News & Updates

Updated regularly, this area contains short takes of breaking news items and articles in IDR Online. Full stories are available in Features, with a paid online access account.

February 19, 2010 - Port Manatee Seeks Bids for Major Dredging Project
	The Manatee County Port Authority, Palmetto, Florida, is seeking bids for a major dredging project at its new Berth 12. Bids will be accepted until March 22, 2010. The project will provide a depth of 41 feet at mean low-low-water, with an additional foot of draft for ships using the south channel area of the port. The nearly 1,600-foot-long berth is designed to accommodate containerized shipping and is expected to be operational by late 2010. Berth 12 completes a $200 million port expansion project started in 1999. The base bid for the project includes excavation and hydraulic dredging of nearly 760,000 cubic yards of material and removal to a certified uplands dredged material placement site. A bid alternate calls for dredging and removal of an additional 370,000 cubic yards of material. The port authority will receive sealed bids until March 22nd at 2 p.m. The request for proposal is on the port’s Web site at www.portmanatee.com/requests.aspx.
February 18, 2010 - Ritchie Selling Houston Site
	Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is selling its former 40+/- -acre auction site just off the I-10 East Highway, Houston, Texas, during an upcoming two-day unreserved public equipment auction at the company's new Houston permanent auction site (15500 Eastex Freeway) in Humble from March 24 to March 25 starting at 8:00 a.m. each day. The land will be sold on Wednesday, March 24, at noon to the highest bidder regardless of price.
February 18, 2010 - Time to Send Papers for Panama Dredging Meeting
	The Western Dredging Association (WEDA) technical paper committee, in conjunction with the Panama Chapter, is putting together the final program agenda for the April 25-28 Panama Chapter conference. If you are planning on making a presentation, please email to Ram Mohan and Carlos Reyes the title of your presentation along with your author information by the end of the week of February 28th. This is the last opportunity to submit a paper for this conference, which concentrates on the widening and deepening of the Panama Canal. Email the above requested information to Ram Mohan at rmohan@anchorqea.com with a copy to Carlos Reyes, Panama Chapter President at OPDV-OF1@pancanal.com The event will include technical sessions, an opening Ice Breaker, field trips to Panama Canal dredging sites and a golf tournament on April 25, plus a post conference tour on April 29th.
February 10, 2010 - Contaminated Sediment Symposium Scheduled for New Jersey
	Dr. Robert Engler of Moffatt & Nichol, Phil Spadaro of Arcadis USA and Ken Hayes of Aqua Survey Inc. are three of the nine speakers who will address the March 24 Mid-Atlantic Contaminated Sediment/Soils Symposium. To be held at the Liberty Harbor Restaurant in Jersey City, New Jersey, the symposium will address programs, sediment assessments and cost-effective remediation strategies. Speakers will conclude with a short list of do’s and don’ts. The symposium is sponsored by Aqua Survey Inc., and is free, but pre-registration is required. Contact Don Nazario, Nazario@aquasurvey.com; www.aquasurvey.com to sign up.
February 8, 2010 - Comittee Selects 37 Papers for Annual Meeting
	The Western Dredging Association (WEDA) Technical Paper Committee has chosen 37 papers to be presented at the group’s annual meeting, to be held June 6 – 9 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The first day of the event comprises the Texas A&M Dredging Seminar. Registration and hotel information is on the WEDA Web site: www.westerndredging.org
January 27, 2010 - Midwest Chapter to Meet April 14 - 16
	The WEDA Midwest Chapter will hold its annual meeting on April 14 through 16 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, Chicago, Illinois. The event begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14 with registration, and continues through noon on Friday, April 16. The field trip is an architectural boat tour of Chicago. Technical papers on the theme “The Importance of Dredging to the Environment and the Economy” can be submitted to George Berken, secretary/treasurer at 920-225-6141, email: George.Berken@Boldt.Com Companies interested in sponsoring this event, should contact Tim Briggs, president, at 312-492-6593; email: tbriggs@wrscompass.com. Chapter vice president is Kevin Slattery, phone: 314- 865-6311; email: Kevin.P.Slattery@usace.army.mil. Contact any of the officers for more information. The hotel is at 301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL 60611; reservations phone: 800-325-3535; www.starwoodhotels.com/chicago
January 25, 2010 - NWC Legislative Summit Planned for March 9 and 10
	The National Waterways Conference (NWC) will hold its annual Legislative Summit on March 9 and 10 at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington D.C., two blocks from the Capitol Building. A notice from the NWC states “As the Congress convenes for the Second Session of the 111th Congress, 2010 promises to be a challenging year as we seek to ensure a reasonable and balanced approach to the multitude of significant issues facing the water resources industry. The legislative and policy changes currently under consideration by the Administration and the Congress are unprecedented in their scope and effect. At the forefront is likely to be a Water Resources Development Act. Other initiatives include the proposed sweeping changes to the Principles and Guidelines issued by the Council on Environmental Quality, a Clean Water Restoration Act, a draft Sustainable Watershed Planning Act, additional restrictions on floodplain management, and the need to find a long-term mechanism to fund the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.” Congressional and executive branch officials and waterways industry leaders will be present to discuss policy and program expectations for the coming year. Contact the organization at www.waterways.org
January 22, 2010 - RAMP Plans Maritime Industry Sail-In on May 13
	RAMP (Realize America’s Maritime Promise) members, including Maritime Organizations and Associations in the Washington, D.C. area, have planned an advocacy day on May 13. The purpose of the “Maritime Industry Sail-In” on the Capitol Hill is to increase Congressional awareness of the importance of America's maritime industry to the economic and national security of the United States, and to generate support for the programs and policies important to the survival and growth of the United States-flag merchant marine and to the jobs of American merchant mariners and America's maritime workforce, according to a letter from Barry Holliday. The event’s Web site http://maritimeindustrysailin.com contains complete information on the event.
January 22, 2010 - Crowley Establishing Unloading Capability at Port-au-Prince
	News from Crowley Maritime, Jacksonville, Florida: On Wednesday, January 20, Crowley Maritime Corporation, working under contract with the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), unloaded Haiti relief cargo in Rio Haina, Dominican Republic. Fifty six of the 68 20-foot containers of water and meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) were trucked across the border into Haiti. The remaining 12 loads aboard the container ship Marcajama were transported by water to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They will be offloaded in an experimental lightering operation and delivered across a beach today (Friday, January 22.) If this method is successful, future shipments could be made directly to Port-au-Prince. The Crowley plan calls for the Marcajama to anchor offshore near the port's damaged south pier and near the exposed beach. Using a shipboard crane on the Marcajama, the 12 remaining containers would be lowered onto a smaller vessel operated by G and G Shipping and delivered across the beach on wheels. A team from Crowley's TITAN Salvage subsidiary surveyed the port area Monday and determined that such an operation was possible. They also determined that it would be possible to establish a temporary docking structure on the beach using a Crowley 400-foot-long by 100-foot-wide flat deck barge. Crowley is mobilizing such a barge (the 410) and a crane from Orange, Texas that could be used for cargo discharge, and plans to have both on the scene in Port-au-Prince on or about Feb. 2.
