Tuesday 14 October 08 - 00:14
 

Dredging

  • Dredging Prescribed for Channel Siltation

    01 Aug 2006

    The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) published a report last month examining the 5 December 2005 grounding of the French ro-ro ferry Dieppe at the port of Newhaven, which found the grounding occurred due to a build up of sand in the approach channel after a period of bad weather. 

  • Boskalis Bags Big Offshore Contract

    01 Aug 2006

    Netherlands based international dredging contractor Royal Boskalis Westminster has won a major contract to construct a gas pipeline in Taiwan. The five month project, which will start next April, has a contract value of some 70m. 

  • Brewaba at Work in Bremerhaven

    01 Aug 2006

    Brewaba, the German subsidiary of Dutch dredging giant Van Oord, has been awarded a contract in Bremerhaven from client Bremenports Consult GmbH. 

  • Shifting Sands for Marine Aggregates Dredging

    01 Aug 2006

    Hanson Aggregates Marine, which dredges and delivers to 20 wharves around the UK, Holland, Belgium and France, has surrendered two areas of licensed seabed earmarked for aggregates dredging. The move reflects the company's stated wish to reduce the sea space under its control whilst recognising the granting of new licenses in a major resource in the Eastern English Channel. 

  • Dredging Boulogne En Route to Seawork

    01 Aug 2006

    Essex UK based Eco Dredging Ltd returned to Seawork this summer. Eco Dredging is a member of the Vis Group of companies in the Netherlands and specialises in the maintenance dredging of marinas and fishing ports, inland rural and urban waterways, canals and rivers, ponds and lakes. 

Hydrographic Survey by David Goodfellow

  • Kongsberg Maritime Extends its Acoustic Range

    01 Aug 2006

    Kongsberg Maritime in Norway has extended its HiPAP series of acoustic positioning and underwater navigation systems with introduction of a portable 350P model which, it says, heralds a new era of positioning for vessels of opportunity. 

  • BGS-UKHO Mapping Agreement

    01 Aug 2006

    The UK Hydrographic Office, whose new chief executive Mike Robinson assumed office last month (see inset), has signed an agreement with British Geological Survey for joint production of new digital seabed geological maps covering UK continental shelf regions. 

  • Thales Navigation Takeover

    01 Aug 2006

    GPS equipment specialist Thales Navigation, whose European headquarters are in Carquefou, France, has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by Shah Capital Partners (SCP), a private equity consortium based in Santa Clara, California. 

  • Positioning & Surveying Courses

    01 Aug 2006

    University of Nottingham's Institute of Engineering Surveying & Space Geodesy (IESSG) says it has funding available to support UK and EU students on MSc courses in satellite positioning and navigation technology as well as geodetic surveying. 

  • Intelligent GPS Units

    01 Aug 2006

    French company Cadden has launched a multipurpose system for synchronising data from differing sensors in UTC (Universal Time Clock) time and space with a facility for integrating high-precision GPS positioning, data acquisition and measurement functions. 

  • Gardline Continues Survey Fleet Expansion

    01 Aug 2006

    Great Yarmouth UK based Gardline Shipping continues its acquisitive fleet expansion programme with the successful purchase of RRS Charles Darwin. The 69m LOA vessel, renamed RV Ocean Researcher, follows RV Triton and MV Confidante as the third ship purchased by Gardline in the past 18 months. It was delivered in June following a preparatory period in dry dock. 

  • Australian Video Recorder Contract

    01 Aug 2006

    NETmc Marine in Aberdeen reports an order worth more than US$100,000 for its range of digital video recorders from SureSpek of Western Australia, an inspection, maintenance and repair consultancy retained by Australia's largest publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production concern, Woodside Petroleum. 

Marine Civils by David Foxwell

  • Navigation Dredgings Help Create UK's Largest Man-Made Wetland

    01 Aug 2006

    A sea wall at Wallasea Island in Essex in the UK was deliberately breached in early July, creating the UK's largest man-made marine wetland. The UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA) Wallasea Wetlands Creation Project is creating a 115 hectare wetland to replace similar bird habitats lost to development during the 1990s. The wetlands will also improve flood defences, provide for better fish nurseries, and create opportunities for recreation. 

