Workboat articles from November 2008

Workboat archives from November 2008

Marine is going green.(Editor'sWatch)
November 1, 2008... From the EPA's edict to use low-emission engines to states such as California requiring tugs and other vessels to switch to cleaner engines and limit idling, the greening of the marine industry continues to pick up steam. In this month's...

Hawsepipers vs. grads.(MailBag)
November 1, 2008... I have been following the eternal hawsepipe versus academy graduate conflict and have come to my own conclusion on the subject. Neither route to the wheelhouse is best. The answer lies with the individual. The Pacific Maritime Institute...

On the water: the 30-day training wonder.(AT AGlance)
November 1, 2008... For mariners who work on tugs and towboats, here's more bad news. The dangerous environment you work in everyday has just become more hairy. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Despite input from experienced towing vessel mariners, the U.S. Coast...

Captain's table: weight/stability rule could hurt passenger vessel industry.(AT AGlance)
November 1, 2008... The Coast Guard's recently released weight/stability rule could have a big effect on passenger vessel operators. The Passenger Vessel Association said it could be "the single most challenging rule facing the passenger vessel industry" because...

WorkBoat Composite Index: index plummets 18 percent.
November 1, 2008... After returning to the black in August, the WorkBoat Composite Index came back to earth in September, or, more accurately, hit the ground hard. For the month, the Index lost 295 points, almost 18 percent. September's percentage loss topped...

OSV day rates: rates dip for large supply boats.(AT AGlance)
November 1, 2008... After three straight months of increases, day rates were mixed in September. Small supply boats and crewboats saw rates increase during the month, while day rates for large suppliers and crewboats lost ground. But this may change. Some...

Inland insider: going bust in the barge industry.(AT AGlance)
November 1, 2008... A basic economic assumption is that every boom is followed by a bust. The recent financial meltdown that's been strewn with bank failures, real estate foreclosures, Wall Street bankruptcies, federal bailouts and company fire sales, reminds me...

Legal talk: tough times and vessel arrests.(AT AGlance)(Column)
November 1, 2008... As I write this in London, the sky is gray and the talk on the street is all about the U.S. financial crisis. While much of the banter is about the housing market, the reality is that tough times can erode anyone's economic position, including...

Marine industry hit hard by hurricanes Gustav and Ike.(NEWS LOG)
November 1, 2008... Hurricane Ike blew in on Hurricane Gustav's heels and wreaked more than a little havoc with mariners' lives. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was closed for a record two weeks between Houston and Port Arthur, Texas, and 90 percent of the aids to...

Most mariners are breezing through medical evaluations.(NEWS BITTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Night-eight percent of mariners forced to undergo medical and physical evaluations have had little trouble passing the tests. Earlier this year, the Coast Guard released new medical evaluation guidelines that contained a list of over 200...

500,000 have applied for TWIC cards as program works out the kinks.(NEWS LOG)(Transportation Security Administration)(Transportation Worker Identification Credential )
November 1, 2008... After a rough start, things are going more smoothly for the thousands of maritime workers who are enrolling in the nation's first transportation security identification card system. At a September congressional oversight hearing on the...

2008 academy grads are finding good jobs.(NEWS LOG)(Merchant Marine Academy)
November 1, 2008... It's been a banner year for graduates of the nation's maritime academies. The class of 2008 has had little trouble finding high-paying jobs at sea or on shore, with more of them opting for careers in the brownwater sector. Newly released...

Charts may become more important in fight against terrorism.(NEWS LOG)
November 1, 2008... Nautical charts, used daily by the workboat industry to safely navigate waterways, ports and coastlines, could eventually take on a new role in the fight against terrorism. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which...

Edison Chouest, OSV pioneer, dead at 91.(NEWS BITTS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Edison Chouest, a former commercial shrimper who founded an offshore service vessel and shipbuilding powerhouse, died on Oct. 1. He was 91. He started his Galliano, La., company in 1960 after purchasing a 65-foot steelhull offshore utility boat...

Senator makes pitch to save the Delta Queen.(NEWS LOG)
November 1, 2008... Barring a last-minute rescue, a fleet of U.S.-flag riverboats, including the historic paddlewheeler Delta Queen, will be idled by year's end. Majestic America Line's five-vessel fleet has been for sale since spring, and the company has no...

Feeding time: Columbia Coastal's Chesapeake Bay barge feeder service.(Chesapeake Bay Barge Service)
November 1, 2008... At 393'x94'x21', the barge Columbia Elizabeth is the size of a football field. Only this field floats and is stacked with containers. When fully loaded, the barge hauls 912 TEUs (20' equivalent units) stacked five, sometimes six, high and 11...

Spill response: Mississippi River spill may result in tougher laws regulating inland towing operations.(Mississippi River Oil Spill)
November 1, 2008... In response to July's towboat accident and oil spill on the Mississippi River, some members of Congress are calling for harsher punishments - including jail time--for mariners who violate manning regulations and operate vessels without proper...

Lakefront: a 19th century shipyard remakes itself on the shores of Lake Erie.(Great Lakes Shipyard)
November 1, 2008... Just because a company is over a century old with founding members named Rockefeller and Sinclair, it doesn't mean it can't change with the times. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On Lake Erie in September, the 109-year-old Great Lakes Group...

Fast break: smaller, quicker fire/rescue boats offer several advantages.(Vessel Report)
November 1, 2008... If you're going to this year's International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, be sure to check out the big red fire/rescue boat at the rear of the hall. Designed and built for the Lewes (Del.) Fire Department by Moose Boats, the 44'xl6'...

Bollinger lands contract to build Coast Guard cutters.(ON THE WAYS)
November 1, 2008... Bollinger Shipyards Inc., Lockport, La., has signed a contract to build up to 34 U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats. If all six options are exercised, the contract would be worth around $1.5 billion and stretch over a period of six to eight years....