January 15, 2010 - CSA Says Port-au-Prince Cargo Piers Still Down
	The Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) responded to IDR's request for information with the following email: "The CSA only knows that Terminal Varreux lost most of the general cargo piers #3 and #4. The North pier of the PAP public pier, the only pier authorized by the national port authority since 2007 to receive containers in Pap, at present cannot receive containers."
January 15, 2010 - U.S. Marines Deploy to Haiti
	The Camp Lejeune, North Carolina-based 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) has deployed to Haiti to assist in disaster relief efforts in the wake of an earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation January 12. The 22nd MEU embarked aboard the amphibious ships USS Bataan, Fort McHenry and Carter Hall, and consists of its Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461; and its Command Element. The MEU is composed of approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors, and recently returned from a seven-month deployment to U.S. European and Central Commands.
January 14, 2010 - Haitian Seaport Severely Damaged
	The aftermath of the January 12 earthquake: Initial U.S. Coast Guard reports from the on-scene assessments of the port in Port-au-Prince indicate the port has been severely damaged by the earthquake. The reports also stated that five cranes at the port were either damaged, unstable or submerged as a result of the earthquake and the waters outside the port are covered with debris, garbage and containers. There can be no containers unloaded at the port, and ships delivering breakbulk and other non-containerized cargo will have to use shipboard cranes to unload. There are also unknown navigation hazards in the port and entrance channel. The Coast Guard has also reported multiple oil and fuel spills, sewage spills, and multiple fires along the shoreline. The Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) reported that a dockworker reported to them by Blackberry: “Terminal Varreux lost most of the general cargo piers #3 and #4. At the time of the quake we were unloading a vessel, we lost approx. 30 dock workers who drowned. The situation is disastrous for the entire country. The days and weeks will be challenging. We appreciate your support,” (signed) Richard Lebrun, Terminal Varreux (Port-au-Prince) Carlos Urriola, president of the CSA, said "The CSA stands with you in this hour of disaster and pledges to do all in its power to assist the recovery and rebuilding process. In this situation, you are not alone."
January 12, 2010 - Coast Guard Establishes Two-Mile Safety Zone at Morehead City
	The Coast Guard is working with local and state agencies in Morehead City, North Carolina in response to a hazardous material release in the state port terminal during offload today. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Capt. June Ryan, has established a two-nautical-mile temporary safety zone around the state port until the situation is safely resolved.
January 11, 2010 - Papers Sought for European Hydro Conference
	A call for papers is in effect for the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies’ 18th biennial European hydrographic conference, to be held November 2 through 5 in Warnemunde in northern Germany. The deadline to receive abstracts is March 31. Scheduled topics include Hydrographic Surveys, Geophysics, Survey Platforms & Positioning, Coastal Mapping, Electronic Charting, Tides and Currents, Data Management, Marine Renewables, Education and Standards. English-language abstracts of no more than 300 words for presentations on any of these or related issues can be submitted no later than March 31. With the abstract, include the title of the proposed paper; author’s name and contact information, including title, employer, address, telephone and email; and identification of primary author and intended presenter. Submit abstracts via email: paper@hydro2010.com, or fax: +49 381 44079 299. The conference web site is www.hydro2010.com
January 7, 2010 - Three Dead at St. Louis ABB Plant
	A shooting at an ABB plant in St. Louis, Missouri on Thursday, January 7 has left three people dead, including the shooter – said to be a disgruntled former employee. ABB supplies the dredging and marine industries, among other industries, with electric propulsion and automation systems. The company’s transformers are manufactured at the St. Louis plant. ABB is headquartered in Switzerland and has dozens of facilities in the United States, as well as throughout the world.
January 7, 2010 - Final Dry Excavation Contract Awarded by ACP
	The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has awarded the fourth and final dry excavation (PAC-4) contract to FCC-ICA-Meco, to help create an access channel linking the new Pacific locks with the Canal’s existing Gaillard Cut - the narrowest stretch of the Panama Canal. The contracting process began July 31, 2009 when the ACP released its request for proposals (RFP) for the excavation project. On December 22, 2009, the ACP received four bids for the contract. Following a comprehensive review, the ACP determined that the lowest bidder, FCC-ICA-Meco – a Spanish, Mexican and Costa Rican joint venture, met the requirements of the RFP, and awarded the contract to this consortium. The bids were: Odebrecht: $379,803,132.13 Jan de Nul - Chec: $359,102,231.18 FCC-ICA-Meco: $267,798,795.99 ISC Panamá: $294,913,000.00
January 5, 2010 - Agg1 Show Planner Now Online
	Aggregate industry professionals can go online to access all the information they need to register for and participate in the upcoming AGG1 Aggregates Forum & Expo and World of Asphalt Show and Conference. The show web sites feature an interactive My Show Planner to help attendees organize their itinerary ahead of time. Sites are: www.worldofasphalt.com or www.agg1.org The joint conferences will be held February 15-18, 2010 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Agg1 Academy will include a number of educational sessions on dredging issues, as well as general topics of interest to all aggregate producers.
January 5, 2010 - Teledesign Delivers Radio Modems to Seattle District
	Teledesign Systems, Inc. has delivered 20 of their new model TS4000 radio modems to the Seattle District, Corps of Engineers for use in dredge positioning and navigation. The transmitter/receiver units will be installed along with GPS receivers at known points along navigation channels in the district, and will transmit position corrections to receivers on dredges and survey boats for centimeter accuracy. The company’s AirNet packet protocol allows one unit to transmit to receivers on a number of dredges and survey boats.
December 28, 2009 - R.S. Weeks to Dredge In Southwest Pass
	Weeks Marine’s 30-inch, 11,000 horsepower cutterhead dredge R.S. Weeks will begin a maintenance contract in Louisiana’s Southwest Pass on January 10. On December 21, Weeks Marine was awarded the $7,908,571 contract for maintenance dredging in the Lower Mississippi River from Mile 5 Above Head of Passes to mile 19.5 Below Head of Passes.
