Firm to pay $9.5M in GoM cases

Wood Group PSN Inc., a Nevada corporation headquartered in Houston, was ordered to pay $9.5 million in two separate cases involving incidents in the Gulf of Mexico. Wood Group PSN was ordered to pay $7 million for falsely reporting, for several years, that its personnel had performed safety inspections on offshore facilities in the GoM’s Western District of Louisiana, and $1.8 million for negligently discharging oil into the Gulf in violation of the Clean Water Act after an explosion on an offshore facility in the Eastern District of Louisiana, according to Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeff Wood of the Justice Department, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Stephanie A. Finley, and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana Kenneth A. Polite. Wood Group PSN was also ordered to pay $700,000 in community service to projects in the areas where the criminal conduct took place. (Source: Marine Link 02/27/17)

CG medevacs toddler from cruise ship

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medevaced a 3-year-old from a cruise ship some 95 nautical miles southwest of Southwest Pass, La., on Feb. 27. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call about 6:30 a.m. reporting the toddler was suffering from a potential chest infection aboard the Carnival Cruise Ship Liberty of the Seas. CG Air Station New Orleans dispatched an MH-65 helicopter. Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., launched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry to assist. The MH-65 arrived on scene and transferred the child, nurse, and parent to Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. The child was reported in stable condition by the hospital. (Source: Coast Guard 02/27/17)

GIF to consolidate in Houma

Gulf Island Fabrication’s board of directors has OK’d management’s recommendation to place its properties in Aransas Pass and Ingleside, Texas, up for sale, and consolidate fabrication operations to its Houma, La., facility. The Texas properties are currently underutilized and represent excess capacity, according to the board. GIF will re-allocate remaining backlog and workforce to its Houma yard. "We do not expect the sale of these properties to impact our ability to service our deep-water customers or operate our fabrication division," the board said. GIF acquired the Houma facility with its 2016 acquisition of Leevac Shipyards. (Source: Marine Log 02/24/17)

LCS 4 undergoes unique training

CHANGI NAVAL BASE, Singapore - After completing a four-day visit to Brunei, the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) conducted a passing exercise, and search and seizure training with the Royal Brunei Navy in the South China Sea. On Feb. 25, the Gulf Coast-built LCS returned to its forward-deployed base in Singapore. Training at sea with a regional partner for the first time while deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet provided unique opportunities for the crew, said Lt. j.g. Anthony Grayson, surface warfare detachment officer in charge. Flight operations with its embarked MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter and MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopters were a primary focus of the underway period, according to Lt. Cmdr. Thanh Nguyen, officer in charge of detachment five of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23. (Source: USS Coronado 02/27/17) Gulf Coast Note: LCS 4 was built at Austal USA Shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

Reimaging central GoM

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company (TGS) and Schlumberger announced a new multi- and wide-azimuth (M-WAZ) reimaging program for multiple clients in the highly prospective Central Gulf of Mexico. Final results are expected in early 2018, ahead of a period when substantial block turnover is anticipated. The new Fusion M-WAZ reimaging program comprises data covering more than 1,000 Outer Continental Shelf blocks from 3D WAZ programs previously acquired by TGS and Schlumberger with the WesternGeco Q-Marine point-receiver marine seismic system. This reimaging program will process data from the Mississippi Canyon, Atwater Valley and Ewing Bank areas using the latest imaging technology to provide a significant uplift in data quality for upcoming licensing rounds. The area will benefit from two licensing rounds every year for the next five years under the new Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s 2017-22 program. (Source: Marine Link 02/27/17) Gulf Coast Note: TGS is a Norwegian-based company with an office in New Orleans. Schlumberger is a global provider of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production, and processing to the oil and gas industry. It has an American office in Houston.

Bilden out of SECNAV nomination

Financier Philip Bilden has withdrawn his named Feb. 26 from consideration for Secretary of the Navy. In a statement, Bilden said he would be unable to meet the requirements of the Office of Government Ethics requirements for the position without “materially adverse divestment” of his family’s financial interests. Defense Secretary James Mattis said he would make a new recommendation to President Trump “in the coming days.” Bilden was formally nominated for SECNAV on Jan. 25 after conflicting media reports that former congressman Randy Forbes would likely get the job. Bilden was a former Army intelligence officer and Naval War College cyber-security leader. In recent years, he had been involved with the Navy through serving on the board of directors of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation and Naval War College Foundation. Additionally, one of his sons graduated from the Naval Academy and another is currently a midshipman. (Source: US Naval Institute News 02/26/17) Gulf Coast Note: Former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus was the last SECNAV.

Partially submerged tow on lower MS

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is responding to a partially submerged towing vessel on the Lower Mississippi River near Vidalia, La., on Feb. 26. Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report around 3 a.m. that the towing vessel Sonny J was partially submerged with some 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board. The vessel’s fuel tank vents are above water and have been plugged. Members from Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Vicksburg, Miss., arrived on scene around 8 a.m.to assess the situation. A marine surveyor and WT Drilling of Natchez, Miss., an oil spill response organization, are also on scene. Containment boom and sorbent material have been deployed around the towing vessel and there is light sheening within the boomed area. The cause of the incident is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 02/26/17) Natchez is less than 3 miles from Vidalia, La.

UPDATE: The towing vessel Sonny J was raised and dewatered March 5 after it had become partially submerged since Feb. 26 on the Lower Mississippi River near Vidalia, La.