Monitoring & Control

  • Docking Revolution set with Volvo Penta IPS Joystick

    01 Aug 2006

    Fine control for one-handed manoeuvring in congested port and harbour areas will be available this year for boats equipped with Volvo Penta's IPS system. IPS was initially launched into the leisure market a year ago and became available for workboat applications at the Europort Rotterdam exhibition last November. 

  • 'Watchdog' Goes Into Orbit at Seawork

    01 Aug 2006

    Seawork 2006 was chosen by ASAP Supplies Ltd as the venue to launch its European distributorship of the compact Faria Watchdog Telematic System, which enables vessel operators to monitor their boats 24/7 and provides On Board Diagnostics - Marine (OBD-M) via a link to the engine's Electronic Management System using the Faria MG2000. 

  • Commander Control Makes Debut

    01 Aug 2006

    Radamec Control Systems Ltd launched a new range of rugged PCs into the marine marketplace last year. The new range includes an 8.4in IP67 Portable PC with full daylight touch screen display. 

News

  • 'Personal Everest' of Seawork Sibling

    01 Aug 2006

    Visitors to the Ohmex Ltd stand at Seawork 2006 may have found more on display than just the portable hydrographic survey instruments which drew them there. Ohmex man Ted Read was also drawing attention to the efforts of his brother, disabled yachtsman Geoff Holt, to mount the Round Britain Challenge 2007 in which the wheelchair bound sailor plans to sail single-handed around the UK coast next summer. 

  • Environmental Offset at New Ro-Ro Terminal

    01 Aug 2006

    The DFDS Nordic Terminal Riverside, the new £35m development at Associated British Ports' Port of Immingham was opened last month on the day which marked the 100th anniversary of the start of the construction of the Immingham Dock. 

  • 'Nomadic' Returns to Belfast Birthplace

    01 Aug 2006

    History was made on the 15th of last month when the White Star Line tender Nomadic returned to Belfast 95 years after leaving the Harland & Wolff shipyard where it was built. 

  • Rising Seas Predicted

    01 Aug 2006

    A report published by UK Environment Secretary David Milliband concludes that climate change poses an immediate threat to the European Union target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. 

  • ABP EGM Votes 'Sell'

    01 Aug 2006

    The sale of Associated British Ports Holdings PLC to the American led international consortium Admiral Acquisitions UK Limited was approved by 98.75% of the shares voted at an Extraordinary General Meeting last month. It was expected that dealings in ABPH shares on the London Stock Exchange would be suspended on the 7th of this month and that ABPH shares would cease to be listed on the Official List on the 16th of this month. 

  • EWEA

    01 Aug 2006

     

  • SASMEX Sails Home

    01 Aug 2006

     

  • Boskalis Buys Cofra

    01 Aug 2006

    Dutch dredging giant Royal Boskalis Westminster has boosted its 51% holding in geosynthetics for civil engineering specialist Cofra to full ownership. The acquisition strengthens Boskalis' position in the global market for specialist soil improvement techniques. Cofra has concentrated on methods of soil improvement for the construction of infrastructure projects and the use of liners for the isolation of existing and newly constructed landfills. The expertise will be especially valuable with regard to the large scale land reclamation projects filling the Boskalis order book. 

  • Marine Society's 250th

    01 Aug 2006

    Her Majesty The Queen was the principal guest last month when The Marine Society & Sea Cadets celebrated the 250th anniversary of the UK's most enduring maritime charity. Speaking at the reception in Greenwich on board the Royal Navy's amphibious assault ship HMS Albion, Vice Admiral Sir Tom Blackburn KCVO CB, chairman of the charity, announced a £2.5m fundraising appeal to build a new power-training ship for the Sea Cadets. To lend support, visit: 

  • Renewables Nuked in UK Energy Review

    01 Aug 2006

    In announcing its long awaited Energy Review last month, the British Government committed to extending the Renewables Obligation (RO) from 15% to 20% for green energy sources including wave, tidal and offshore wind power. 

