Page 55: of Marine News Magazine (July 2012)

PEOPLE & COMPANY NEWS Congressman Gibbs Honored Congressman Bob Gibbs (R- OH) has been named 2012 Great Lakes Legislator of the Year by the largest labor/management coalition representing workers and industries dependent on shipping on America?s Fourth Sea Coast. Rep. Gibbs, who represents Ohio?s 18th District in the House of Representatives, received the award from Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) in Washington on June 6. Gibbs was a co-sponsor of the RAMP (Restore America?s Maritime Promise) Act, legislation requires the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) to spend all the tax dollars it collects for dredging on dredging, as it was originally intended. U.S. Flag Lakes Float up 3.1% Buoyed by positive Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway numbers, U.S.-  ag Great Lakes freighters (?lakers?) carried 9.8 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in May, an increase of 19 percent over April, and 3.1 percent better than a year ago. The May  oat was slightly below the month?s 5-year average. Through May U.S.- ag cargos stand at 24.4 million tons, an increase of 3.4 percent compared to the same point in 2011, and 5.7 percent ahead of the 5-year average for the  rst  ve months of the year. Iron ore and limestone have registered noticeable increases over a year ago, but coal has decreased by 825,000 tons. Meanwhile, the St. Lawrence Seaway reported that North American commodities used in the steel and construction industries continued to fuel an uptick in tonnage numbers along the St. Lawrence Seaway System. International demand for shipments of iron ore and coal drove exports during the month of May. The St. Lawrence Seaway reported that year-to-date total cargo shipments for the period March 22 to May 31 were 8.9 million metric tons, up 3.7 percent over the same period in 2011. U.S. ports along the system remain optimistic about the shipping season. Harvey Gulf Acquires Bee Mar Harvey Gulf International Marine?s CEO, Shane Guidry announced that, on June 4, 2012, Harvey Gulf signed an agreement with Bee Mar, LLC to purchase all of Bee Mar?s vessels and assets. The purchase will include 10 Offshore Supply Vessels, which will increase Harvey Gulf?s  eet to a total of 32 vessels ? with 24 deepwater, new generation Offshore Support Vessels and 8 deepwater towing vessels. Upon closing, Harvey Gulf will have operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, Mozambique Africa, Israel and Saudi Arabia. GalTex Pilots Bid Adieu to Coonrod A seasoned mariner, (Captain) Jim Coonrod recently retired from the Galveston-Texas City Pilots after 38 years of service. After graduating from Texas A&M in 1967, he also sailed BarnesGodfreyColbertBoldtDiakunSilver Bell Awards Honor Champions On June 7, over 800 individuals from the maritime industry celebrated with the Seamen?s Church Institute (SCI) at its 35th Annual Silver Bell Awards Dinner, raising over $865,000 for SCI?s programs serving mariners. The theme of the evening, ?Unsung Heroes,? highlighted the essential yet unrecognized contributions the maritime industry makes to our daily lives. SCI identi ed three champions in the maritime industry to receive the Institute?s highest honors. SCI awarded jointly James Barker, Chairman of the Interlakes Steamship Company and Paul Tregurtha, Chariman and CEO of Moran Transportation, the Silver Bell Award and honored the Right Rev. Mark S. Sisk with the Distinguished Service Award. The Silver Bell Awards Dinner, SCI?s premier fundraising event, consists of a Maritime Forum, a Parade of Vessels & Blessing of the Fleet, followed by the Awards Dinner at which it honors the industry?s top leaders. SCI has scheduled next year?s awards dinner for Thursday, June 6, 2013. MN 55www.marinelink.com MNJuly2012 Layout 50-58.indd 55MNJuly2012 Layout 50-58.indd 557/10/2012 12:57:58 PM7/10/2012 12:57:58 PM