2016: Record drug haul for CG

Last year was a record-breaking haul for the Coast Guard’s fight against drug trafficking. By Oct. 31, the CG had seized more than 416,600 pounds of cocaine worth about $5.6 billion, the largest one-year amount in service history – accumulated in more than 260 interdictions in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and eastern Pacific Ocean. A total of 585 suspected drug smugglers were apprehended - 465 were transferred to the U.S. for prosecution. The maritime flow of cocaine has been rising over the last several years - from 577 tons in 2013 to 2,834 tons in 2016. The CG’s overworked fleet is a major area of concern for the service. Some of its Medium Endurance Cutters were built in the 1960s and need replacing. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul F. Zukunft says they have “80 percent awareness” of all illegal operations, but “can only act on about 20 percent” because of resource constraints. “We’re giving 60 percent of what we know, literally, a free pass.” The CG’s Offshore Patrol Cutter program has become the service’s No. 1 priority. (Source: National Interest 02/25/17) Gulf Coast Note: Eastern Shipbuilding of Panama City was awarded a contract on Sept. 15, 2016, to build the first 9 to 11 in class of Offshore Patrol Cutters.

NRF calls for averting port shutdowns

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has called on the U.S. Maritime Alliance and International Longshoremen’s Association to work together to avoid a one-day shutdown of East and Gulf Coast ports proposed by ILA. “Thousands of companies and millions of workers rely on these ports and any disruption to their activity even for a day could have a negative impact on the U.S. economy,” said NRF VP for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jon Gold. The ILA and Maritime Alliance have begun informal discussions on a contract extension well in advance of the current contract’s expiration. But “proposing a shutdown runs counter to this spirit of cooperation and may threaten this positive action,” Gold said. ILA is planning a one-day shutdown and march on Washington to protest “government interference” by the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor and state port operators in the Southeast. No date for the proposed shutdown has been announced. (Source: Marine Link 02/24/17)

Halter names Socha senior VP

VT Halter Marine, a shipbuilding subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems, has named Robert A. Socha as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Estimating. In his role of VP, Socha is responsible for overall management and leadership of business development and estimating departments. He brings more than 30 years of executive experience to VTH Marine, including offshore and inland shipbuilding, engineering and construction. Socha previously has worked as Mid-Gulf Shipping of Slidell, La.; Baker Marine Solutions of Covington, La., and Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Sam Houston State University. (Source: Marine Link 02/24/17) Gulf Coast Note: VT Halter Marine specializes in ship design, construction, and repair and offers comprehensive packages covering shipbuilding projects from blueprint to blue water, according to its website.

Gulfport Seabees returning

ROTA, Spain - Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 assumed charge of the Seabee's Europe and Africa Naval Construction Force missions from NMCB 11 during a transfer of authority ceremony at Naval Station Rota's Seabee camp Feb. 20. Cmdr. Jim Brown, commanding officer of NMCB 11, expressed confidence in the battalions before he exchanged salutes to signify the transfer of authority. Brown then exchanged salutes with Cmdr. Lance Flood, commander of NMCB 1, to signify the official transfer of authority. As NMCB 11 returns to its homeport in Gulfport, Miss., the oncoming battalion will continue the Seabee mission. (Source: US Naval Forces Europe Africa 02/22/17) Gulf Coast Note: Both NMCBs are home ported in Gulfport, Miss.

USCG awards contracts

Ingalls Shipbuilding and VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Miss., and Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La., were among five companies awarded firm, fixed-price contracts from the U.S. Coast Guard for heavy polar icebreaker design studies and analysis. The other companies awarded contracts Wednesday were Fincantieri Marine Group, LLC, Washington, D.C.; and General Dynamics/National Steel and Shipbuilding, San Diego, Calif. The combined total value of the awards is about $20 million. The studies are to identify design and systems approaches to reduce acquisition cost and production timelines. The studies are expected to take 12 months to complete, with study results provided incrementally during that time. The Coast Guard plans to release a draft request for proposals for detail design and construction by the end of fiscal year 2017, followed by release of the final RFP in fiscal year 2018. (Source: Marine Technology News, 02/22/17)

La. marine firm delivers Mex ferry

 The 150 foot-plus catamaran passenger ferry Ultramar has been delivered to a Mexican tourism-operator. The catamaran was built by Midship Marine of Harvey, La. Ultramar was specifically designed for the operator’s Playa de Carmen-Cozumel run, offering high capacity, high durability and a world-class passenger experience. (Source: Marine Link 02/23/17) Gulf Coast Note: Midship Marine is a family business established in 1989. Company founder/president Michael Hinojosa has been designing aluminum vessels for more than 30 years. Midship Marine builds a range of aluminum water craft including mono-hull and catamaran passenger ferries, sailing catamarans, semi-submersibles, oil skimmers and crew/supply boats to customer specifications, according to its website.

UA climatologist has Gulf warning

Dr. Rebecca Minzoni, the newest climatologist at the University of Alabama, is perhaps best known for studying the glaciers of Antarctica, but has some advice for the Gulf Coast. "We should definitely be planning for sea level rise in coastal communities, especially those on the Gulf Coast." As a paleoclimatologist, she sees the rise of sea levels as “the greatest threat to our society." Paleoclimatology is the study of the long history of the Earth's climate. Scientists use tools like core borings deep into the sea floor to analyze and compare conditions of the past to today. Scientists know the world's seas are rising, and Minzoni expects a rise of about 4 millimeters a year in the future. "The Gulf of Mexico hasn't experienced sea level rise this rapid since 7,000 years ago," she added. Most Southern reaction to rising-sea level predictions has focused on Louisiana with its low-lying communities and estuaries, but Mobile Bay’s delta system could also be vulnerable in coming decades. Minzoni worked with Shell Oil after getting her Ph.D. from Rice University. (Source: AL.com 02/22/17)

Ports, Cuba sign accords

The Mississippi ports of Pascagoula and Gulfport signed agreements in Cuba on Monday with an eye to future business and with a Republican U.S. senator from the state looking on. It was done despite concerns President Donald Trump might backtrack on improved relations. Sen. Thad Cochran is the only Republican among five U.S. senators and a U.S. representative on a three-day visit to the Communist-run Caribbean island to discuss relations and explore business opportunities. The agreements were signed during a business forum to explore future trade attended by Cochran. Similar agreements were signed last month with Virginia, Louisiana and Alabama. The Florida ports of Everglades and Palm Beach had also been planning to sign deals, but balked after Republican Gov. Rick Scott threatened to cancel their funding if they did business with the "Cuban dictatorship." (Sources: Multiple, including Reuters, NBCNews, 02/20/17)