December 17, 2009 - CORRECTION: Panama Conference Dates
	The Panama Chapter of the Western Dredging Association will meet on April 25 through 28. Please cut and paste this link for detailed information: http://westerndredging.org/upcoming.php#weda_panama Look for further information in our News and Updates and also in our Features section.
December 15, 2009 - Wilber Rodriguez Dies
	It is with great sorrow that we report that Wilbur Rodriguez died this morning – December 15, 2009. He was a partner with Thomas B. Wetta in Kenner Marine and Machinery, and later connected with Dredging Supply Company, remaining active until his death. He was born on November 13, 1929. His funeral will be on Saturday December 19th at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 13396 River Road, Destrehan, Louisiana. Viewing is from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. and he will rest at the St. Charles Borromeo Mausoleum. Robert Wetta, president of Dredging Supply Company, said: “Today marks a sad day for the DSC family with the passing of Wilber Rodriguez. Please pray for Mrs. Loretta and Alicia for their strength and understanding during this difficult time. Let us rejoice as we remember Wilber and his character; a caring man, a gentle man, spreader of happiness, dedicated to his family, dedicated to his work and a man that put everyone else's feelings and needs ahead of his own. “Everyone that Wilber touched has their own special memories of him and I am confident to say that your memory included a smile, a laugh, probably a joke that you would later tell to someone else. His joy was infectious to those that knew him. “Let Wilber now rest in PEACE and continue spreading his special joy to the Heavens. “Interestingly enough – today is the anniversary of my Dad’s (Thomas B. Wetta’s) death. Not sure if it was coincidence or not. Many people think my Dad and Wilber are already planning about what dredge they will buy next. Two good friends reunited.”
December 14, 2009 - Taylor Announces Jupiter Inlet Sand Trap Contract
	Taylor Engineering has advertised a contract to dredge a sand trap at Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County, Florida. Bids will be received until 2 p.m., Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Work may not commence until March 1, and completion is by April 30, 2010. Dredging quantity is 30,000 to 45,000 cubic yards. Bid documents can be downloaded from: http://www.taylorengineering.com/dlforms/JupiterSandTrap.html; Documents can be viewed at: Jupiter Inlet District Taylor Engineering, Inc.; 400 North Delaware Blvd.; 10151 Deerwood Park Blvd. Bldg. 300 Suite 300; Jupiter, Florida 33458 Jacksonville, Florida 32256; Phone: 561-746-2223 or 904-731-7040.
December 14, 2009 - WEDA Panama Chapter Issues Call for Papers
	The Western Dredging Association (WEDA) Panama Chapter has issued a call for papers for its annual meeting to be held April 26 through 28, 2010, at the Hotel El Panama Convention Center in Panama. The theme of the conference is “Dredging and the Panama Canal Expansion – An Update”, and will focus on dredging and environmental issues associated with dredging projects in Panama. Abstracts can be submitted to Carlos A. Reyes R., email: OPDV-OF1@pancanal.com; Dr. Ram Mohan, email: rmohan@anchorqea.com; or Dr. Robert E. Randall, email: r-randall@tamu.edu
December 4, 2009 - Ritchie Bros. To Acquire Martella Auction Company
	Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated (NYSE and TSX: RBA) has announced an agreement to acquire the auction business and certain assets of Martella Auction Company, Inc., a Tipton, California-based auctioneer of agricultural and industrial equipment. Ritchie Bros. also intends to enter into an agreement to lease the roughly 65-acre Martella auction site. The acquisition is intended to expand and strengthen Ritchie Bros.' presence in the used agricultural and industrial equipment markets in California, and establishes an additional auction site in a proven auction market. Jeremy Martella, principal owner and operator, will join the Ritchie Bros. team as the Area Manager of this new auction site effective upon closing.
December 3, 2009 - AGC Predicts Drop in Federal Highway and Transit Funding
	Nearly 20 Percent Decline in Construction Spending Will Cost Over 430,000 Jobs Next Year for Hard Hit Construction Industry and Other Fields, Contractors Predict Federal investments in highways and transit systems are expected to decline by over $15 billion in 2010 compared to this year according to analysis of transportation spending trends conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The estimated 19.3 percent drop in federal formula and stimulus funding for transportation projects next year is likely to force more than 430,000 layoffs throughout the economy, the association predicted. “Boosting transportation investments will keep thousands of construction workers employed at a time when our economy can scarcely afford more layoffs,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, aGC chief executive officer, noting that the construction unemployment rate is already at 18.7 percent. “The success of the stimulus in saving countless construction jobs will have been in vain if its sequel is underinvestment in our roads, bridges and transit systems,” he said.
December 3, 2009 - Contractors Launch Ad Campaign Calling for Funding
	U.S. contractors have launched a multi-media ad campaign addressing President Obama's national Jobs Summit today (Thursday, December 3). The 28 national associations and labor groups of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) are launching the campaign calling on Congress and the Administration to create thousands of long-term, sustainable American jobs by passing a new six-year highway/transit authorization bill. The existing investment law - the Safe, Accountable, Flexible Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users SAFETEA-LU) - expired on September 30. The TCC will run 60-second radio ads during morning “drive time” on news talk station WTOP in Washington, D.C., highlighting that construction industry unemployment is twice the national average. A companion Internet ad is being produced for online placement. “Transportation investment creates jobs, gets America moving again and helps lay the road to economic recovery. Tell Congress to pass the six year highway and transit program bill NOW,” the ads proclaim. A “Jobs Check List” print ad is also running today on the The Washington Post Federal Page. Over the past few weeks, the ad, which was also developed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Public Transportation Association, has been appearing in widely-read Capitol Hill publications such as Roll Call, National Journal, Congress Daily, Congressional Quarterly and Politico. The transportation design and construction industry has been hard hit by the recession. While the economic stimulus law likely saved thousands of construction-related jobs in 2009, it was not enough to prevent wide-spread lay-offs among road and transit construction business. The outlook for next year is bleak, too, absent congressional action. According to a recent nationwide survey of more than 500 highway and transit contractors, 44 percent anticipate having to lay off additional permanent employees in 2010 because of overall economic conditions. Aggregate producers, many of whose major market is highway construction, have been gravely affected by the lack of highway construction funding. The TCC ads can be found at: www.transportationconstructioncoalition.org
December 2, 2009 - Markel Ventures Acquires Ellicott Dredges
	On the eve of the 125th anniversary of its founding in 1885, Ellicott Dredge Enterprises, LLC, announced today that Markel Ventures, a subsidiary of Markel Corporation, has acquired a majority interest in the Ellicott. Terms were not disclosed. Markel Ventures is based in Richmond, Virginia, and is pursuing an investment strategy of buying controlling interests in companies with leading market positions and strong management teams and holding those interests for the long term. "This is an excellent fit for us at Ellicott," said Peter Bowe, president of Ellicott, which serves clients in dozens of countries around the world. "We intend to continue our growth both organically and through acquisitions, as we have in the past. Markel will be a good long-term partner in our infrastructure-oriented businesses." As part of the transaction, BB&T Bank extended an expanded working capital line to Ellicott, which has no debt on its balance sheet.