  • Multidocker Will Boost Throughput at Ridham Dock

    01 Aug 2006

    The recent arrival of a new high-tech multi-purpose cargo handling crane promises to speed up throughput at the busy Kentish port of Ridham Dock in the UK. Purchased by Ridham Sea Terminals Ltd (RST) the new machine, a Swedish built Multidocker CH65C, started work at one of the three berths operated by the company on the 10 July. 

  • VTMS Wins Waterford Contract

    01 Aug 2006

    Leicestershire based Vessel Traffic Management Systems (VTMS) is establishing an Irish base at Waterford Container Terminal in Belview after being awarded a maintenance contract by Port of Waterford. 

  • GLAs Make 'The Case for eLoran'

    01 Aug 2006

    Continuing the theme of operational efficiency in our coverage of the Trinity House Technical Open Day in Harwich last month, the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of the UK and Ireland have released The Case for eLoran. 

  • DSB Acquires Yarmouth Shipping

    01 Aug 2006

    International shipbrokers DSB Offshore have acquired the business of specialist tug broker Yarmouth Shipping Company Limited, which recently completed the sale of two 50 ton bollard pull tugs from BHP Billiton in Western Australia to Italian interests. 

Safety & Training

  • Prepared is Shared in Gulf of Finland

    01 Aug 2006

    In what is thought to be a world first, crisis response simulator training has taken place simultaneously at marine institutes in Russia, Finland and Estonia as part of the EU funded long term project Gulf Of Finland Marine safety and marine Environment protection Cooperation (GOFMEC). 

  • Ports Academy Anticipates Expansion

    01 Aug 2006

    Proposals to set up a Ports & Logistics Skills Academy within the UK's Haven Gateway have taken an important step forward, with work starting on a detailed business plan for the project. The Haven Gateway Partnership has commissioned a consortium of three companies to develop a business plan for the Academy, to be delivered next month. 

  • ABP's Summer Safety Campaign

    01 Aug 2006

    For the second year running, Associated British Ports (ABP), which owns and operates 21 ports around the UK, has launched a summer safety campaign to warn children of the dangers of trespassing and swimming in its docks and harbours. 

Seawork Review

  • Zodiac Lifts 'Spirit of Innovation' Award

    01 Aug 2006

    It was an eventful Seawork for Zodiac International, with Zodiac Boats' new 'Minuteman' First Responders craft carrying off the prestigious Spirit of Innovation Award on its world debut appearance at the show and the Zodiac Training Academy promoting its own UK debut next month. 

  • Mantsbrite named Koden's exclusive UK distributor

    01 Aug 2006

    Changes are afoot in the way that the range of Koden marine products will be distributed in the UK and Ireland. From the first of this month, Seawork exhibitor Mantsbrite, which has been jointly distributing Koden's marine products, will become Koden's exclusive distributor. 

  • Chichester's Cheetah a Hit at Seawork

    01 Aug 2006

    Isle of Wight based workboat builder Cheetah Marine has exhibited at Seawork for many years, with their popular boats and welcoming staff a regular feature on the floating pontoon. For Seawork 2006 the new Harbour Patrol Boat for Chichester Harbour Conservancy attracted considerable attention. 

  • Seawork Duo Doing Fast Patrol Craft

    01 Aug 2006

    Two exhibitors at Seawork 2006 are collaborating on the new 15m Fast Patrol Craft for the UK Ministry of Defence. First time exhibitor Composite Mouldings Limited (CML) has made the plug, mould and mouldings for the first of class vessel being built by Holyhead Marine Services Limited. The first hull was delivered to Holyhead Marine on Anglesey after Seawork and CML has nearly completed the deck and wheelhouse. 

  • Paints and Paintings for Seawork Star

    01 Aug 2006

    One of the outstanding vessels on the floating pontoon at Seawork 2006 was Skomer, the new 19m pilot boat for Milford Haven Port Authority built by Mustang Marine (Wales) Ltd to a Camarc design. Noticeably larger than other pilot boats on the Seawork pontoon, Skomer will also serve as a patrol launch within the Haven and take visiting dignitaries on inspection tours. 