Keel laid for DDG 121

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- The keel of future guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121) was ceremoniously laid Feb. 21 at Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard. Although official construction of DDG 121 began April 2016, the keel laying symbolically recognizes the ceremonial beginning of the ship. Frank E. Petersen, Jr. was the first African-American aviator and the first African-American Marine Corps general. When he retired in 1988 after 38 years of service, he was, by date of designation, the senior-ranking aviator in the Marine Corps and Navy. (Source: NNS, 02/21/17)

Robots poised to fill military jobs

The wave of automation that swept away tens of thousands of U.S. manufacturing and office jobs over the last two decades is creeping upon the military that may put rear-echelon and front-line positions in jeopardy. “The U.S. military is very likely to pursue forms of automation that reduce ‘back-office’ costs over time,” says said University of Pennsylvania professor Michael Horowitz, a global expert on weaponized robots, and removing some personnel from non-combatant risks on the battlefield. Automation will likely have a big impact on military organizations in logistics and manufacturing. Driverless vehicles are poised to take transportation jobs from combat-support billets. Warehouse robots can do the same chores inside Air Force ordnance and supply units. Divers may no longer need to rip out sea mines by hand. Robots can do it. New warships are increasingly designed to reduce the number of sailors needed for operations. The highly automated guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt, homeported in San Diego with 147 sailors or half the number that run similar ships, deploys three MQ-8 Fire Scout drones to find targets, map terrain and identify weather conditions. The Office of Naval Research and Strategic Capabilities Office continue to experiment with what some call a “ghost fleet” of unmanned, networked surface and sub-surface vessels, to go along with drone-cousins. The inexpensive software and automated machinery trends in artificial intelligence and robotics will begin to threaten military jobs, just as it will to nearly half of all civilian jobs over the next several decades, according to a 2013 analysis by Oxford University. (Source: San Diego Union-Tribune 02/20/17) Gulf Coast Note: The second ship in the Zumwalt class is Michael Monsoor. Its start of fabrication took place in October 2009. In July 2014, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Gulfport, Miss., facility delivered DDG 1001’s composite deckhouse to the Navy. Ingalls also built the peripheral vertical launch system and composite deckhouse for the ship, and all components were sent for final vessel assembly to Bath (Maine) Iron Works. Navy divers train at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla. In April 2006, production on the flight test airframes of the MQ-8B drone was initiated at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems production plant in Moss Point, Miss.

CG medevacs vessel master

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medevaced a vessel master from the chemical tanker FPMC 28 near Southwest Pass, La., on Feb. 20. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call of a male suffering from chest pains, and launched a CG Air Station New Orleans MH-65 helicopter early Monday. The aircrew transferred the man to West Jefferson Memorial Hospital in New Orleans. He was reported in stable condition. (Coast Guard 02/20/17)

USA prof earns Navy YIP award

Dr. Kelly Dorgan of the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium and the University of South Alabama in Mobile was among 33 scientists named recipients of the Office of Naval Research’s 2017 Young Investigator Program (YIP) awards. The scientists’ researches – from 25 academic institutions - hold strong promise across several naval-relevant science and technology areas. Dr. Dorgan’s research on “Impacts of Infauna on Acoustic and Geotechnical Properties of Sediments” was winner in the Navy’s Ocean, Atmosphere and Space Research Division. The division is part of the Ocean Battlespace Sensing Department that concentrates on improving the Navy and Marine Corps' understanding of environmental evolution, the assimilation of data and limits of predictability. YIP awards support laboratory equipment, graduate student stipends and scholarships, and other expenses critical to ongoing and planned investigational studies. Typical grants are $510,000 over a three-year period. (Source: Office of Naval Research 02/17/17) Gulf Coast Note: Dr. Dorgan is an assistant professor of Marine Sciences and a faculty member at USA’s Dauphin Island (Ala.) Sea Lab.

Bryne named subcommittee vice chair

Alabama’s 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Bryne (R-Fairhope) has been named vice-chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). The subcommittee has oversight over Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force programs. Serving as vice chairman, Bryne said he would “continue to advocate for our nation’s shipbuilders, including the hard-working men and women at the Austal Shipyard in Mobile and other Gulf Coast shipyards.” Bryne was served on the full HASC since  2014. (Source: Alabama Today 02/17/17)

CG medevacs injured crewman

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medevaced a male crewman aboard the fishing vessel Billy B near Fort Morgan, Ala., on Feb. 19. Coast Guard Sector Mobile was notified at 11:50 a.m. that the crewman was injured and requested a medical evacuation. A CG Station Dauphin Island response boat arrived on scene at 1 p.m., and transferred the man to an EMS crew that delivered the man to Providence Hospital in Mobile, Ala. The survivor was reported in stable condition. (Coast Guard 02/19/17)

La. 3rd Fleet sailor named SSoY

Legalman 1st Class Petty Officer Katesha Bedford, a native of Franklinton, La. has been named the 2016 Shore Sailor of the Year (SSoY) for the U.S. Navy's 3rd Fleet. She was presented the award at a ceremony in San Diego. A legalman is someone who performs military paralegal duties. She is responsible for organizing and managing the fleet's legal office and leads 11 sailors in five work centers, the Navy said. "This award is the culmination of the hard work and dedication of the sailors I have the privilege to lead,” she said. (Source: Times-Picayune 02/17/17)

