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10 • MarineNews • April, 2006 Gems Sensors Acquires PreDyne Gems Sensors announces the acquisi- tion of Precision Dynamics, Inc. (Pre- Dyne), a manufacturer of custom minia- ture solenoid valves, manifolds assem- blies, and fluidic systems. Gems Sensors will become Gems Sensors & Controls. PreDyne valves and manifold assemblies will continue to be manufactured at the New Britain, CT facility, and PreDyne's sales and engineering staff will join Gems to support the product line. With Gems current leadership position in level, flow and pressure sensors, this acquisition gives OEMs a major new source for custom miniature solenoid valves. Moreover, this new option brings together the 30 years of valve experience and the depth of Gems product develop- ment and manufacturing process. OEMs can now select one company with exten- sive design and manufacturing capabili- ties to build complete custom gas and liq- uid handling systems. "More and more our OEM customers and the marketplace are asking for custom pre-assembled solutions that integrate sensors and other components of a fluidic system such as valves and manifold assemblies," said Evan Berns, Vice Presi- dent, Gems Sensors & Controls. "Before the acquisition, both Gems and PreDyne customers had to go through numerous vendors, quality inspections, testing, and even design changes, which put sensitive lead times and cost control at risk. The combination of Gems and PreDyne allows us to fulfill our customers' needs with complete pre-assembled and tested fluidic systems, designed specifically to their application requirements." Art Anderson Expands Staff Doron Zilbershtein has joined Art Anderson Associates as Chief Visionary Officer. Zilbershtein most recently taught MBA students on organizational culture, quality management and leadership. He is a former consultant to many sectors of the maritime industry, including cruise ships, megayachts and defense. As a con- sultant, he assisted companies throughout the globe with marketing, project man- agement and business development. His employment experience also covers the operational side of the maritime industry, having served as an officer aboard freighters and fast attack vessels as an officer in the Israeli Navy. He is the immediate past president of the Southeast Section of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and is the co-founder and co- chair of the Maritime Quality Culture Forum of the American Society for Qual- ity (ASQ). Library Gets Metro Digitization Grant The Stephen B. Luce Library at SUNY Maritime College has received a grant from the New York Metropolitan Library Council (METRO) to digitize a subset of the Sailors' Snug Harbor archival collec- tion. This grant was highly competitive NEWS Unbeatable Quality ISUZU FORD ROBIN VM NEWAGE LOMBARDINI GENERATORS • ENGINES • PUMPS • PARTS • SERVICE 1212 St. Charles St. Houma, LA 70360 Phone: 985-857-8000 / 800-960-0068 www.mlengine.com / sales@mlengine.com Circle 226 on Reader Service Card McAllister Tractor Tugs Respond to Emergency On Wednesday, March 15, two restaurants, the historic Bowen's Inn and the Light- house Inn caught fire on Solomon's Island in Calvert County Maryland. The Solomon's Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department ("VFD") arrived on scene at the three alarm fire and recognized the need for additional firefighting resources. Winds out of the NW were steady at 30-35 knots with gusts up to 50 knots that quick- ly fanned the inferno and created satellite fires. At 13:00 McAllister Towing's tugs A.J. McAllister and Emily Anne McAllister were crewed and underway. Mate Tom Marstin of the Emily Anne McAllister, with 23 years of experience as a member of Solomon's VFD, coordinated getting the tugs into position and spraying water. Reports have more than 70 firefighters from 4 counties at the scene; due to limited water hydrants and resources being spread thin, the fight was being lost. The Light- house Inn was completely engulfed and eventually collapsed. The A.J. and the Emily Anne showered water at a rate of 11,000 gallons per minute a brought the fire under control within one half hour. The VFD's Incident Commander called a halt to the tugs' efforts so the situation could be assessed. During this time, the Emily Anne eased her way to shore so that Mate Marstin could obtain a radio from the Incident Commander for future instructions. The tugs were then ordered to sweep hot spots along the shore and further assist the VFD in dousing the numerous satellite fires that had arisen from the high powered winds. At 16:00 the tugs were released. There were no injuries to firefighting personnel or civilians. The damage suffered on Solomon's Island has been estimated near $5 million. The community and firefight- ers both acknowledged the tugs' efforts in containing the fire. Both the A.J. McAl- lister and Emily Anne McAllister are state of the art tugs that were specifically built for liquid natural gas terminals. Each tug is equipped with emergency response equipment that meets or exceeds the FiFi 1 standards of classification by the Ameri- can Bureau of Shipping. The tugs were built to specifications set by Statoil, British Petroleum and Shell Oil for work at the Cove Point liquid natural gas terminal. The tugs' firefighting equipment include (2) Skum MK-250EL/VR fire monitors with foam injection capability and a 1,100 gallon per minute deluge system. Each tug fea- tures Nijhuis HGT1 fire pumps (driven by Detroit Diesel 12V-925TI) capable of pumping 5,800 gallons of water per minute. This equipment is fully automated with controls in the pilot house. Both tugs are classed +A-1 firefighting (FiFi 1), Escort, +A-1 towing and +AMS by the American Bureau of Shipping. APRIL MN2006 2(9-16).qxd 4/10/2006 3:31 PM Page 10
