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NOAA awards contract to Thoma-Sea for two new ships

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) took a major step forward last week in its effort to update its aging fleet of research ships with the Navy’s award of a $178 million contract to Thoma-Sea Marine ConstructorsLLC, Houma, La.

Thoma-Sea’s contract calls for the detailed design and construction of two new oceanographic ships for NOAA. The agency is acquiring the vessels through an agreement with the Naval Sea Systems Command, a leader in building, providing and procuring...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/noaa-awards-contract-to-thoma-sea-build-two-new-ships/

Spending bill includes funding for four more fast cutters

Recently, President Trump signed into law the omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2021, which included funding for four more Sentinel-class fast response cutters (FRC). This will permit Bollinger Shipyards to build and deliver four more FRCs to the U.S. Coast Guard, increasing the total number of funded boats to 64.

“It’s a great honor to have the confidence of the U.S. Congress to continue the work we’re doing in support of the U.S. Coast Guard,” Bollinger Shipyards president and CEO Ben...

https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/spending-bill-includes-funding-for-four-more-frcs/

Coast Guard issues another MMC Covid-19 extension

A sample Merchant Mariner Credential. Coast Guard image.

The Coast Guard, as it continues to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 on the maritime industry and mariners, has issued another extension to merchant mariner credentials (MMCs).

The Coast Guard has posted Change 5 to MSIB 08-20, titled “Covid-19 – Mariner Credentials,” which updates information on extensions to MMCs, medical certificates and course approvals

The following significant changes are provided in Change 5 to MSIB 08-20:

  • Merchant mariner credentials, both national and STCW, and medical...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/coast-guard-issues-another-mmc-extension-due-to-covid-19/

Judge dismisses charges in Missouri duck boat accident

A federal judge has dismissed charges of misconduct and neglect against three employees in a fatal duck boat accident on a Missouri lake not considered a navigable waterway.

U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool last week adopted a recommendation that the government did not have admiralty jurisdiction over Table Rock Lake where Stretch Duck 7 sank in 2018 killing 17 people — the deadliest duck boat accident ever.

Capt. Kenneth Scott McKee, general manager Curtis Lanham and operations supervisor...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/judge-dismisses-charges-in-missouri-duck-boat-accident/

Seacor Holdings to go private in $1 billion deal

Five of 2017's 10 Significant Boats were tugs. Photo courtesy of Seabulk Towing

Seacor Holdings Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of American Industrial Partners, a New York-based private equity firm that focuses on buying, improving, and growing industrial businesses, to take the company private. The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $1 billion, including net debt.

Under the terms of the agreement, AIP will commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Seacir for $41.50 per share in cash....

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/seacor-holdings-to-go-private-in-1-billion-deal/

Captain charged with seaman’s manslaughter in 2019 dive boat fire that killed 34

The captain of the P/V Conception, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based dive boat that caught fire last year near Santa Cruz Island resulting in the deaths of 33 passengers and one crewmember, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on 34 counts of seaman’s manslaughter.

Jerry Nehl Boylan, 67, of Santa Barbara, was named in the indictment returned yesterday by a federal grand jury that alleges Boylan, as the captain and master of the vessel, “was responsible for the safety and security of the...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/captain-charged-with-seamans-manslaughter-in-2019-dive-boat-fire-that-killed-34/

Chesapeake Shipbuilding delivers 3,000-hp tug to Vane Brothers

Vane Brothers has taken delivery of the 3,000-hp 94’x32’x13′ Cape Fear, the 17th Maryland-built tugboat to join the Baltimore-based company’s expanding fleet.

Since 2008, 15 3,000-hp, model-bow tugs have been delivered to Vane by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md. Chesapeake has also constructed two 3,000-hp pushboats for Vane.

“The 3,000-horsepower tug is powerful, practical and a perfect fit for Vane’s harbor and coastwise towing operations,” Vane Brothers President C. Duff Hughes, said...

https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/chesapeake-shipbuilding-delivers-3000-hp-tug-to-vane-brothers/

Four charged in $200K Coast Guard mariner credentialing scheme

A sample Merchant Mariner Credential. Coast Guard image.

Four individuals have been charged in a conspiracy to sell phony Coast Guard merchant mariner credentials in Norfolk, Va., the U.S. Department of Justice announced yesterday.

According to allegations in the unsealed indictment, Lamont Godfrey, 42, of Portsmouth, Va., Eugene Johnson, 45, of Norfolk, Va., Shunmanique Willis, 43, of Texas, and Alonzo Williams, 45, of Louisiana, acted in concert to create counterfeit certificates from the Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy (MAMA) in Norfolk and sell them...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/four-charged-in-200k-coast-guard-mariner-credentialing-scheme/

Edison Chouest to build first Jones Act offshore wind service vessel

Edison Chouest Offshore will build a 260' service operations vessel for Northeast offshore wind turbine projects. ECO image.

Edison Chouest Offshore will build and operate the first U.S. flag, Jones Act compliant service operations vessel for the offshore wind industry, partnering with wind developers Ørsted and Eversource, the companies announced in a joint statement Oct. 1.

Under a long-term charter agreement, ECO will engineer, build and operate the vessel, to be based in New York State and perform operations and maintenance on the Revolution Wind, South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind projects planned off southern New...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/edison-chouest-to-build-first-jones-act-offshore-wind-service-vessel/

American Cruise Lines takes delivery of 190-passenger overnight riverboat

American Cruise Lines (ACL) has taken delivery of the American Jazz after successful sea trials in late August on the Chesapeake Bay, ACL said Monday.

Built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding, Salisbury, Md., which shares ownership with ACL, the 345’x60’, 190-overnight passenger vessel is the third in the line’s modern riverboat series and will sail the Mississippi River. American Harmony debuted in 2019 and American Song in 2018.

American Jazz originally was expected to start sailing later this year,...

https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/american-cruise-lines-takes-delivery-of-190-passenger-overnight-riverboat/

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