Cargo firms, union reps in early talks

Cargo companies and a union that represents longshoremen at East and Gulf Coast seaports are getting a head start on contract negotiations with informal discussions in Florida this week. The International Longshoremen’s Association held talks with the United States Maritime Alliance Ltd., which represents some 25,000 unionized Atlantic and Gulf Coast port workers. The discussions Feb. 15 in Delray Beach were “productive and fruitful,” the union and maritime alliance said in a joint statement. The meeting comes 19 months before the current contract expires Sept. 30, 2018. Exploratory talks began in 2016, after protracted and contentious labor negotiations at West Coast seaports led to slowdowns and port congestion. (Source: Wall Street Journal 02/16/17)

Contract: FSU, $13.3M

Florida State University Center for Advanced Power Systems (FSU CAPS), Tallahassee, Fla., is being awarded a $13,325,445 cost-only modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-12-C-4220) for research and development activities associated with modeling, simulation and testing of Navy advanced shipboard electrical power systems and components. FSU CAPS will develop real-time models to test advanced shipboard electrical system components in power-hardware-in-the-loop and control-hardware-in-the-loop testing methodologies. FSU CAPS will also perform studies and analysis, conduct design, develop, and validation of models for advanced shipboard electrical system components and for the entire architecture. Work will be performed in Tallahassee is expected to be completed by September 2020. Fiscal 2017 research development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $507,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/17/17)

Contract: Arete, $8.5M

Arête Associates, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded an $8,522,000 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N61331-11-C-0007) for the engineering, manufacturing, production and delivery of AN/DVS-1 Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) Block 1 subassemblies to support the Littoral Combat Ship Mine Countermeasures Mission. The primary mission of AN/DVS-1 COBRA Program is to conduct unmanned aerial tactical reconnaissance in littoral battlespace for detection and localization of mine fields and obstacles in the surf zone and beach zone prior to amphibious assault. Work will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be completed by August 2019. Fiscal 2017 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,522,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end the fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/17/17)

Reports cite shipbuilding dangers

The former head of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is calling on the Navy to stop doing business with shipbuilders who jeopardize worker-safety in the wake of a series of stories by Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting. In a series of stories this month, Reveal claims the Navy and Coast Guard’s seven major private shipbuilders have received more than $100 billion in public money despite serious safety lapses that have endangered, injured and killed workers. (Source: Reveal News 02/16/17)

Gulf-built LCS-4 in Brunei

The U.S. Navy’s Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS-4) – built on the Gulf Coast at Austal USA Shipyard in Mobile, Ala. - is currently in Brunei waters as part of a goodwill visit, and docked at the Muara Commercial Port. Coronado is in Brunei for the first time as part of a 16-month deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. For the deployment, which began in October, the San Diego-based Coronado is being berthed at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base. The ship’s CO, Cmdr. Scott Larson, said, before leaving Brunei next week, Coronado will be conducting exercises with assets from the Royal Brunei Navy. (Source: Bandarseri Begawan (Brunei) Bulletin 02/17/17)

CG delivers teen to hospital

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard responded to a distress call from three males aboard an overturned vessel in the vicinity of Little Lake near Galliano, La., on Feb. 16. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department at 7:45 p.m. about an overturned vessel and redirected an MH-65 helicopter aircrew for search and rescue. The aircrew arrived on scene at 8:25 p.m. One of the males, a 13-year-old boy, was reported to have sustained injury and was transported to Lady of the Sea General Hospital in Cut Off, La., at 9:06 p.m. The helicopter returned to the scene and brought the two other males to the hospital at 10:02 p.m. The 13-year-old’s condition was not currently known. (Source: Coast Guard 02/16/17)

CG rescues trio near Pelican Island

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued three males aboard a vessel taking on water Feb. 16 near Pelican Island, La Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call at 7:23 p.m. about a 24-foot sport fishing boat taking on water and launched a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 helicopter and aircrew. The aircrew arrived at 11:02 p.m. and brought two males back to the air station. A member of the aircrew and remaining male stayed behind. The helicopter returned at 11:40 p.m. and brought the remaining sailor and aircrew back to the air station at 12:09 a.m. on Feb. 17. There were no reported injuries. (Source: Coast Guard 02/17/17)

CG rescues lift boat crew

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued four crewmen from the lift boat Superior Trust after it became unstable near Southwest Pass, La., on Feb. 15. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call at 3:19 a.m. reporting one of the Superior Trust’s legs failed and made contact with a natural gas platform’s walkway resulting in about a 10-gallon discharge of oil. Coast Guard Station Venice launched a response boat arriving on scene at 4:30 a.m. and safely transported the Superior Trust crew back to CGS Venice. USCG Cutter Brant arrived at 10:41 a.m. to monitor the lift boat. A CG Air Station New Orleans MH-65 helicopter conducted an over flight. Superior Energy is developing a salvage plan, and has a pollution cleanup company on standby. I.G. Petroleum is deploying a vessel to survey damage to the platform and begin repairs. There were no reported injuries. (Source: Coast Guard 02/15/17)

‘Future of Water’ conference at MSU

STARKVILLE, Miss. - More than 60 academic and government researchers will participate as speakers and panelists at March’s SEC Academic Conference to discuss “The Future of Water.” Mississippi State University is hosting the March 27-28 event. Researchers and academics from all 14 SEC institutions will be featured along with agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, and Mississippi’s Delta Council. “The Future of Water: Regional Collaboration on Shared Climate, Coastlines and Watersheds” is the theme of the conference that will focus on research collaboration. Former National Geographic executive environment editor Dennis Dimick and University of California-Irvine professor, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory senior water scientist Jay Famiglietti, will be among the presenters. (Source: Mississippi State University 02/14/17)

