Capsule News Summary For May 30–June 5, 2005:
The Coast Guard, under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, will hold a public meeting to accept comments concerning a proposal to implement recommendations in the area of merchant mariner credentials and to modernize these statutes.
Under current law, merchant mariners' documents issued by the Coast Guard serve as a form of government issued identification, but the Coast Guard contends that some of the credentials contain limited identifying information and are relatively easy to forge. A proposal by the president would implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Report in the area of Merchant Marine Credentials represents an update and rationalization of the Coast Guard's antiquated mariner credentialing and suspension and revocation authorities. It takes into account the findings and recommendations of the 9/11 Commission regarding the importance of preventing terrorists from obtaining and using government identification cards.
The proposal also enhanced the Coast Guard's ability to be flexible and agile in establishing appropriate criteria and processes for issuing merchant mariner credentials and in recovering them from unqualified holders or those who present a significant security risk….
Daniel L. Ferrell, 63, of Atmore, Ala., a master of an inland towing vessel, was sentenced May 19 for a January 2004 incident where he was found to be operating in U.S. waters under the influence of alcohol.
Ferrell was sentenced by Judge James J. Brady of the U.S. District Court of Baton Rouge, La., to serve two years probation, 100 hours of community service and will be required to participate in an alcohol assessment program.
On January 16, 2004, Ferrell was piloting the City of Port Allen when it struck the Brusly Railroad Lift Bridge on the Port Allen-Morgan City alternate route waterway. Investigators from the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Unit in Baton Rouge who responded to the initial incident tested Ferrell for alcohol. Ferrell failed the test, blowing a .235 on the Breathalyzer.
U.S. Attorney for the middle district of Louisiana, David R. Dugas, praised the investigative work of the Coast Guard and the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office.
"The professional work and cooperation of these two law enforcement agencies led to the successful prosecution of Mr. Ferrell," said Douglas, in a statement.
Don Lane, the Special Agent in Charge of the Coast Guard's Investigation Service office (CGIS) in New Orleans, was very pleased with the outcome as well.
"This sentencing sends a message that merchant mariners will be held accountable for their misconduct on the navigable waters of the United States," said Lane, in a statement. "Licensed mariners must be held to a high standard, and vessel captains must be held accountable for their responsibilities and for the safety of the lives under their care."…
Missouri Barge Line Company Inc. recently purchased two towboats from Mays Towing Company Inc. and its affiliated companies, a 31-year-old operation that is in the process of exiting the marine business.
In March, the Cape Girardeau, Mo.-based Missouri Barge Line bought the Connie Mays and Carrie Mays. Both vessels were built in 1951 and are about 1,800 hp. The firm does not anticipate changing the vessels' names, said Robbie Erlbacher, dispatcher. The boats are both currently working on the Upper Mississippi River, he said.
With the addition of the Mays boats, Missouri Barge Line now operates eight line-haul vessels and one harbor boat.
Mays earlier sold the Capt. Zac, a 900 hp. vessel to Aquarius Marine Inc. and has its two remaining boats, the Edward C. Mays and Justin Edward, listed for sale with Gerry Industries….
Commercial inland waterways industry executives, employees, suppliers and government officials converged on Paducah May 20 and 21 to participate in a trio of social, memorial and congratulatory activities that have become a tradition in the bustling port city.
The weekend kicked off with the Propeller Club's annual golf tournament at the Rolling Hills Country Club where golfers began teeing off at 7 a.m. The second group began their rounds at noon as a total of 72 foursomes made their way around the course. Some of the late starters returned to the clubhouse barely in time to enjoy the popular fish fry, which attracted almost 400 people, according to club secretary Mitzi Mason.
A more serious note was struck the next morning at the annual Maritime Day Commemorative Ceremony conducted at the foot of Broadway where Propeller Club president Madonna Cox dropped the traditional memorial wreath into the Ohio River. The wreath was placed in memory of all inland marine industry personnel who have perished during the pursuit of their chosen profession.
McCracken County Judge-Executive Danny Orazine told the attendees, "I've been fortunate to meet a lot of the river industry people and I've realized how hard they work. They're a real sorority and fraternity of people…a brotherhood." Even though the employees and executives are competitors, he said, "When they get together, they're almost like family."…
Their specialty is specialty barges, and they have been busy building them since 1991. Corn Island Shipyard, just outside of Tell City, Ind., builds deck, crane and dock barges, as well as dump scows, drydocks, casino platforms, special service vessels and specialty marine structures.
On May 18, the firm officially added tank barges to its portfolio. Don Foertsch, president, and Bud Johnson, general manager, were both happy to launch their first newly constructed tank barge. The barge is one of two ordered by Chatham Towing Company Inc., Savannah, Ga. The second is currently under construction.
Why turn to the lower Ohio River for barges? According to Johnson, the shipyard has several competitive advantages. Perhaps most importantly, it saves its customers money.
In one instance, Corn Island built two ocean-class barges for a customer on the West Coast. The barges had to be shipped in sections on a flatbed truck all the way to the coast. Even with the cost of disassembling, assembling and transporting the barges, the customer still saved money, he said.
In fact, a big percentage of Corn Island's customers are from the East Coast, Gulf Coast and Great Lakes regions, said Johnson. All of these customers turn to the inland waterways for their barges….
On May 18 the 36-foot-tall luxury motor yacht Ovation arrived at Lemont, Ill., on its journey to its home in Detroit, Mich. The newly built boat by SkipperLiner Company of La Crosse, Wis., was designed to be disassembled to go under the low Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad bridge in Lemont.
Kindra Lake Towing LP of Downers Grove, Ill., provided the expertise and coordination as well as the crane service and transportation. The project included removing in Lemont the upper two decks as one unit, placing it into a barge, barging the decks to Kindra Lake Towing in South Chicago and reversing the operation there.
Crane service was provided by Mooncotch Cranes of LaGrange, Ill., which supplied two hydraulic cranes, one 175 tons and one 135 tons. The larger crane was at the forward end, which weighed 60,000 pounds; the smaller crane was at the aft end, weighing 40,000 pounds. The upper two decks measured 105 feet long by 26 feet, 11 inches wide with an overall weight of 100,000 pounds.
The disassembly transfer took place at Garvey Marine in Lemont. Garvey provided its dock and tug to shift the empty barge in place. Garvey towed the loaded barge to Kindra Lake Towing, departing just five hours after the Ovation arrived in Lemont….
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