November 16, 2009 - Port of Houston Commissioners Consider Funding for Dredging
	At their meeting on Tuesday, November 17, the commissioners of the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) will consider authorizing up to $20.1 million for the port authority's share of the 2010 costs for construction and rehabilitation of dredged material disposal and beneficial use sites for the Houston Ship Channel. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the boardroom of the PHA Executive Building,111 East Loop North (Exit 29 off Loop 610) in Houston. Chairman Jim Edmonds will preside, with Commissioners Steve Phelps, Jim Fonteno, Kase Lawal, Jimmy Burke, Janiece Longoria, and Elyse Lanier attending. The commissioners will also consider matters involving the purchase of deregulated electricity, group employee insurance, delinquent taxes and continued participation in the innovative Clean and Green Port of Houston program.
November 16, 2009 - Van Oord to Dredge in Suape, Brazil
	On November 11, Van Oord received a dredging contract in Suape Harbor, Brazil. The client is Suape Complexo Industrial Portuario Governador Eraldo Gueiros, port operator and public institution of the state of Pernambuco, and the contract is worth EUR 35 million. The project will start in mid-December 2009 and take six months to complete.
November 15, 2009 - Marine Beacons Rushed to Gulf Coast
	Less than 24 hours after Hurricane Ida reached the coast of Louisiana, trucks were leaving Tideland Signal’s factory loaded with solar powered marine beacons and fog signals needed to mark the Gulf Coast’s vital offshore oil wells. Emergency spares, sent to replace existing equipment damaged during the hurricane, arrived at coastal staging areas ready for immediate deployment well before the coastal helicopter and workboat fleets were set to depart offshore. Tideland Signal factories in Texas and Louisiana are working round the clock to ensure additional equipment is ready for immediate delivery as the crews start to learn the real effect of Hurricane Ida.
November 12, 2009 - Boskalis, Smit Agree to Merge
	Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. and Smit Internationale N.V. have reached an agreement in principle on a full merger of the two companies, whereby all the activities of Smit will be continued in the combined company, referred to as the group. The two companies intend to reach a transaction through a public offer of EUR 60 in cash by Boskalis for all outstanding shares in Smit. The business combination will create a maritime service provider offering an excellent platform for further growth. Boskalis and Smit have agreed that the existing business plans will serve as the basis for the further expansion of the group, and that further growth and development of all ongoing activities will be supported. Smit’s activities will be continued under the Smit name, operating out of the existing head office in Rotterdam. The terminals activities of Smit and Boskalis's associate Lamnalco will be integrated, creating a global leader in the maritime oil and gas terminal arena. Activities of the group, including harbor towage, will create synergies in the area of exchanges, procurement and crewing of vessels.
November 2, 2009 - CARIS Seeks Papers for March User Conference
	Deadline for submission of abstracts for "CARIS 2010: Stronger Together – People, Products, Infrastructure" is November 23, 2009. The five-day event will be held from March 22 through 25, 2010 in Miami, Florida. The program will focus on the innovation and integration of geospatial technologies in the areas of hydrographic survey, ports and waterways, chart production and web mapping. Abstracts can be submitted online at http://www.caris.com/caris2010. More information on the event can be found on the same web site.
October 29, 2009 - Waterway Closure Announced
	Due to the scheduled replacement of the swing span of the Ben Sawyer Bridge, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) will be closed to marine traffic from Monday, November 30, 2009 at 12:00 A.M. to Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 11:59 P.M. The Ben Sawyer Bridge is a swing span bridge that connects the South Carolina towns of Sullivan’s Island and Mount Pleasant over the Intracoastal Waterway A safety zone will be enforced around the Ben Sawyer Bridge during the entire 10 day closure. The safety zone will encompass the entire waterway from 180 yards northwest of the bridge, and 220 yards southwest of the bridge. No one may enter the safety zone without prior authorization from the captain of the Port Charleston or his designated representative. Mariners are encouraged to listen to the broadcast notice to mariners for updates on VHF Ch 16. CG Sector Charleston will broadcast the closure, as well as the implementation and rescission of the corresponding safety zone for the bridge. Updates to the schedule are dependent on weather and will be made to this MSIB, as necessary. For questions regarding the bridge construction call Julie Hussey with PCL at (843) 224-1096 or Kim Partenheimer with PB Americas at (843) 972-1775. For Coast Guard issues, please contact the Coast Guard’s 24 hour Command Center Line at (843) 740-7050.
October 29, 2009 - Weeks Receives $62 million Louisiana Contract
	Weeks Marine, Inc., Covington, Louisiana, was awarded on Oct. 26, 2009 a $61,810,000 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging approximately 6.8 miles of navigation channel and the design and construction of five new dredged material placement areas, including the proposed Shoal Point Pas 2,3,4, and 5, and the Pelican Island placement area. In additional work will include levee repair and rehabilitation, levee raising and shore protection for upland Pas 5 and 6. The levee repairs consist of restoring the levees to conditions prior to Hurricane Ike. Levee improvement includes levee raising and shore protection. Work is to be performed in Galveston County, Texas, with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2011. Three bids were solicited with three bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-10-C-0004).
October 26, 2009 - Texas A&M On Top 20 Research List
	The National Science Foundation has named Texas A&M University as the only new member of the NSF’s annual list of the Top 20 Academic Research Performers in the United States. Texas A&M joins an elite list including such standouts as the Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State, Penn State, Duke University, Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – and is the only Texas institution to rank in the NSF’s Top 20 for 2009. Each year, the NSF surveys 690 U.S. institutions and ranks them according to their research and development expenditures in science and engineering. For 2008, Texas A&M’s research expenditures increased by 6.99 percent to $582 million. This pushed Texas A&M up two places on the 2009 NSF list from No. 22 to No. 20, displacing Washington University of St. Louis, Missouri, which had been a member of the NSF Top 20 since 1999.