Mobilian among leads for Navy Week

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - The Navy is setting its sails toward Mobile, Ala., to celebrate "Fat Tuesday" with America’s oldest carnival festivities, in conjunction with a port visit from guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) during Mobile Navy Week on Feb. 22-28. Navy Weeks focus a variety of outreach assets, equipment, and personnel on a single city for a week-long series of engagements. The Navy's parachute team "Leap Frogs," Navy Band Southeast, sailors from the submarine USS Alabama (SSBN 731), and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group will all be participating. Sailors will also be engaging local school students on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. Mobile native and Command Master Chief Antonio Perryman of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is “very excited to come back home and share some of the naval history and heritage” he’s encountered in his 27-year career. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy's signature outreach effort into areas of the country which do not have a significant Navy presence, with 195 Navy Weeks being held in 72 different U.S. cities. (Source: Navy Office of Community Outreach 02/15/17)

MASGC research opportunities

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) is accepting pre-proposals for its 2018-20 research program. Projects selected for funding will address innovative research on coastal issues in Alabama and Mississippi in one or more of three focus areas: healthy coastal ecosystems; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; and resilient communities and economies. Funding requests for individual projects shall not exceed $65,000 annually of federal support. One-year projects and projects requesting lower annual amounts of funding will also be considered. More details, including the full request for pre-proposals, can be found here. Pre-proposals are due at 5 p.m. on Feb. 17, 2017, and should be submitted using MASGC's new online eSeaGrant system. (Source: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium 12/16)

Bollinger delivers CG cutter

The Coast Guard took delivery of the cutter Bailey Barco on Feb. 7 in Key West, Fla. The vessel is scheduled to be commissioned in Ketchikan, Alaska in June. USCGC Bailey Barco is the 22nd vessel in the Coast Guard's Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC), built by Bollinger Shipyards, headquartered in Lockport, La. The 154-foot patrol boat will join the USCGC John McCormick in the 17th Coast Guard District in Ketchikan, Alaska, and will “defend our nation's interests in the Alaskan maritime region," said Ben Bordelon, Bollinger President/CEO. (Source: Maritime Global News 02/08/17) Gulf Coast Note: Bollinger has 11 other sites and facilities throughout south Louisiana.

Slime eel garners Navy attention

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - It looks and feels a lot like snot, but Navy researchers believe slime produced by the primitive hagfish – or slime eel - could help save lives. A Navy research team here at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City is beginning to work on how best to turn synthetic slime into something useful. "From a tactical standpoint, it would be interesting to have a material that can change the properties of the water at dilute concentrations in a matter of seconds," Ryan Kincer, a materials engineer at NSWC Panama City, said in a statement. Its researchers believe that, by reproducing the slime, they one day could replace synthetic products derived from petroleum, such as protection for firefighters and divers - anti-shark spray and coating for ships to protect against barnacles. Some products derived from the slime could work their way into the private sector. (Source: Navy Times 02/12/17)

Ingalls workers earn STEM awards

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries announced Feb. 13 that a dozen employees from its Ingalls and Newport News shipbuilding divisions have been recognized for achievements in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields during the 31st annual Black Engineer of the Year Award STEM Global Competitiveness Conference last week in Washington, D.C. Among the 12 HII employees to receive Modern Day Technology Leader awards, which recognize their efforts in shaping the future of engineering, science and technology, were six from Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. Those Gulf Coast workers included field engineer Johnny Brown, designer David Colley, production planning and scheduling manager Bob Gibson, engineer Elzater Moffett, mechanical engineer Isaac Peterson, and production planning & scheduling manager Alton Williams. (HHI 02/13/17)

La. pipeline fire extinguished

A fire at the Phillips 66 pipeline near the Williams Discovery natural gas plant in Paradis, La., has been put out, officials said Feb. 13, days after an explosion injured five workers and left another missing and presumed dead. The missing worker was identified by the company as Josh Helms of Thibodaux. "Once the area is safe to access, the St. Charles Parish Coroner's office will begin their investigation," Phillips 66 said in an 8:30 a.m. update Feb, 13. The explosion and resulting fire was first reported around 7 p.m. Thursday. The fire has been burning since then. (Source: Times-Picayune 02/13/17)

CG medevacs cruise passenger

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medevaced a 71-year-old woman from the cruise ship Norwegian Dawn some 30 nautical miles north of Venice, La., on Feb. 12. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at about 7 p.m. of a passenger suffering a shoulder injury. A 45-foot response boat crew was launched from Coast Guard Station Venice. The crew arrived at 8:25 p.m. and transported the patient and the patient’s husband to CGS Venice where they were met by local emergency medical services. (Source: Coast Guard 02/13/17)

CG cutter towing vessel to shore

NEW ORLEANS - Crewmembers of Coast Guard Cutter Stingray are towing a disabled fishing vessel, with three people aboard, from some 180 nautical miles offshore of Fort Morgan, Ala., early morning Feb. 13. Coast Guard Sector Mobile (Ala.) received a report from the 78-foot fishing vessel, Swaggy B, that it was disabled Sunday morning. Stingray launched to assist and arrived at 1:50 a.m. Monday. Stingray crew began towing Swaggy B at 8:19 a.m. Monday. The tow is estimated to take about 27 hours. There were no reported injuries or medical concerns to the Swaggy B’s crew. (US Coast Guard 02/13/17)

UPDATE Feb. 14: The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Stingray successfully transferred the tow of a disabled fishing vessel, Swaggy B, with three people aboard to Tug Enterprise near Fort Morgan, Ala., in the afternoon of Feb. 14. The fishing vessel was towed to Tug Enterprise's facilities and moored in Theodore, Ala.

