corp. CEO Joe Pyne noted that crewing the company's towboats "still is a challenge." The Houston tank barge giant added 44 pilots last year and expects to add another 70 to 75 this year. The...

Foss-Signet team up to optimize tug fleets.(NEWS BITTS)
March 1, 2008... Foss Maritime Co. has entered into an alliance with Signet Maritime Corp. that will allow the companies to make better use of each other's assets. As part of the deal, Seattle-based Foss will add two new 6,610-hp Z-drive tugs from Signet. The...

Fact finders: NOAA upgrades its research fleet with new, more efficient vessels.(VesselReport: Research Vessels)(United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
March 1, 2008... The biggest splash in the research vessel market has been coming from the federal government. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is responsible for the care and continued health of the nation's living offshore...

Hodgdon Yachts launches composite prototype.(CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT WORKBOAT YARDS)
March 1, 2008... As a high-end, custom-yacht builder, Hodgdon Yachts, East Boothbay, Maine, is on anybody's short list when it comes to high-tech, expensive play boats. Now with the Jan. 11 launching of the 83'x 17'6" Mark V.1 (Mk V.1), a high-speed assault...

New Bludworth-built towboat for Buffalo Marine Service.(CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT WORKBOAT YARDS)
March 1, 2008... Many new vessels, and even entire fleets, are commonly blessed by Catholic priests during christening ceremonies. It's rare, however, that a cardinal is called upon to bless a new boat as well as an entire tank barge fleet, but that's what...

Master Boat delivers 190' OSV to SEACOR Marine.(CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT WORKBOAT YARDS)
March 1, 2008... Master Boat Builders Inc. recently delivered a 190'x46'x 16' DP-2 offshore supply vessel to SEACOR Marine LLC, Houma, La. The SEACOR Columbus is the first of a four-boat order. Designed by Bayou La Batre, Ala.-based Master Boat, the new OSV...

Twin line-handling boats from Nichols Diversified Industries.(CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT WORKBOAT YARDS)
March 1, 2008... A pair of 45'x 15' aluminum line-handling boats for Mexico were delivered late last year to Servicio Maritimes of Baja, Calif., by Nichols Diversified Industries (NDI). Servicio Maritimes is a joint venture between Moran Towing Corp. and...

The U.S. Navy has awarded three contracts for the preliminary design of the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) program, a cooperative effort of Navy, Army, Marines and Special Operations Command forces.(BOATBUILDING BITTS)
March 1, 2008... The U.S. Navy has awarded three contracts for the preliminary design of the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) program, a cooperative effort of Navy, Army, Marines and Special Operations Command forces. The vessel will be a high-speed,...

Sea of troubles: Hawaii Superferry has endured a rough startup.(Cover story)
March 1, 2008... Sometimes it seems like the only break being caught by Hawaii Superferry is a breaking wave. When the Honolulu-based company tried to initiate service last August, they were greeted with an injunction from Maui and a floating blockade of...

'Crewzer' weight: new crewboat design offers a speedy water alternative to copters.(Boats & Gear)
March 1, 2008... A fog has rolled in off the Gulf of Mexico and the choppers aren't flying. You're facing a long, rough 120-mile crewboat ride to the rig and a tough transfer situation when you arrive. But if your company is a customer of Houma, La.-based...

Taking stock: boat operators must plan ahead when ordering larger diesels.(Boats & Gear: Diesel Engines)
March 1, 2008... Anybody who watched Eli Manning and the New York Giants scramble their way to victory in the Super Bowl can understand how important quick reactions are in pulling yourself out of a potentially disastrous situation. Being quick can also come in...

Hot spot.(2007 Construction Survey)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2008... A recession in the U.S. could spell trouble down the road for passenger vessel owners and operators. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the U.S. Gulf, the oil-and-gas industry has entered a down cycle after years of flying high. Our annual...

