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Coast Guards Conduct Oil Spill Training
The U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards completed a three-day international training exercise in Ketchikan. The exercise was designed to refine and test the joint emergency response procedures of the United States and Canada during a major pollution incident. The scenario presented to the group simulated the grounding and discharge of oil into the river from a large merchant vessel. The Coast Guard Cutter Anthony Petit, home ported in Ketchikan, deployed its Vessel of Opportunity Skimming System as part of the drill.
Edgewater Ferry Expands
Officials announced the expansion of the commuter ferry service between Edgewater and Manhattan. The expanded service offers residents of Edgewater and the surrounding communities a larger boat for their 12-minute ride to the West 39th Street Ferry Terminal and later evening returns.
tons, in the first two months of the fiscal year. The total gain in bulk cargo was the result of strong volumes of bio-diesel products and sand in Savannah, gypsum, perlite and urea at Marine Port Terminal in Brunswick.
VT Halter Wins $254m Contract
VT Halter Marine won a contract to build three 330,000-barrel tank barges for Crowley Maritime Corporation's subsidiary, Vessel Management Services Inc. The vessels, which include the cost of owner-furnished equipment, are valued at approximately $254m. They are the largest in Crowley Maritime's history and the fastest in their class. VT Halter Marine is the US operations of ST Engineering's marine arm, Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine). VT Halter Marine currently has three contracts with Vessel Management Services Inc. to build the tugs and 185,000barrel barges for 10 Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) units, at the total value of approximately $515m. This latest contract will bring the total contractual value with Vessel Management Services to $769m. The 330,000-barrel tank barges for today's contract are similar to the 185,000-barrel barges being built at VT Halter Marine, but they will have about 78 percent more cargo handling capacity. When completed, they will be operated in the US coastwise trade by Crowley Maritime's petroleum services segment. Recent facility improvements, including the extension of the launch system, have enabled the US shipyard to accommodate vessels up to Panamax in size, thereby meeting the rising demand for vessels with higher cargo capacity and deep water capability. The 330,000barrel tank barge project will follow after VT Halter Marine delivers the 10 ATB units previously contracted. Engineering for the project is scheduled to start in 1H2008. Construction of the first tank barge will begin in 1H2009.
Cameras May Soon Monitor Mississippi River
A new network of up to 80 security cameras, called the port security system, along the Mississippi is being considered. The idea, city officials say, is to strengthen security up and down a 10-mile stretch of the river in Minneapolis. The cameras would monitor the waterway and important infrastructure like bridges. The cameras could spot problems on land and water, including boating accidents, a runaway barge or even terrorism. City officials hope to have the cameras up and running within a year. [Source: http://www.kare11.com]
Oakland Port Closed Following Death
The entire Port of Oakland shipping operation shut down, idling hundreds of port workers and truck drivers, while an investigation proceeded into the accidental death of an ILWU Longshoreman aboard a ship at the Port last month. The Alameda County Coroner's office said the worker was apparently struck by a shipping container as he worked aboard the Stutgard, a Hapag-Lloyd container ship. No one apparently witnessed the accident. The port is the fourth largest container port in the United States. [Sources: Wire Services/The Mercury News]
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Philadelphia Maritime Interests File Lawsuit
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has granted a request for an expedited hearing requested by major maritime interests in the Delaware River area in a lawsuit questioning the jurisdiction of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. The hearing, scheduled for October 3, 2007, is based on a complaint filed by the International Longshoremen's Association District Council of Philadelphia and Wilmington (DE), the Philadelphia Marine Trade Association (PMTA) and the Maritime Stakeholders Group (MSG). The three organizations, which collectively represent more than 300 maritimerelated entities, claim that the PRPA is overstepping its jurisdiction by preparing to convey maritime land to a non-maritime related use.
Georgia's Ports Report Growth
Doug J. Marchand, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), released tonnage and volume reports reflecting a strong start to fiscal year 2008 during a meeting of its board of directors. He cited tonnage growth of 26.9 percent, or 2.1 million tons in August, and a 26.7 percent growth in July, for a total increase of 910,00 tons. Port of Savannah handled 236,020 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit containers (TEUs) for August, a 30.1-percent increase and a combined 467,711 TEUs for the first two months of the fiscal year. The Authority reported 23.3 percent growth in bulk cargo for August and a 44 percent increase, or 143,376 additional
4 � MarineNews � October 2007