Heat cramps: climate change brings both threats and opportunities for the workboat industry.(CoverStory)
November 1, 2008... For the U.S. workboat industry, global warming might seem like a world away. It's being blamed for melting the polar ice cap, depleting corals in the Caribbean, and causing droughts in Africa. But the gradual warming of the earth from...

Deep route: Louisiana shipyard dives into the offshore crewboat market.(175' Crewboats)(Groupe Bourbon S.A., Rigdon Marine L.L.C.)
November 1, 2008... For over a decade, Jeanerette, La.-based Island Boats Inc. had developed a reputation for building quality aluminum passenger vessels. But about two years ago, the market for new passenger vessels began to soften for several reasons, including...

Green horn: from hybrid power to zero discharge, it's the dawn of a new era.(Vessel Design)
November 1, 2008... What does it mean to have a "green" boat? A cynic answers by holding up a can of green paint. The environmentalist talks about a hull that requires less energy to operate, about boats that use low-VOC paints, recycled steel, energy efficient...

Showcase: the Pacific Marine Expo at Qwest Field.(Pacific Marine Expo)(Conference news)(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... The largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast kicks off on Nov. 20 at the Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle. Pacific Marine Expo targets all facets of the region's marine industry, including the hot workboat market. ...

Green lubrication solutions: LubriSilk synthetic grease.(2008 PME PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2008... MarineSilk products provide marine engine treatment protection against salt water corrosion while radically reducing friction and heat. LubriSilk synthetic grease and hydraulic fluid employ patented technology developed for NASA, provides...

Llebroc Industries: LX2 Helm Chair.(2008 PME PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2008... The LX2 Helm Chair from Llebroc Industries is one of four new Series 2 luxury pilot recliners for indoor/outdoor use. Features include all aluminum construction, UltraLeather all weather material and AquaFlex in-seat suspension....

JK Fabrication Inc./ nordic products new anchor winch line.(2008 PME PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2008... New anchor winch line has standard features not found in the industry--stainless steel or aluminum construction, stainless fittings and tubing, motor cover, heavy duty motor and four-position hydraulic control valve. Winches are tested and run...

Marco Global Inc.: B29 easy open Powerblock.(2008 PME PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2008... Allows quick haulback of interrupted sets. Large diameter sheave for use with herring, sardine, squid or salmon nets. It's available with Powergrip, and hydraulic swivel and swivel-tilt options. www.marcoseattle.com BOOTH 1120 ...

Port supply/lifesling MAS Epoxies non-blushing system.(2008 PME PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2008... MAS Epoxies is a two-part epoxy system featuring a simple 2:1 mix ratio, with non-blushing, blendable hardeners and resins. Five specialized fillers make MAS Epoxies a complete system for just about any repair or construction job. No amine...

Steyr motors GmbH: first serial hybrid propulsion system.(2008 PME PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2008... This environmentally friendly hybrid solution not only assures zero-emission and low-speed maneuvering in harbors and noiseless drive on inland waters and nature reserves, but also eliminates the need for separate generator units for other...

W&O supply: enhanced AMOT G-Valve--three-way rotary temperature control.(2008 PME PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2008... The G-Valve easily integrates into any application, accurately mixes or diverts fluids, and is engineered for high vibration environments, delivering precise temperature and flow control. It is packaged in a compact design that reduces...

Whiffletree Corp. GME-MT403 series 406mhz epirbs.(2008 PME PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2008... * Unrivalled in technology, reliability. * Groundbreaking patent pending microprocessor-based design delivers unparalleled performance. * Zero warm-up digital technology. * Highly reliable digital strobe. * Easy, built-in...

Whites Manufacturing: survival Dry immersion suit.(2008 PME PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2008... Whites Manufacturing now offers a recently certified immersion suit, the Survival Dry. The company, one of the largest military drysuit suppliers, has 50 years of experience. The Survival Dry features a unique zipper configuration, polytex...

Inline diesels.(WBProducts)
November 1, 2008... GE Marine recently introduced the L250 inline medium-speed diesel engine family. Custom designed for a variety of marine applications, the new engines are available in six-and eight-cylinder configurations. According to GE, the L250 provides a...

Waterjet series.(WBProduct)
November 1, 2008... Rolls-Royce has introduced a new waterjet series, the Kamewa S3. The new line draws on the Kamewa SII series but has incorporated numerous improvements made possible by new design calculation methods and production techniques. Kamewa S3...

Fuel economy savings.(WBProducts)
November 1, 2008... Sun Valley, Calif.-based Walker Engineering is now offering Fuelsep Vessel Packages to help vessel owners fight the high cost of diesel fuel at the docks. The Fuelsep Vessel Package includes two main engine Fuelseps, one genset Fuelsep, three...

Instrument software.(WBProducts)
November 1, 2008... Teleflex Marine's recently developed SmartCraft compatible instrument software allows Teleflex gauges to connect to and display information from all Mercury Marine SmartCraft-equipped engines. This includes engines with Mercury Marine's new...

WB calendar.(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... Nov. 5-7 INLAND WATERWAYS MEETING National Waterways Conference Annual Meeting--"Our Nation's Waterways: Providing Value and Benefits," Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, New Orleans. 703-243-4090 www.waterways.org Nov. 6-8 ...

Workboat looks back.(exploration for oil)(Moran Towing and Transportation Co. to purchase Curtis Bay Towing Co.)(Work Boat Show to be held on November 18-20)
November 1, 2008... NOVEMBER 1948 * Exploration for oil in the Gulf of Mexico has created a new demand for different types of workboats. One of the major drilling projects is taking place about six miles off the coast of Cameron Parish, La., by Stanolind Oil...