October 26, 2009 - Maritime Group Raises $15,000 for Veterans
	The community of American maritime carriers and operating unions in Washington, DC has raised $15,000 to help build specially adapted homes for American veterans with serious disabilities and injuries. These funds will be donated to Homes for Our Troops, a non-profit charitable organization based in Taunton, Massachusetts. Half of these contributions are corporate donations from Matson, American Roll-on Roll-off Carriers, Maersk, APL, K&L Gates, Horizon Lines, and the American Waterways Operators. The other half is from individuals who represent maritime interests in the Nation’s Capital in various capacities. Homes for Our Troops was founded in 2004 by John Gonsalves, a construction supervisor in Massachusetts, who saw a news report of a severely injured service member who had returned from Iraq. He searched for an organization where he could donate his building expertise for a few weeks to help these individuals. When he found none, he quit his job and started Homes for Our Troops.
October 22, 2009 - Great Lakes to Announce Third Quarter Results
	Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (NASDAQ: GLDD) will release its financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 7:00 a.m. C.S.T. A conference call will be held the same day at 10:00 a.m. C.S.T. The call in number is 866-202-1971 and pass code is 40845286. The call can also be heard on the company’s Web site, www.gldd.com under Events and Presentations on the investor relations page. Information related to the conference call will also be available on the investor relations page of the site. The conference call will be available by replay for two weeks, by calling 888-286-8010 and providing pass code 79108006. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, and has significant international operations, averaging 30 percent of the company’s dredging revenue over the past three years.
October 21, 2009 - Beneficial Use Summit Planned In New Orleans
	The New Orleans District and state of Louisiana are cosponsoring a Dredged Material Beneficial Use Summit on November 16th and 17th at the Westin Hotel in New Orleans. Registration information and a draft agenda are available at http://www.bus.dqsi.com. Please note that the summit and hotel registration deadlines are October 30. This summit will address how beneficial use of dredged material may be maximized through policy changes, best practices, additional funding, and advanced technologies.
October 20, 2009 - Reminder: Gulf Coast Chapter Meeting Coming Up
	The Gulf Coast Chapter of the Western Dredging Association is conducting its annual meeting with the Corps of Engineers/Industry on November 17 and 18,2009 at the Westin Hotel, New Orleans. The event will include a visit to Dredging Supply Company on Tuesday, November 18 to view dredge construction in progress. The Westin Hotel is at 100 Rue Iberville, New Orleans LA, 70130. Schedule begins on Tuesday, November 17th, with a reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Westin. On Wednesday at 8 a.m.: 2010 dredging schedule presentations by the Mississippi River Division and Gulf Coast Districts. http://www.westerndredging.org/upcoming.php#weda_gulf for registration information.
October 15, 2009 - AGC, Clean Air Group Call for Emission Reduction Help
	“If the federal transportation program can connect a continent and unite a people, there’s no reason it can’t help protect our environment,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, as the AGC and the Clean Air Task Force called on Congress to require use of clean construction equipment at federally-funded transportation projects. The two groups called for required reductions via contract change orders that cover 100 percent of the cost for contractors for retrofitting equipment, following the award of a project to the lowest bidder.
October 1, 2009 - ACP Extends Cost Reduction Program
	The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced on October 1 that it will continue until April 30, 2010 a program that provides short-term cost reduction and greater flexibility to its Reservation System. The program, which consists of temporary measures designed to help mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on the Canal’s clients, was the result of consultations with customers and was initially introduced June 1, 2009 for four months ending September 30. Upon request of its customers and the Round Table of International Shipping Associations, the ACP has agreed to extend the program.
October 1, 2009 - B.C. Mining Equipment to be Auctioned
	Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will conduct a multi-million dollar unreserved public equipment auction at its permanent auction site in Prince George, British Columbia, on Thursday, October 8, 2009. Close to 1000 mining, construction, logging, agricultural, and transportation equipment items from almost 100 owners will be sold to the highest bidders on auction day, with no minimum bids or reserve prices. More than 120 of the equipment items featured in the auction are being sold for Galore Creek Mining Corp., a copper-gold mine development located in northwest B.C. Specialized mining equipment being sold includes an unused 2007 Tamrock Axera T08-290 4X4 rock drill, two 2007 Tamrock Ranger 700RP crawler rock drills and one 2007 Tamrock Ranger 800RP crawler rock drill. In addition, the company will be selling unused 2007 Cummins industrial-sized power generators and a selection of late model Volvo articulated dump trucks.
September 30, 2009 - L.A. Harbor Commissioners Approve 400-Acre Waterfront Project
	The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners early this morning unanimously approved the San Pedro Waterfront Project. The 400-acre waterfront infrastructure and revitalization initiative will extend from the Port’s inner harbor cruise facilities to Cabrillo Beach in the outer harbor and create a world-class waterfront for the nation’s largest container port. The project, expected to take a decade or more to complete, will include the expansion of cruise ship operations, including a new outer harbor terminal that will accommodate the largest ships that will call at the Port in the coming decades.
September 29, 2009 - Jan De Nul Wins Panama Canal Entrance Contract
	On September 28, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that Jan De Nul n.v. has been awarded the contract to dredge the Canal’s Atlantic entrance. Jan De Nul’s bid was $89, 617,317. The tender included an option to dredge an additional 2.3 million cubic meters. The ACP has 45 days to decide if it exercises the option. Jan De Nul’s bid on the option was $16,411,600. Other bidders were: China Harbour Engineering Co. - $116,732,224; Van Oord Dredging - $162,182,828; Boskalis-Dredging International Joint Venture - $177,611,840; Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. - $195,943,129.
September 28, 2009 - Orion Subsidiary Receives Bridge Contract
	Orion Marine Group’s wholly owned subsidiary, F. Miller Construction, LLC. has received a $27 million contract for a portion of new Caminada Bay Bridge near Grand Isle, Louisiana. Working through a line-item joint venture with Johnson Bros., F. Miller Construction will perform substructure work for a new high level fixed span bridge with pre-stressed concrete and cast-in-place concrete. F. Miller Construction will be responsible for constructing the bridge pilings, footings, columns, caps and beam setting. Onsite construction of the project is expected to begin during the fourth quarter of this year and last approximately 28 months.
September 28, 2009 - Boskalis Gets €45 million Contract In Freemantle
	Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. has been awarded the contract from Fremantle (Australia) Ports for the deepening of the port of Fremantle Inner Harbor in Western Australia. The contract value is approximately €45 million and the work is scheduled to be executed in the first half of 2010. The project requires the deepening of both the port basin and the access channel. A total of three million cubic meters of sand and rock will be dredged and the project will be executed with a large hopper and a cutter suction dredge.