Panhandle studying artificial reefs

Among the projects funded by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill is the deployment of artificial reefs along Florida’s Panhandle as part of an effort to restore crucial habitats for fish and other marine animals. University of West Florida researchers are part of a team conducting a study to see how effective those reefs are in creating a productive ecosystem that will attract fish and help revitalize the commercial fisheries affected by the spill. Dr. Jane Caffrey, a professor at the Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation, Dr. Will Patterson, a professor at the University of Florida, and Florian Cesbron, a post-doctoral research associate at UWF, are performing the study. A grant from the Center for Research and Economic Opportunity at UWF funded Cesbron’s work. In November 2015, UWF researchers began surveying conditions around the areas where the reefs would be placed. The Orange Beach-based company Walter Marine built and then deployed the six reefs in September 2016. Within just a few weeks, fish started congregating around the structures, Caffrey said. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 02/11/17)

South La. pipeline challenges

Phillips 66, Energy Transfer Partners L.P., and Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. formed a joint venture to construct a 162-mile long Bayou Bridge pipeline to deliver crude oil from the Phillips and Sunoco terminals in Nederland, Texas, to Lake Charles, La. The $670 million project, which would run through the Atchafalaya Basin and 11 parishes, starting in Calcasieu and ending in St. James Parish. Supporters say the pipeline, linking a major oil-and-gas hub in Texas with refineries along the Gulf Coast, would be far superior to trains, trucks and barges for moving oil. "It's the safest and most economical way to transport crude," said Gifford Briggs, VP of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. But the project is running into opposition that has been emboldened by protests against the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. Environmental activists are trying to persuade the Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineeres not to issue permits for Bayou Bridge. (Source: Times-Picayune 02/10/17). State-wide Louisiana oil and gas pipelines map http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2017/02/louisiana_oil_gas_pipelines_ba.html

Ala.-built towboat christened in NOLA

American Commercial Barge Line of Jeffersonville, Ind., christened its newest towboat Feb. 10 y at New Orleans’ riverfront. The vessel was built and designed by Bayou La Batre, Ala.-based Steiner Construction. The steel-hulled Jeff Kindl was named for ACBL’s vice president of Gulf Operations. (Source: Workboat 02/11/17)

Midship delivers oil-spill recovery boat

Midship Marine of Harvey, La., has delivered a new 95-foot aluminum rapid response vessel to Clean Gulf Associates Inc., a non-profit cooperative based in New Orleans, which has responded to oil spills since 1972. The J.L. O’Brien is the fourth in a series of offshore oil spill recovery vessels constructed by Midship for CGA to help ensure an efficient response to future oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. The new response vessel will be prepositioned in Leeville, La., to help anchor spill response readiness. The O’Brien represents a $5 million investment in new CGA response resources for the Gulf of Mexico. (Source: Workboat 02/07/17)

Christening of LCS 16 at Mobile

The Navy was to have christened its newest Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, USS Tulsa (LCS 16), on Feb. 11 at Austal-USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala. Tulsa is the second Navy ship to be named in honor of the City of Tulsa. (Source: Defense Department 09/10/17)

Gulf Stream earns safety award

HOUSTON - Gulf Stream Marine Inc. has received Signal Mutual’s Gerald H. Halpin Safety Excellence Award that recognizes an industry leader in anchoring safety and health as core values and commitment to the prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses, in addition to promoting wellness and safety off the job and in the community. The Halpin award is only given to a company that has exemplified the highest levels of safety and health standards. Gulf Stream Marine is the largest non-union stevedore and marine terminal operator on the Gulf Coast. It is based primarily in south Texas with an operation at the Port of Lake Charles, La. (Source: Business Wire 02/09/17)

Feds proposing maritime rule changes

While the country wrestles with President Trump's executive orders on border security, lesser known legislative changes proposed by U.S. Customs and Border could have profound consequences on Gulf Coast shipbuilders and related industries. The proposals to close “loopholes” contained within the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (a.k.a. Jones Act) are designed to give preference to U.S. workers and shipbuilders over foreign companies and foreign labor, according to supporters. The Jones Act is primarily concerned with ensuring that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports are carried by U.S.-flagged ships, manufactured in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents. This in turn supports domestic shipbuilding, but a so-called loophole in the law currently allows foreign companies to manufacture ships in the United States and allows all companies to hire foreign workers. However, critics say that any changes to the law would leave the deep-water construction industry short of ships to continue operating effectively. (Source AL.com 02/06/17)

Peterson partners with Port Cameron

International energy logistics provider Peterson signed a partnership agreement with Port Cameron, La., to develop a port and supply base near the Gulf of Mexico. The development at the port will include a 500-acre deep-water staging port serving the GoM. The private, land-based, deep water energy support complex has 750 additional acres available for future expansion. It is to be built on the Calcasieu Ship Channel, three miles from the GoM, 19 miles from the Intracoastal Canal, about 50 miles from I-10, and within 185 miles of Houston. Under the agreement, Peterson will have the option to lease up to 1.2 million square feet of space in Port Cameron Logistic Center and will also serve as port manager. Upon completion, Port Cameron will be the largest private energy services facility on the Gulf Coast. (Source: Maritime Executive 02/09/17)

PC divers resurface from deep training

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Six divers from the Navy Experimental Diving Unit at Panama City resurfaced from a 500-foot, 11-day saturation dive Feb. 9 for training purposes, and to test dive suits, helmets, and a new communication system. Due to safety concerns, every 100 feet down, requires one full day to decompress and rise back up. Dive Team Leader and Navy Master Diver Eric Wilson said it was a lot of hard work, but he couldn't have done it without the team in the control room topside. "The qualifications, the knowledge level and the commitment of the guys outside actually plays a bigger role," said Wilson. "We just were a little bit deeper." Even though the dive is complete, there are other training tests and standards to meet before they become qualified divers. The divers were glad to be back on land and are excited to enjoy things they can do above sea level. "I can't wait to drink an ice cold beer," said Wilson. (Source: WHJG 02/09/17)

