Southern Promise: Gulf Coast Yards See a Resurgence of Activity
By Jim Shaw
The past year has seen yards along the Gulf Coast gain a substantial number of new contracts relating to expanding activity in the offshore sector, particularly deepwater work. At the same time there has been a gain in export orders, as well as continuing movement towards LNG-fueled propulsion systems in newbuilds. Not all operators are ready to jump on the LNG bandwagon just yet but the shift towards gas is accelerating, and the foundations for regional bunkering operations are now being laid. Yard expansion is also taking place as optimism replaces recessionary thinking in both the newbuild and shiprepair sectors. Highlighting this trend has been VT Halter Marine, which has imported a 12,000 metric ton capacity floating dry dock from the Philippines for its Pascagoula, Mississippi yard. The new dock is just one part of a larger plan by Halter to step more solidly into the repair sector, with capacity also being added to serve alongside-berthed semi-submersible rigs and Panamax-size deepsea vessels. Another Gulf Coast yard looking at the deepwater sector is Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Avondale facility on the Mississippi River, which is expected to complete its final ship for the Navy later this year. Under the guidance of newly recruited vice president and general manager Rene Mathieu the historic Louisiana shipbuilder is looking at prospects in offshore fabrication work while searching for a potential business partner or buyer…
Have a news tip to share? Contact maritime journalist Mark Edward Nero Mark.Nero@pacmar.com or (562) 508-7866.
Shippers Fined for Violating Fuel Regulation
by Mark Edward Nero
Three international shipping companies have been fined a combined $440,250 for failing to switch from bunker fuel to cleaner, low-sulfur marine distillate fuel upon entering regulated waters as required by California law, a state regulatory agency…(Read Full Article)
2 New Fireboats Planned for Long Beach Port
by Mark Edward Nero
German engineering company Voith says it will provide propellers and turbo couplings for two new fireboats designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for service at the Port of Long Beach…(Read Full Article)
Top 3rd Party Logistics Providers Named
by Mark Edward Nero
For the fifth straight year, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s logistics group has been recognized as one of the best-equipped industry providers, after being named among the top 100 third-party logistics (3PL) providers in 2013…(Read Full Article)
Long Beach Port Schedules Public Workshops
by Mark Edward Nero
The Port of Long Beach has scheduled two workshops to update the public on the status of multiple major construction projects and how the port is managing the projects’ traffic impacts…(Read Full Article)
