The Maritime Minute

News from The American Maritime Partnership, June 12, 2012

REP. GIBBS NAMED 2012 GREAT LAKES LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR: Congressman Bob Gibbs (R-OH-18) received the “2012 Great Lakes Legislator of the Year” from the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, the largest labor/management coalition representing workers and industries dependent on shipping on America’s Fourth Sea Coast. Eugene Caldwell, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force and Vice President and General Manager of Bay Shipbuilding Company, said “Bob Gibbs has gone above and beyond in representing the interests of the Great Lakes region and has distinguished himself as a leader in maritime policy and job creation.” Click here to read more 

MATSON RECEIVES SECOND BENKERT AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE: Matson Navigation Company, Inc. (“Matson”) has been honored with the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2012 Rear Admiral William M. Benkert Marine Environmental Award for Excellence. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in marine environmental protection. Matson’s zero discharge policy means that nothing is discharged into the ocean, with the exception of food scraps. Matson first received this biennial award in 2006. Click here to read more 

CAPTAIN AND CREW OF HORIZON RELIANCE AWARDED FOR RESCUE: Captain James Kelleher and the crew of the Horizon Reliance received the Maritime Administration’s “Merchant Marine Medal for Outstanding Achievement” in Washington, D.C. as part of the agency’s National Maritime Day Observance on May 22. The ship and its crew rescued three sailors in harrowing circumstances last February more than 400 miles east of Honolulu. The medal recognizes merchant mariners who have directly participated in humanitarian acts. 

KIRBY CORPORATION TRANSPORTING SHUTTLE EXPLORER: Kirby Corporation is providing two inland tugs to move the Shuttle Explorer, a full-size space shuttle orbiter replica, from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Clear Lake in Texas. The Explorer departed Kennedy Space Center on May 24. Upon arrival at Port Canaveral, the shuttle was handed over to Kirby’s M/V Ross Sea, an offshore tug that will tow the Explorer 1,200 nautical miles around the peninsula of Florida and across the Gulf of Mexico to Galveston. Click here to read more.