September 28, 2009 - Weda Gulf Chapter to Meet in November
	KC Clark, president of the WEDA* Gulf Chapter has announced that the chapter will meet at the Westin Hotel in New Orleans on November 17 and 18. On Tuesday, November 17, the group will visit a dredging site and also the Dredging Supply Company facility. The Westin Hotel is at 100 Rue Iberville, New Orleans, Louisiana, phone 888-627-8180. Vendor table top displays are available for $200. Contact KC Clark, Gulf Coast Chapter president at 504-862-1935 for conference registration. *Western Dredging Association.
September 18, 2009 - Corps Awards Contract for New Hopper Dredge
	The Corps of Engineers has awarded Conrad Industries, Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets: CNRD.PK) a contract to design and build a shallow draft hopper dredge. The $13.1 million contract is for a 156-foot, self-propelled, shallow draft, split hull hopper dredge for the Wilmington District, to work in coastal inlets from Florida to Maine. The dredge will be built in the Conrad Industries shipyard in Morgan City, Louisiana, with delivery planned for the second quarter of 2011.
September 17, 2009 - Rikke van Berk Joins VOSTA LMG
	Rikke van Berk took office as Director of Technology at VOSTA LMG on August 3. Prior to joining the company, van Berk worked for dredging-industry-related companies for the past 25 years, including Van Oord, Damen Shipyards Group and IHC Holland. He will be headquartered in Amsterdam and responsible for the worldwide technical division. “I’m happy to join VOSTA LMG, as the business concept of cooperation with competent yards worldwide offers unique benefits to our dredge operators,” said van Berk.
September 17, 2009 - Great Lakes Receives Arthur Kill Maintenance Contract
	On Sept. 15, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company was awarded a $6,875,140 contract for maintenance dredging in the Fresh Kill Reach of the Arthur Kill, New York and New Jersey Channels Federal Navigation Project. Estimated estimated completion date is April 10, 2010. The contract was awarded by the New York District, Corps of Engineers.
September 16, 2009 - ACP Receives Bids for Atlantic Entrance Dredging
	On September 10, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) received bids on dredging the Canal’s Atlantic entrance. The project includes dredging approximately 14.8 million cubic meters (app. 19 million cubic yards) of material to increase the depth to 15.5 meters (50.8 feet). The work also includes widening the channel from 198 meters (650 feet) to a minimum of 225 meters (738 feet), and the north approach channel to 218 meters (715 feet). The ACP will review the bids and award the contract to the lowest bidder that complies with all contract requirements.
September 9, 2009 - Jan de Nul Launches Hopper Dredge Liev Eiriksson
	On September 4, Jan de Nul launched the mega-hopper dredge Liev Eiriksson at Construcciones Navales del Norte shipyard in Sestao, Spain. The dredge, with a hopper capacity of 46,000 cubic meters, (60,168 cubic yards) is the sister ship of the Cristóbal Colón. The Liev Eiriksson is equipped with two 1300mm-diameter (51-inch) suction pipes with electrically-driven underwater dredge pumps of 6500 kW each. Annita Boel, wife of Géry Vandewalle, Jan de Nul director, performed the christening with a bottle of red wine, which is customary in Northern Spain.
September 8, 2009 - Docks and Marinas 2009 Planned for October 5 - 7
	The University of Wisconsin Madison will hold “Docks and Marinas 2009” on October 5 - 7. This is "a fast-paced, practical course focused on customers (boaters), owners and the public who relish visual and physical access to the water." Topics include planning and design, coastal engineering, environmental impacts, fires, maintaining dockage and more. Contact Prof. C. Allen Wortley, P.E., 800-462-0876; wortley@engr.wisc.edu; http://epd.engr.wisc.edu/webK852
September 8, 2009 - TAMU Dredging Short Course Planned for January
	The 39th Dredging Engineering Short Course is planned for Monday, January 11 through Friday, January 15, 2010 at the Texas A&M Center for Dredging Studies. The course covers a wide range of topics, including fluid mechanics, dredging equipment, dredged material disposal, capping, and much more. Applications must be received by December 1. Contact Dr. Robert Randall, phone 979-845-4568; email r-randall@tamu.edu; web: http://oceaneng.civil.tamu.edu
September 8, 2009 - US Navy Will Deepen Norfolk Channel
	On September 8, the U.S. Navy announced its decision to deepen approximately five miles of the Norfolk Harbor Channel in the Elizabeth River. This action will allow the continuous safe travel of aircraft carriers to and from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and the Lamberts Point Deperming Station. Dredging this heavily-used waterway, which is the federal navigation channel within the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake, would occur from the Lamberts Point Deperming Station in the Lamberts Bend Reach, south to NNSY in the Lower Reach. Dredging would occur completely within the existing Army Corps of Engineers-maintained federal navigation channel. The action is necessary because there is not enough space between the keel of transiting aircraft carriers and the bottom of the channel. This causes mud and other debris from the river bottom to be drawn into the engine cooling and firefighting systems, creating the potential for engine damage, costly delays, and unsafe conditions.
September 8, 2009 - Brittan Industries Wins Florida Disposal Area Contract
	Brittan Industries of Caliente,California has won a contract to build an upland disposal area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on the Intracoastal Waterway, Jacksonville to Miami Dredge Material Management Area MSA 641 for Palm Beach Reach 4. The contract, awarded on September 4, consists of $1,281,777 in Recovery funds and , $20,487 in non-Recovery funds.
September 4, 2009 - Administration Creates Gulf Coast Working Group
	The Obama Administration has created the Gulf Coast Interagency Working Group, which will focus on the restoration and protection of coastal ecosystems and communities on the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts. The working group will serve as a pilot program for addressing the effects of climate change on coastal regions, and will enable federal agencies in the Gulf Coast region to come together and develop a strategy to increase resiliency in the area. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the coordinating agency for the group, and representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, FEMA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Agriculture will be included.
September 4, 2009 - Ellicott Receives $1.75 million Grant from Marad
	Ellicott Dredges LLC has won a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to finance expansion of their manufacturing facilities in Maryland and Wisconsin. The grant is for $1.75 million. Ellicott's project, entitled "Efficient Dredge Building," will create and retain more than 20 jobs, increase the company’s crane capacity and modernize its machining capabilities. It will also help pay for modern welding equipment and state-of-the-art IT systems for manufacturing and engineering. Ellicott is among 70 successful award winners out of almost 500 applicants under a MARAD program to promote productivity at leading U.S. shipyards. Ellicott was the only dredge supplier to receive a MARAD award.
