DDG 1001 TO BE NAMED FOR SEAL:

SECNAV has announced that the second of the "Zumwalt" class of DDGs will be named the USS "Michael Monsoor", for the SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor in Iraq.  Read the announcement here.  October 30, 2008.

BENDER SELLS TAMPA BAY TO CHOUEST:

Tom Bender has agreed to sell his interest in Tampa Bay Shipbuilding to Edison Chouest Offshore.  See the internal announcement here.  Why?  Because Bender Shipbuilding still has cash flow problems.  I understand that talks were held with other potential buyers but ECO came out on top.  How much?  Not revealed, but I would be surprised if it did not come out later.  Construction of the big barges for OSG America will continue without interruption, they say.  But note that Bender and OSG are being sued by EMD: read the complaint here.  And note also that any transfer of the lease on the Tampa shipyard must be approved by the landlord, Tampa Port Authority.  October 29/30, 2008.

HORIZON AND USS HIT NEW LOWS:

Despite yesterday's recovery, temporary though it might be, our two hapless Jones Act shipping companies, Horizon Lines and US Shipping, managed to hit new lows, while their more diversified competitors, A&B and OSG, managed small upticks.  Horizon's stock is now at $3.15, down from a 52-week high of $32.25, while US Shipping's is at $0.69, down from a high of $19.75.  Is it time for the bailiffs to move in yet?  October 29, 2008.

HAWAIIAN SUPERFERRY BLAMES ECONOMY:

Introduction of the second superferry has been put back a year, until economic conditions are better.  Apparently Hawaiians don't go to the big island when times are bad.  The company will also be able to defer what it says are $10 million in start-up costs, although it will still, of course, be paying the debt on the ship, plus lay-up costs.  Very curious logic, curious enough to cause one to wonder if there may not be other, unspoken, reasons.  October 29, 2008.

MASS MARITIME RENAMES TRAINING SHIP:

Massachusetts Maritime Academy is planning to rechristen its training ship "Kennedy", in honor of Senator Edward Kennedy.  She was originally the "Velma Lykes", built by Avondale in 1967, sent to the RRF in 1985 as "Cape Bon", and converted to the training ship "Enterprise" by Bender in 2001.  October 28, 2008.

NEWPORT NEWS TO GET INTO NUCLEAR POWER:

Newport News is to have another go at the commercial nuclear power business.  (They went down this track once before, back in the 1970s.)  Read the announcement here.  Read also the report and accompanying comments in the Virginian-Pilot here.  Seems like a good idea to me, especially if construction of the second "Ford"-class carrier is delayed, as it might well be, and if the next class of surface combatants is not nuclear-powered, as it probably won't be.  October 24, 2008.

SEACOR BUCKS TREND:

Seacor Holdings, possibly the most diversified company in our industry, had improved results in the third quarter, according to the 8-K they filed yesterday, primarily because of increased offshore activity.  Earnings per share were up over 24%.  Read their press release here.  An interesting table summarizes Seacor's inventory of equipment.  October 23, 2008.

BOLLINGER SUES NORTHROP GRUMMAN:

The Navy Times reports that Bollinger Shipyards has filed a $12 million suit against Northrop Grumman over the disastrous stretching of eight "Island"-class patrol boats, alleging that NG “through its sole negligence, delivered late, ill-defined specifications and drawings to Bollinger.”  Read the report here.  Go get 'em, guys.  October 21, 2008.

BLACKWATER TO PROVIDE PIRACY PROTECTION:

Security specialists Blackwater Worldwide are to offer protection for shipping against pirates in the Gulf of Aden.  Read their press release here.  Blackwater has acquired the former NOAA survey ship "McArthur", built by Norshipco in 1966, and converted it into a privateer, although they call it a "multi-purpose maritime vessel designed to support military and law enforcement training, peacekeeping, and stability operations worldwide."  Boy, that makes me feel better.  October 21, 2008.

GULF COAST SHIPBUILDERS MOVE FORWARD:

A bunch of Gulf Coast shipbuilders, large and small, is collaborating to train a new generation of shipyard workers.  Read the story in the Mobile Register here.  Good move.  October 20, 2008.

OSG SHUTTLE TANKERS DELAYED:
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard has revealed that its construction sequence has had to be modified to move the two shuttle tankers back, because their financing is not yet in place.  Read the announcement here.  A bit disruptive, maybe, but not the end of the world.  October 20, 2008. 

NEW T-AGM TO BE NAMED FOR LORENZEN:

The Navy has announced that the new missile range instrumentation ship being built by VT Halter Marine, designated T-AGM 25, will be named USNS "Howard O. Lorenzen", after the man known as "the father of electronic warfare".  read the DefenseLink announcement here.  October 13, 2008.

CONRAD GETS CRANE BARGE CONTRACT:

The Corps of Engineers has awarded a $19.9 million contract to Conrad Industries for the construction of a crane barge, to be delivered by 31-May-10.  Read the DefenseLink announcement here.  October 11, 2008.

PLAN FOR REACTIVATION OF MARE ISLAND:

Another loony shipyard project has surfaced, this time involving Mare Island NSY, which has been closed since 1996 and hasn't built a new vessel since 1972.  The Vallejo Times-Herald reports that an outfit calling itself California Dry Dock Solutions is proposing to reuse the MINSY facilities for ship construction, repair and demolition.  All three!  All at once!  Read the report here.  Where do these dimwits come from?  October 11, 2008.

MIDWEST RESCUE AIRBOATS GETS CG CONTRACT:

The Coast Guard has awarded a contract for up to 35 air boats to Midwest Rescue Airboats, of Lawrence KS.  The contract is valued at $9.5 million.  Read the announcement here.  Never a dull moment in the small craft arena.  October 11, 2008.

CONCERN OVER UNUSUAL CHRISTENING:

The Navy Times has expressed concern over the way in which LCS 2 was christened, with the breaking of the now-standard bottle of bubbly on a striker bar rather than on the vessel's bow.  Read the story here.  What nonsense!  What has become the standard form for christenings only dates to the mid-19th century.  Before that there were all kinds of different practices, most tied back to pagan practices from before the Christian era, like so many of our modern holidays and celebratory practices.  Anyway, shouldn't it be called a blessing or a dedication, or something non-denominational?  October 11, 2008.