Amy W. Larson has been named president of the National Waterways Conference Inc., Arlington, Va. Larson.(WBBusiness)(Conference news)
March 1, 2008... Amy W. Larson has been named president of the National Waterways Conference Inc., Arlington, Va. Larson, who had been general counsel of the Federal Maritime Commission in Washington, D.C., since 2004, was chosen after a six-month search to...

Production Management Industries LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Superior Energy Services Inc., Harvey, La., has signed a multiyear agreement with Innovative Cleaning Solutions GoM LLC, Morgan City, La.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... Production Management Industries LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Superior Energy Services Inc., Harvey, La., has signed a multiyear agreement with Innovative Cleaning Solutions GoM LLC, Morgan City, La. PMI will provide automated tank...

The Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico Region.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... The Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico Region office in New Orleans has named John Rodi deputy regional director, the second highest position in the regional office. Mike Prendergast has been named chief of staff.

Mike Brady has been named director of human resources for Knight and its operating companies.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... Mike Brady has been named director of human resources for Knight and its operating companies. Knight, headquartered in Lafayette, La., is a privately held oil-and-gas rental tool company. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Keith Wansley is the new vice president for Costa Mesa, Calif.-based SeaWide Marine.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... Keith Wansley is the new vice president for Costa Mesa, Calif.-based SeaWide Marine--a national distributor of marine and consumer electronics. He most recently was a vice president of international sales for Raymarine. [ILLUSTRATION...

American River Transportation Company and St. James Stevedoring Company LLC have formed a stevedoring joint venture.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... American River Transportation Company and St. James Stevedoring Company LLC have formed a stevedoring joint venture. St. James Stevedoring Partners LLC is headquartered in Convent, La., and provides midstream transloading of bulk and breakbulk...

ProMariner's ProSafe FS 60 galvanic isolation and onboard charging system has won the 2007 International Boatbuilders Exhibition & Conference Innovation Award in the electrical systems category.(WBBusiness)(Conference news)
March 1, 2008... ProMariner's ProSafe FS 60 galvanic isolation and onboard charging system has won the 2007 International Boatbuilders Exhibition & Conference Innovation Award in the electrical systems category. ProMariner is a Portsmouth, N.H., designer and...

Nathan Thomassie Jr. has been named operations manager for the new W & O Supply Co. facility located in Houma, La.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... Nathan Thomassie Jr. has been named operations manager for the new W & O Supply Co. facility located in Houma, La. The 12,000-sq.-ft. facility, W & O's 14th U.S. branch and the second in Louisiana, distributes valves, pipe and fittings for...

Bruce Hackett has been named to the board of directors of the National Marine Electronics Association, Severna Park, Md.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... Bruce Hackett has been named to the board of directors of the National Marine Electronics Association, Severna Park, Md. Hackett is owner of the Bruce Hackett Company.

Stephen P. Markle has received the John Haas Memorial Award from the ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... Stephen P. Markle has received the John Haas Memorial Award from the ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa. Markle, director of engineering for Navalis Environmental Systems LLC, was recognized for his work associated with F25, an ASTM...

Applied Weather Technology.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... Applied Weather Technology (AWT), Sunnyvale, Calif., a supplier of weather routing services and software for ships, has opened a new facility in Hopewell Junction, N.Y. The 2,000-sq.-ft. building will house nine staff members and provide...

Seattle-based Northern Lights has purchased Rich Beers Marine Inc.(WBBusiness)
March 1, 2008... Seattle-based Northern Lights has purchased Rich Beers Marine Inc., manufacturer of the Technicold brand of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Rich Beers is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Calendar.(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... March 3-6 BROWNWATER MEETING The Inland Waterways Navigation Conference, Adams Mark/Hyatt Regency, St. Louis. 314-241-7400 March 11-15 EQUIPMENT SHOW CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2008 and The International Exposition for Power...

Workboat[R] looks back.(WBArchives)(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... MARCH 1984 * On this month's cover is the 65'x18'x7'6" tug Admiral, built by A.V. Walker Shipyard, Pascagoula, Miss., for Maritime Towing Co., Lockport, La. The tug is powered by a 250-hp, 6-cylinder Atlas Imperial diesel. The tug was...