Weekly News Summary for January 21-27, 2008:
Industry representatives met with the Corps of Engineers January 14 at Mel Price Lock and Dam in Alton, Ill., to learn about the Corps’ plans for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), a two-fold program with plans for construction of new locks, smaller improvements at locks and restoration for the environment.
“Those teams and alliances that helped pass the (Water Resources Development Act of 2007) need good information to go forward with,” said Jeff Stamper, technical manager for the navigation portion of NESP. “There’s no funding associated with the passage of the bill.”
Between $40 million and $50 million is needed for NESP in FY 2009.
Paul Rohde, the Midwest Area vice president for Waterways Council Inc., described WRDA as a great accomplishment, but “only a hunting license.”
“We still have to bag the birds and catch our limit. Now we join a chorus of other projects that require funding. And we need to fight for those dollars. It’s going to require the focus of every member of Congress from our region to stand up and say the Upper Mississippi NESP project is worthwhile and deserves funding, and NESP in the first year can get out of the gate and establish a funding level that will allow us to make meaningful strides of progress.”…
Officials at Crounse Corporation in Paducah, Ky., have confirmed the execution of a contract for five new 4,000 hp. towboats to join the Crounse fleet. The new twin-screw boats will be built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., Panama City, Fla.
The first of the identical boats will be delivered in December, with the others to follow in three- to four-month intervals, said Emmett Neal, Crounse vice president-operations. Each boat will measure 140 by 34 feet and will be powered with a pair of EMD 710 diesels, rated at 2,000 hp. each at 900 rpm. through Falk 4.0421:1 reduction gears, he said. Electrical power will be supplied by a pair of John Deere-powered 175 kw., Gulf-Pack generators.
The open-wheel vessels will have three decks plus a pilothouse with the distinctive profile, common to many recent designs from renowned naval architect, Corning Townsend at CT Marine, Rowayton, Conn. Quarters are designed for a normal crew of seven or eight people, although additional crew members can be accommodated if necessary, Neal noted….
Accumarine Transportation LLC, a new company located in Mobile, Ala., has recently added four towboats and 12 tank barges to its fleet.
Three of the boats are the Accu VII (formerly Sawyer York), Accu VIII (formerly Landon York) and Accu IX (formerly Rena Marie), all leased from Florida Marine Transporters.
The fourth boat, to be the Accu X, is in the process of being purchased. It is the Shawnee, a 1,800 hp. towboat owned by Warrior & Gulf Navigation Company.
The additional equipment brings the Accumarine fleet to a total of 10 boats and 20 barges….
The Greater Ouachita Port has expanded its capabilities by adding a new dock and storage area.
“It just brings to fruition what we’ve been saying all along. It enables the region to get jobs. Prior to this, we couldn’t get cargo on and off a barge,” said Paul Trichel, port manager.
Construction of the $2.8 million dock was completed in 2007. A dockside storage facility was completed in December. The port also bought a 275-ton Manitowoc crane for $1.8 million.
“It enables fabricators to show what they can get done, and it helps them in the bidding process to acquire more work,” Trichel said.
The dock was used for the first time January 10, when pieces of scrubber equipment were loaded on a barge.
James Machine Works in Monroe, La., designs and manufactures storage tanks and pressure vessels. The addition of the barge handling facility at the port enables James Machine to transport larger sections from the plant to the customer directly, as opposed to transporting more numerous smaller pieces and assembling them at the customer’s facility….
The upcoming Passenger Vessel Association Annual Convention at MariTrends 2008 will host of panel of government and industry experts to discuss “Sales and Marketing: Can You Turn Your Passenger Vessel Business Into a Green Business…And Should You?
Panelists will include: Christopher J. Miller, senior policy advisor on energy and environmental issues, office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.); Brian W. King, vice president-engineering for Elliott Bay Design Group; and Dan Yates, president of American Waterways Inc., operator of three dinner-cruise boats on the Columbia River.
As a featured panelist, Miller will provide a federal legislative perspective based on Sen. Reid’s strong support of environmental protection and fight for improvements to major environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, and.
The PVA Convention at MariTrends, scheduled for February 2–5 at the Chicago Hotel and Towers, will offer a mix of general sessions featuring high-level business speakers, nearly 50 educational sessions and separate industry conferences. In addition, the convention includes the MariTrends 2008 exhibit floor, featuring the products and services of vendors and suppliers supporting the passenger vessel industry….
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