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Crowley To Build Two Tugs Crowley Marine Services, Inc. has initiated the construction of two shallow-draft tugs for coastwise and river operation in its Western Alaska services. Total cost of the two new vessels is estimated at $5.2 million. Delivery of the first new tug is tentatively scheduled for early fall of this year. The two boats will have an overall length of 80 ft. (24.4 m) and a molded breadth of 28.5 ft. (8.6 m). The twin-screw tugs will gener- ate a maximum bhp of 1,248. The new tugs will replace two older vessels presently in service in Western Alaska, where an integrated group of Crowley operations provides petroleum terminating, sales, and direct-delivery barge ser- vice to over 1,200 coastal and river villages; dry break bulk; marine freight and lighterage; con- tract transportation; and common carrier ser- vices. New Firm Wins Ferry Design Contract From Florida DOT The newly-formed Cunningham & Walker Marine Consultants Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla. has won a contract for the conceptual design of a new 168-ft. (51.2-m) ferry to be built for the Florida Department of Transportation. This new twin-screw ferry will be a double-ended, single pilothouse, 40 car/passenger vessel for the Mayport Ferry Service. It will be a U.S. Coast Guard-inspected Subchapter H vessel. The ves- sel will have a breadth of 64 ft. (19.5 m) and a draft of 7.75 ft. (2.5 m). Gary Cunningham and Jeffrey Walker, both formerly of DeJong & Lebet Inc., recently established Cunningham & Walker Marine Consultants Inc. to provide na- val architecture and marine engineering ser- vices for private and commercial vessels. The firm will be specializing in Subchapter H and T passenger vessels. For more information on Cunningham & Walker Marine Consultants, Circle 71 on Reader Service Card Simrad's Acquisition Of Shipmate Finalized The Norwegian marine electronics group Simrad has finalized its acquisition of Shipmate, the Danish manufacturer of marine navigation and communications equipment. The take-over gives Simrad added momentum in the market for small-ship electronics, a new strategic area for the group. Simrad is a leader in marine electronics for the commercial markets — the offshore indus- try, ocean science, fisheries and naval defense. Shipmate is a leading name in satellite-based GPS navigators, plotters and VHF radiotele- phones for smaller commercial vessels, yachts and other leisure craft. Last year's acquisition of the U.K.-based Stowe organization, now Simrad Stowe, and of the Norwegian autopilot manufac- turer Robertson AS, now Simrad Robertson, were also part of Simrad's strategy to offer a complete range of marine electronics. For more information on Simrad, Circle 130 on Reader Service Card U.S. Cruise Industry Bill Supported By National Cruise Ship Alliance Members of the National Cruise Ship Alliance testified before the Merchant Marine and Fish- eries Subcommittee to support legislation to establish a U.S. cruise ship industry. The legis- lation (as initially reported in the February 1994 edition ofMR /EN) is sponsored by Rep. Joelene Unsoeld (D-Wash.). Chairman of the National Cruise Ship Alliance Robert Gogerty, along with other members of the organization, met with civic leaders, port authorities and officials in 10 major U.S. cities on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts. Mr. Gogerty reports those talks convinced him that "the time is right for a U.S. cruise ship industry." The package sponsored by Rep. Unsoeld would allow foreign-built vessels to operate di- rectly between U.S. ports, provided operators begin construction of U.S.-built replacement vessels within three years. MarAd Expands Electronic Bulletin Board The Maritime Administration is expanding its computerized public bulletin board, Marlinspike, to include more information for the users and providers of water transportation ser- vices. "We hope this communications system will help American shippers get the information they need to make wise transportation deci- sions," said Maritime Administrator Albert J. Herberger. A special section has been added to MarAd's electronic bulletin board for U.S.-flag carriers to publish their vessel sailing schedules, sales and booking telephone numbers and other information. Shippers or the general public can leave messages for shipping lines and send mes- sages to each other. In addition, MarAd is using the bulletin board to make information readily available on such topics as international and domestic trade, national cargo, ports and intermodalism, technology assessment and cur- rent legislation. Plans are being made to add information about the U.S. shipbuilding indus- try, in support of the President's initiatives to make it more competitive internationally. Marlinspike is available from computers with modems by calling (202) 366-8505 (modem set- ting: 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit [8nl]). It also can be accessed via the Fed World Gateway (#72). For additional information on how to access or use the service, call (202) 366-5508. Texaco Forms New Company For Russian Venture Texaco, along with subsidiaries of Exxon, Amoco Corp. and Norsk Hydro, has formed a new limited liability company, Timan Pechora Com- pany L.L.C. (TPC), to explore, appraise and po- tentially develop oil fields in the Timan Pechora basin of Arctic Russia. TPC will act as the operating company for the project, located 1,100 miles northeast of Moscow above the Arctic Circle on the Pechora Sea. The contract area in the Timan Pechora basin, cover- ing an area of about 2,847-sq.-miles, contains estimated recoverable resources of more than two billion barrels of oil. More than 130 wells drilled by Arkhangelskgeologia, the administra- tor of hydrocarbon activities in the region, have shown a success rate of more than 60 percent, resulting in the discovery of 11 oil fields. "This working partnership is designed to seize upon what appears to be an enormous opportu- nity," said Texaco Inc. Senior Vice President Peter I. Bijur. Texaco's interest in TPC is 30 percent, with Exxon holding 30 percent, Amoco 20 percent and Norsk Hydro 20 percent. Singapore Co. Wins Crane Contract Fels Cranes Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Keppel Integrated Engineering Ltd., won a $2.8 million contract for three rubber-tired gantry cranes for the Port of Surabaya. Fels Cranes must supply engineering support and equipment packages for the cranes, which will be built in Indonesia. DOT Requires Certain Pipelines To Accommodate "Smart Pigs" The Department of Transportation (DOT) is requiring that certain pipelines transporting natural gas, hazardous liquids or carbon dioxide accommodate internal instrument devices known as "smart pigs"—devices that travel inside a pipeline to inspect and record the pipeline's physi- cal condition. The smart pigs can reportedly detect anomalies in the pipe wall. The action is part of a plan to protect the environment devel- oped by the Research and Special Programs Ad- ministration, under the direction of Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena. USCG To Test Pollution Ticketing The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has initiated a program to issue tickets for oil spills of less than 100 gallons and for other violations of pollution prevention regulations. The test will be con- ducted, over a six month period, in the port areas of Charleston, S.C.; Galveston, Texas; and Long Beach, Calif. The ticketing is another step the USCG is taking to enhance the effectiveness of its environmental enforcement policies to preserve and protect the marine environment and im- prove maritime safety. The violator will be made aware of possible civil penalties associated with the citation. The violator has the option of paying a proposed penalty within 30 days to close the case or may request a hearing. Comments on the ticketing program may be mailed to Executive Secretary, Marine Safety Council (G-LRA), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20593-0001, tel: (202) 267-1477. For more information on the program, call (202) 267-6714. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAINT ... YOU HAVE A CHOICE! BIO-KOTE BALLASTTANK PRESERVATIVE ... •Non Hazardous • Long Life •Safe • Single Package •Firm Film • Minimal Surface Prep •Resists Washout • Easy to Apply Not Slippery • World Wide ESGARD PROTECTS YOUR INVESTMENT AND PRESERVES YOUR DOLLARS" CORROSION COATINGS P.O. Drawer 2698, Lafayette, LA 70502 ESGARD INTERNATIONAL GmbH TEL (318) 234-6327 • FAX (318) 234-0113 21107 Hamburg GERMANY 1 -800-888-2511 TEL 49-40-751457 • FAX 49-40-755805 Circle 263 on Reader Service Card 18 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