Marines: Need more amphbis

The military services’ vice chiefs bemoaned to the House Armed Services Committee about the lack of funding to keep up with readiness, training and equipment caused by congressionally-imposed sequestration budget caps. The Navy only has 53 percent of its aircraft that can fly, according to Vice CNO Adm. William Moran. The Air Force is 723 fighter pilots short, claimed Vice chief of the Air Force, Gen. Stephen Wilson. The Marines faces a $9 billion backlog for infrastructure, according to Gen. Glenn Walters, assistant commandant, and needs more amphibious ships. "We're just flat-out out of money" to address those needs and provide more personnel and maintenance funding to plan for the future, said Moran at the Feb. 6 hearing. The AF is the smallest, oldest, the most poorly maintained, and the "least ready in our history," said Wilson. He urged Congress to repeal sequestration “before it’s too late.” The Marines faces a $9 billion backlog for infrastructure, according to Gen. Glenn Walters, assistant commandant, and needs more amphibious ships. HASC committee chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) seemed taken aback by the testimonies. "The worst enemy we have is ourselves" to increase defense spending, said Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.). Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) suggested that services could cut overhead and improve their bottom lines by shutting down unnecessary bases under a new round of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission. The testifying officers quickly agreed with the need for BRAC. The AF has about 25 percent and the Army has 21 percent excess capacity at bases. Navy and Marine Corps figures were not immediately available, however the sea-service has maintained for several years it does not have excess facilities. (Source: Military.com 02/07/17) Gulf Coast Note: Amphibious ships are primarily being constructed by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. NAS Meridian was under consideration on multiple early rounds of BRAC.

Canal sets new tonnage record

In January, the Panama Canal set a new monthly tonnage record of 36.1M Panama Canal (PC/UMS) tons with the transit of 1,260 ships through both the Expanded and original locks. The previous record was established in December 2016 with a total of 35.4 million PC/UMS. Prior to the inauguration of the Expanded Canal in June 2016, the monthly tonnage record was 30.4 million. Seven months after the beginning of operations, the Expanded Canal has accommodated liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas vessels, as well as bulk carriers, tankers and vehicle carriers. In this coming April, the Expanded Canal will continue to impact world maritime trade with the passage of the first Neopanamax cruise vessel. (Source: Maritime Global News 02/06/17)

CG medevacs cruise passenger

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard medevaced a 76-year-old male passenger from the cruise ship Norwegian Dawn about 10 nautical miles south of Southwest Pass, La., on Feb. 6. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report around midnight that the passenger had been suffering from a heart condition and flu-like symptoms. A 45-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Venice, La., arrived on scene at 7 a.m. and transported the patient, the patient’s wife, and ship’s nurse to the CG Station. They were met by local emergency medical services. The patient’s condition was unknown, according to a CG media release (Coast Guard 02/06/17)

CRS: $5B/Year for 355-ship fleet

WASHINGTON: Building up the Navy’s fleet to 355 ships, as analyzed by its new Force Structure Assessment, may be harder than expected, according to a newly-released study by the Congressional Research Service. The CRS study estimates that, even if American shipyards increased production rates, achieving parts of the 355-ship force level goal could take many years. Navy officials have said that the industrial base has the capacity to take on the more work needed to achieve and maintain a 355-ship fleet; and that building toward that goal sooner than later would be facilitated by ramping up production of existing ship designs, rather than developing and starting production of new designs, according to CNO Adm. John Richardson. Littoral Combat Ships being a prime example - from two variants to a totally new frigate design, which is supported by Sen. John McCain. The added cost to ramp the 355-ship plan may cost as much as $5.1B annually - not counting the operation, maintenance and crew costs. The CRS study also estimates that the Navy would need an additional 15,000 sailors and aviation personnel. (Source Breaking Defense 02/03/17) Gulf Coast Note: The Navy’s FSA called for 16 more destroyers and cruisers – from 88 to 104. These ships are built at both Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., and Bath Iron Works in Maine. It also calls for four additional amphibious warships – from 34 5o 38. These “amphibs” are primarily built by Ingalls. The number of smaller combatants (i.e. Littoral Combat Ship) remained the same (52). Two different variants of LCS ships are built at separate shipyards - Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., and in Wisconsin.

Robot tech cuts need for Roughnecks

The robot aboard an oil drilling ship in the Gulf of Mexico has made it easier for Mark Rodgers to do his job stringing heavy and dirty pipes. It also may be a reason he's not working there today. The Iron Roughneck, made by National Oilwell Varco Inc., automates the dangerous and repetitive tasks of connecting hundreds of segments of drill pipe shoved through miles of ocean water and oil-bearing rock. The robot has also cut by a third the number of roustabouts needed, says Rodgers, who took a job repairing appliances after being laid off from Transocean Ltd. "I'd love to go back offshore," he says. But, the odds are against him. As the global oil industry begins to climb out of a collapse that took 440,000 jobs, those positions may never come back. A combination of more efficient drilling rigs and increased automation is reducing the need for field hands. (Source: New Delhi Television 01/28/17)

Huge GoM crude shipments to Asia

NEW YORK/SINGAPORE – Major oil and trading houses are set to ship an unprecedented volume of American crude oil to Asia in coming weeks that would boost higher flows to the region due to higher prices from OPEC production cuts. Traders estimated as many as 900,000 barrels a day is set to leave the U.S later in February. The estimated volume would be the highest monthly level on record, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The influx may create a supply surplus in Asia, possibly pushing prices for regional grades lower. U.S. crude cargoes, which will include light and heavy grades, are tentatively scheduled to reach China, Japan, and Singapore, according to trading sources. Some exports are also headed to Europe and Latin America. Mercuria has booked the Front Balder, a Suezmax, to send crude from the Gulf of Mexico to Qingdao, China, according to sources. It appears to have stopped in Colombia along the way. BP Plc is sending the Cap Guillaume, a Suezmax, from the GoM to Singapore next week. (Source: Reuters 02/03/17)

House nixes methane emissions rule

The U.S. House of Representatives repealed a contentious leftover rule from the Obama Administration imposing regulations from oil and gas operations. (Source: Rig Zone 02/03/17) The Senate is expected to vote next on repealing the rule, which was part of Obama's efforts to curb climate change. Congress this week repealed pollution and anti-corruption rules on energy companies.