Security

  • Improved Surveillance Camera for Marine Security

    01 Aug 2006

    A new design surveillance camera from Texas USA based Night Vision Technologies will enhance safety and security by improving the operator's ability to detect, observe and identify objects and activity in total darkness, daylight or mixed light. 

  • Fast Security Craft for Russia

    01 Aug 2006

    Swedish boat builder Dockstavarvet delivered a second security craft to Russia last month. Smaller than the first boat, the HSPC 11.3 M was turned over to Moscow based brokers Autogrand Marine Ltd for operation on Russia's inland waterways. 

  • Container Security Struggles for Standards

    01 Aug 2006

    Governments and port authorities acknowledge that the 17 million cargo containers in use around the world are a weak link in national security arrangements. Importers/ exporters and manufacturers understand that poor container security poses a risk to the goods they contain. Yet because there are so many players in the global freight ecosystem, and the problem is distributed in thousands of ports and transport hubs around the world, attempts to improve it have been inadequate. 

Ship & Boat Building

  • 'Workcat' Sold 20 Minutes into Seawork

    01 Aug 2006

    Blyth Workcats made its third appearance at Seawork this year and came away with the sort of success story for which the event has become famous. 

  • X-Bow Takes a Bow in Bourbon AHTS

    01 Aug 2006

    Bourbon Offshore Norway has taken delivery of the first vessel equipped with the innovative Ulstein X-Bow design by Ulstein Design AS, a bulbous, backwards inclined bow which cuts through the waves in rough offshore waters in such a way that interior noise and vibration are reduced. 

  • VT Halmatic's Spanish Streak Continues

    01 Aug 2006

    The busy Spanish Port of Algeciras has taken delivery of the VT Halmatic pilot boat which was seen on the floating pontoon at Seawork 2006. The 12.34m LOA vessel is based on a semi-displacement hull form and features a resiliently mounted wheelhouse. 

  • Abu Dhabi Opens Composites Workshop

    01 Aug 2006

    Abu Dhabi Ship Building celebrated its tenth anniversary with the opening of the Middle East's largest and most advanced facility for building composite vessels. Already well established in the construction of steel and aluminium vessels, the expansion will enable ADSB to compete strongly in the rapidly expanding military and commercial market throughout the region. 

  • Unusual Newbuildings from Fassmer

    01 Aug 2006

    Small boat builder Fassmer has completed the unusual sounding and hydrographic measurement catamaran Orka for German authorities and also booked the first of a new type of ferry for Senegal. 

Tugs & Towing by Jack Gaston

  • New Smit Broncho Class Almost Complete at IHC

    01 Aug 2006

    Smit Broncho, the first of three new pusher tugs, has been delivered by the IHC Holland Delta Shipyard to Smit Transport BV. Designated a Delta Multi Purpose Pusher Tug 2500 (DMPT 2500), the vessel was subjected to extensive trials and is now in service. 

  • Reinforcements for URAG

    01 Aug 2006

    Bremen based towage company Unterweser Reederei (URAG) has taken delivery of two new Voith Schneider tractor tugs and is reported to be considering further orders for replacement vessels for their 16 tug fleet. 

  • TOWLINES

    01 Aug 2006

    .The Seattle based marine services organisation, the Foss Maritime Company, has announced that it is expanding into the American East Coast market with the acquisition of the Constellation Tug Company of Charlestown, Mass. 

  • ITC Carry Out a 16,000 Mile Round Trip With French Warship

    01 Aug 2006

    After a towage operation of 16,000 nautical miles, the tug Sable Cape from International Towage Contractors BV (ITC) of the Netherlands finally handed over the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau to French Navy tugs at the Port of Brest. 

  • Multraship Orders Carousel Tugs From Malaysia

    01 Aug 2006

    The long awaited orders for the first two innovative Combi tugs, equipped with the unique Carousel towing system, have now materialised. Dutch salvage and towage company Multraship Towage & Salvage has ordered two tugs of this type from Malaysian shipbuilder Nautica Nova Shipbuilding & Engineering (NNSE). 

MTU IRONMEN