September 2, 2009 - Reson to Hold Multibeam User Conference in October
	Reson is planning a user conference on October 15 and 16 to train users of their SeaBat 7101, 7125 and 7128 multibeam sonar systems, and also their PDS2000 software. The sessions will be at the JW Marriott in Houston, Texas, with on-water demonstrations on Lake Conroe. Additional demonstrations can be scheduled for October 17. Contact Alan Coles, alan.coles@reson.com, phone: 805-698-5628. Attendance is limited and registration is on a first come/first served basis.
September 2, 2009 - Ship Hits Dredge Near Haldia Port
	At 3 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, the bulk carrier MV City rammed Dredging Corporation of India’s Dredge 16 in Jellingham, near India’s Haldia Port. A report in the Times of India said that both vessels sustained extensive damage, but that there were no casualties. The Dredge 16 was performing maintenance dredging near the port complex.
September 2, 2009 - Corps Urges Boaters to Guard Against Zebra Mussels
	The Corps of Engineers is seeking the public’s cooperation in keeping Zebra mussels out of New Mexico lakes and other U.S. lakes. There are no known Zebra mussels in New Mexico lakes at this time, but more than half the U.S. states are infested with them, said Bruce Hill, of the Corps Albuquerque District. Boat owners should clean, drain and dry out their boats each weekend, and participate in boat inspections to avoid spreading the mussels, which can attach to anything that is submersed in fresh water ponds or lakes, and spread by “hitchhiking” on boats that travel from one body of water to the next. One mussel can produce as many as one million mussels in a year, and the infestation is costing the U.S. more than $1 billion each year in associated damages and costs to control their spreading.
September 1, 2009 - NSSGA Webinar Will Address Clean Water Legislation
	The National Stone Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) will hold a Webinar on Wednesday, September 9 at 11 a.m. to discuss the aggregate industry’s concerns about the Clean Water Restoration Act, which removes the term “navigable” from the Clean Water Act and replaces it with a list of features to describe “waters of the United States.” Affected industries argue that this would expand federal jurisdiction to ditches and seasonal mud puddles, requiring permits to work in those water bodies, with prohibitive cost increases. The webinar will provide participants with a background of the issue, a detailed overview of the legislation and how it may impact the aggregate industry and its customers. Cost is $50 for NSSGA members and $100 for non-members. Cut and paste this address to register: http://capwiz.com/nssga/utr/1/DWNWLENALI/LLUMLENFHW/3870718056
August 31, 2009 - Tuesday Is Last Day for WEDA Eastern Chapter Discount Rate
	Tuesday, September 1 is the last day to get the early registration price for the Western Dredging Association Eastern Chapter meeting. Early registration is $175; after September 1 it goes up to $200. The meeting is on October 13 through 15 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel Towers, Boston Massachusetts (phone 1-800-225-2008 or 617-426-2000). Special WEDA Eastern Chapter group hotel rate is $256, available for reservations made by September 11. Contact Jeff McGee at Jeffrey.a.mckee@usace.army.mil for conference registration.
August 31, 2009 - WEDA Gulf Chapter Dates Set for November 17 and 18
	The WEDA Gulf Chapter will meet on Tuesday, November 17 and Wednesday, November 18 at the Westin New Orleans Canal Place, 100 Rue Iberville, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. The hotel phone number is 504-566-7006, or 888-627-8180. A tentative plan is for a dredge construction site visit on November 17 from 12 to 4 p.m. The opening ice breaker is 6:30 to 8:30 Tuesday evening. The technical program and meeting will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18. More information on this meeting will be available in the near future.
August 31, 2009 - WEDA Pacific Chapter to Meet November 4 - 6 in San Diego
	The WEDA Pacific Chapter will meet on Wednesday, November 4 through Friday, November 6 at the Embassy Suites San Diego Bay (619-239-2400 or 1-800-362-2779). Paper abstracts were due on July 31. Plans include a Corps/Industry meeting on Wednesday afternoon, ice breaker Wednesday evening; technical sessions Thursday morning, tall ship tour Wednesday afternoon, and technical presentations on Friday morning with adjournment by noon. Special hotel rate of $195/night Is available when booked prior to October 5. Conference registration is $225 for members, $250 for non-members. Mail check to: WEDA Pacific Chapter Conference Registration; C/O Allen Churchill, Secretary; USACE,Alaska District; PO Box 6898; Elmendorf AFB, AK 99506-0898
August 26, 2009 - Moffatt & Nichol Receives Guam Contract
	The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific area of responsibility (AOR) has selected Moffatt & Nichol for the Waterfront Design Support Contract for infrastructure upgrades to their waterfront facilities on Guam and other locations in their AOR. This upgrade of the waterfront infrastructure will ready their facilities for the relocation of 8000 Marine Corps personnel and their 9000 dependents, plus associated Navy waterfront assets including a new CVN wharf in Apra Harbor. The competitively procured indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with a maximum $100 million, is to provide design support services for various waterfront/marine projects covered by the Defense Policy Review Initiative and other projects in the NAVFAC AOR. Moffatt & Nichol’s team includes 23 Guam, Hawaii and mainland-based specialty companies. The Core Team consists of Moffatt & Nichol as prime, as well as Louis Berger Group, Louis Berger Group, Duenas Camacho & Associates, TG Engineers, Consulting Structural Hawaii and MK Engineers.
August 26, 2009 - Construction Fatality Rate Significantly Declines
	The national construction fatality rate declined 47 percent and the number of recordable safety incidents dropped 38 percent since the federal government switched to a safety oversight approach known as “collaborative safety” in 1998 according to an analysis of federal safety data released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) on August 25. “There is no doubt that the collaborative approach is working,” said Chuck Penn, the executive director of the association’s Shreveport, Louisiana chapter. “While even one fatality is too many, it is hard to think of another government program providing so much improvement in so little time.” The collaborative safety approach represented a significant shift in federal safety oversight when it was first introduced by the Clinton Administration, Penn noted. The approach creates incentives for companies to find and fix safety problems before incidents occur while maintaining strong penalties for companies that let safety problems lag until someone is hurt.
August 25, 2009 - M.P. Kramer Joins Boskalis Board
	On August 19, M.P. Kramer was appointed to the Supervisory Board of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. for a three year term. Kramer, 59, has been chairman of the Executive Board and chief executive officer of N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie since July 1, 2005. He is also president of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) and president of the Board of Royal Dutch Gas Association (KVGN).