New multi-beam project for GoM

ASKER, NORWAY - TGS announced Feb. 2 an Otos multi-beam and seep study project for the northern Gulf of Mexico. Acquisition of the multi-beam survey is underway and is the first stage of a seep and geochemistry program covering the GoM. The survey is designed to mirror the successful Gigante study in the Mexican region of the GoM that was conducted in 2016. The new program will cover approximately 289,000 km2 and include 250 cores with advanced geochemistry analysis. TGS will continue to work with the same acquisition providers as in the Mexico program, Fugro and TDI Brooks. Final results in all areas should be available in late 2017. "The Otos study will provide insight into the distribution of different sources of rock geology throughout the U.S. GoM and link it in a consistent fashion to the Mexico survey. The new project is "in an area where TGS has a strong track record and a large complimentary data library", said Kristian Johansen, CEO of TGS. This project is supported by industry funding. TGS provides geoscience data to oil and gas exploration and production companies with financial headquarters in Asker, Norway. (Source: TGS 02/02/17)

Illegal massive reef in GoM

Shrimp boat captain Grant Erickson and his crew were among a dozen divers and boaters assisting Florida Gulf Coast University's Vester Field Marine Station in the removal of a massive illegal reef about 10 miles off Bonita Beach, Fla., in the Gulf of Mexico. "It's about $20,000 worth of gear," said Erickson, who owns 12 shrimp boats that run across the GoM from Florida to Texas. Feb. 3’s work included multiple dives to determine here the reef, nets and fishing gear was located in about 40 feet of water. The Lee County Sheriff's Office and Vester divers descended to the illegal reef made up of piles of concrete poles that were about 18-inches wide and 20-feet long. The illegal reef is not marked on any boating charts. Local fishermen at the reef said they have been fishing it for about four years, but it's nearly impossible to identify who dumped concrete in the GoM. "It's an environmental concern and you don't want any divers getting caught in it," said county dive leader Jeremiah Marcotte, "and sea turtle nesting season is coming up, and they're endangered." The reef will soon be marked on navigational charts and named after the Vester Marine Field Station. (Source: USA TODAY 02/04/17) Gulf Coast Note: All five states with borders to the Gulf of Mexico have artificial reef programs. A review of those programs can be found at http://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Water/Review-of-GoM-Artificial-Reefs-Report.pdf.

MS port’s new jobs’ report shortfall

The Port of Gulfport, Miss., has spent 10 years and $350.5 million in federal money on expansion, but so far has only documented 99 new jobs directly related to port operations although public reports show 425 have been created during West Pier renovation and expansion. The federal government supplied $570 million for the project after Hurricane Katrina requiring the port to create 1,300 new jobs in 2021, three years after construction is completed. The Mississippi Development Authority is counting new casino jobs in reports to the federal government. Port officials are using that number as a talking point in public presentations. Casino jobs created by port tenant Island View Casino Resort don’t count toward the government’s required total. The Sun Herald newspaper requested a breakdown of those jobs from MDA. The report shows 326 new jobs are at Island View’s hotel on port property. The only port jobs in the 425 total are 92 new jobs at the Gulf Coast Shipyard Group, which moved into a building several years ago on the East Pier, and seven jobs in the Mississippi State Port Authority’s administrative offices. (Source: Sun Herald 02/02/17)

Gaetz legislation to abolish EPA

Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz introduced legislation Feb. 3 to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency, according to his e-mail newsletter to constituents. The legislation is “necessary because it is the states and local communities that are best positioned to responsibly regulate the environmental assets within their jurisdictions,” he wrote. Gaetz claimed that Americans are “drowning in rules and regulations promulgated by unelected bureaucrats” and that EPA had become an “extraordinary offender.” The legislation abolishes the EPA effective Dec. 31, 2018, allowing state and local governments to implement interim policies. (Source: U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz 02/02/17) EPA’s Gulf of Mexico Program: The following is a brief summary of 2016 projects included in the initial Federal Priorities List (FPL) on the environment for the Gulf Coast led by the EPA’s Gulf of Mexico Program. The EPA will lead multiple projects on the FPL to work with local stakeholders to achieve near-term, on-the-ground ecosystem benefits, while also conducting planning activities designed to build a foundation for future success. The EPA, Interior Department and U.S. Geological Survey collaborated on developing a $5.8M project that focuses on developing and providing vital information on the timing and delivery of freshwater to the streams, bays, estuaries and wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. The EPA will develop and implement the $2.5M ‘Gulf of Mexico Conservation Enhancement Grant Program’ to enhance private/public partnerships that support land protection and conservation across the Gulf Coast. The EPA will enter into a cooperative $2.1M agreement with the Mobile (Ala.) Bay National Estuary Program to design, permit and implement a stream restoration project in Twelve Mile Creek, which has been negatively impacted from excessive storm-water runoff, and remove invasive species in the Three Mile Creek Watershed. The EPA will stand up a $2.1M place-based estuary program encompassing one or more Northwest Florida bays: Perdido, Pensacola, Escambia, Choctawhatchee and St. Andrews. The project will serve as a pilot project for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to consider expanding Gulf-wide when future funds become available. (Source: EPA-Gulf of Mexico Program)

Fed hiring freeze guidance coming

The Defense Department is finishing its guidance addressing what civilian jobs it plans to exempt from President Trump’s Jan. 23 federal hiring freeze order, according to DOD spokesman Johnny Michael. The president’s freeze order says executive department agency heads “may exempt … any positions that it deems necessary to meet national security or public safety responsibilities.” The freeze does not apply to military personnel. The Veterans Affairs Department is the only department to release guidance on what positions it will exempt. Eight senators from states with Navy shipyards sent a Jan. 26 letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis urging him to exempt Navy shipyard civilian jobs from the hiring freeze. (Source: Government Executive 01/30/17) The Navy’s four public shipyards are located in Norfolk, Va.; Kittery, Maine; Bremerton, Wash.; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.