August 25, 2009 - Construction Law Firms Merge
	Payne Hackenbracht & Sullivan has merged with Philadelphia construction law firm Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC. Michael Payne and Joe Hackenbracht, who have been representing members of the dredging industry for more than 25 years, have formed a new Federal Practice Group within the company, which will continue to represent dredging contractors in all phases of federal procurement, including assistance in proposal preparation, bid protests, claims, alternate dispute resolution, and doing business with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
August 21, 2009 - DSC Opens Design Center
	Dredging Supply Company has opened The Julia Bull Campbell Design Center to house their engineering and automation departments. The center is named for Julia (Mamou) Bull Campbell, Bill and Bob Wett’s maternal grandmother. The 5800-square-foot building also includes a learning center for classroom training and safety meetings. It was built on vacant land behind the company’s Thomas J. Wetta III Administration building.
August 21, 2009 - Bowe Honored With Two Awards
	Ellicott President Peter Bowe has received two industry honors for entrepreneurial leadership. Accounting firm Ernst & Young named him its 2009 Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year in the manufacturing category, and he was named Dredger of the Year by the Western Dredging Association for his accomplishments in expanding his company’s dredge manufacturing facilities to supply the overwhelming demand for small dredges.
August 20, 2009 - Anchor QEA Offers Scholarships
	Anchor QEA, L.L.C., an environmental science and engineering consulting firm, is accepting applications for graduate scholarships for 2009. The scholarships are designed to support those who have chosen to study in a wide range of areas and to pursue careers that will support environmental and engineering issues throughout the world. Scholarships range from $500 to $5000 and are based on many factors including need, academic focus and achievement, activities and community service, and related work experience. Over the past ten years, Anchor QEA has awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships to 64 students at 36 different universities across the country. Applications are due November 9, 2009, Information is available at www.anchorqea.com
August 20, 2009 - ABS Chairman Cites Constraints on Great Lakes Shipping
	Robert D. Somerville, chairman and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) cited “insufficient water levels in the ports and channels which continue to mean that your ships’ carrying capacity cannot be fully utilized” as one of the problems that beset shippers in the Great Lakes, prefacing this statement by saying “the efficiency of the entire Great Lakes transportation system is absolutely remarkable” despite the constraints on the system. Somerville was addressing the joint conference of the Lake Carriers’ Association and Canadian Shipowners’ Association, held in Cleveland on August 12. He praised the carriers, saying that they are “taken for granted, under appreciated, under the radar, and subject to the whims of legislators who, with a few notable exceptions, do not understand how integral this industry is to the global and their local economies.”
August 20, 2009 - Waterways Journal Acquires IDR
	On August 12, St. Louis-based publishing company The Waterways Journal, Inc. acquired the assets of Little Horse Enterprises, LLC, which includes the bi-monthly magazine International Dredging Review (IDR), an annual directory for the worldwide dredging industry and a website, www.dredgemag.com. That day, H. Nelson Spencer, owner of The Waterways Journal, and Judith Powers, owner of Little Horse Enterprises, signed documents in their respective offices in St. Louis and Fort Collins, Colorado effecting the transfer of ownership. “I had been running the company as well as writing and editing the magazine for 28 years,” said Powers, who continues as editor as an employee of The Waterways Journal. “It was time for a company with a wider business capability to take over the operation. This way I can concentrate on covering and writing industry news. Running the business was starting to dominate my work days.” “I recently saw a copy of The Waterways Journal in the break room of the hopper dredge B.E. Lindholm on the East Coast,” said Powers. “Everybody in the marine world in the U.S. is familiar with The Waterways Journal, and all have good things to say about the company and the owners. The Waterways Journal was my first pick as a new home for IDR, and the dredging industry is fortunate that they are taking it on.” The Waterways Journal, founded in 1887 in St. Louis, is a well-established family run business serving the inland and gulf intracoastal waterways. The flagship of the company is The Waterways Journal, a weekly trade publication for the inland barge industry. Published for over 122 years, the trade pub is extremely loyal to its readership and the industry it serves and in return has garnered widespread support from its readers and advertisers. The company also publishes a magazine for recreational boating in the Midwest and South titled Heartland Boating as well as related directories and books. “The Waterways Journal prides itself on serving our customers well and fighting for their needs,” said publisher H. Nelson Spencer. “IDR is a good fit for us because dredgers share a lot of the same needs as inland navigation, including common sense legislation, proper public funding, industry cohesiveness and better public outreach. IDR will be a powerful proponent on all issues important to its readers and advertisers. Fortunately, we don’t have very far to go, as Judith has done an outstanding job of nurturing the magazine for the past 28 years and building quality relationships along the way. She is very well respected in the dredging community and we are very happy and fortunate to have her join us.” Powers has agreed to continue working from her Fort Collins office, while the management, advertising, circulation, production, and web site management of IDR will be absorbed by the Waterways Journal staff in their offices overlooking the Mississippi River and Memorial Arch. Nelson Spencer, Jr. and Jason Koenig will manage advertising sales, Pat Platter will handle subscriptions, Kim Waterhouse will do layout and production, and Marie Rausch will manage the web site, www.dredgemag.com. In addition, staff writers and columnists from The Waterways Journal will contribute to IDR, and Powers will in turn write for The Waterways Journal. Further Background on IDR IDR made its debut at the 1981 WEDA annual meeting in Nashville, where Powers distributed Volume 1, Number 1 – October, 1981. Operating from month to month for the first few years and publishing whenever sufficient advertising was accumulated, she built the magazine into an internationally respected news vehicle for the dredging industry. Through the years she established a comprehensive Annual Directory for the industry, as well as a web site that presents current happenings, and archives of past articles. A firm supporter of the World Organization of Dredging Associations (WODA) and its subsidiary organizations, the Western Dredging Association (WEDA), the Central Dredging Association (CEDA), the Eastern Dredging Association (EADA) and the China Dredging Association (CHIDA), Powers has attended or published reports on meetings and events of all these organizations. Other focuses of the magazine are aggregate dredging and hydrographic surveying, and IDR has been and will continue to be active in supporting activities in those areas as well. Recently Powers was given the prestigious “Dredger of the Year” award by WEDA.
August 19, 2009 - Kramer Appointed to Boskalis Board
	M.P. Kramer has been appointed to the Supervisory Board of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. for a three year term. The appointment was made at the August 19 Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. Kramer (59) has been chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer of N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie since July 1, 2005. He is also president of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) and president of the Board of Royal Dutch Gas Association (KVGN). He is considered a valuable addition to the Supervisory Board in view of the positions he holds and his national and international experience.