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EDITOR’S NOTE

I t was way back in 1984 (before marine monitoring was cool, I assure you) that I found myself re- turning to my aging coastwise chemical tanker after a much needed 75-day vacation period. At the time, I was Second Mate on the steam tanker (more historical background) David D. Irwin and so, I fi rst wandered up to the bridge to fi nd out what kind of mess my opposite number had left me, even as he scurried down the gangway like a rat off a sinking ship. Back then, the Notice to Mariners came in paper form and no, they didn’t download automatically onto the ECDIS chart overlay.

In any event, and as I morosely surveyed the six-inch stack of chart corrections awaiting my atten- tion, I also noted the surprisingly cool and dry air being pumped out of the air conditioning system.

When I had last departed the vessel, one of my most important (but unoffi cial) duties had been to go down two fl ights of stairs during the mid-watch to reset the A/C unit breaker, which seemingly failed at least six times per day. I remarked brightly to the Master upon my fi rst opportunity, “Hey, really nice of the company to upgrade the A/C system for us!” After a pregnant pause and a deep draw on his fi lterless cigarette (it was 1984, after all), he exhaled and replied dryly, “Mr. Keefe; that

A/C has nothing to do with you or me. The Radars keep overheating. Don’t overreach here.”

And, so it was that I learned that HVAC was an important component aboard every merchant vessel, albeit not for the reasons I might have thought. Today – with the MLC Code and seafarers who actually have choices – HVAC does have something to do with them. And, it has a lot to do with the equipment, as well. In the highly competitive world of offshore oil & gas, the equipment that ensures both comfort and operational readiness is everything. Starting on page 42 of this edi- tion, you’ll learn why.

Our offshore Annual edition also contains a plethora of information on equipment, operations and risk management for what arguably has once again become the backbone of the U.S. merchant fl eet and the very engine driving the fat backlogs of today’s domestic shipyards. This month, we’ve got it covered from A to Z. That said; no less important for those same shipbuilders is the national security aspect of the Coast Guard’s ongoing Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) drama. The sweepstakes – notwithstanding protests by two other builders – have been narrowed to three fi nalists, each hon- ing their designs to make the cut. This month, Susan Buchanan handicaps the entire process for you.

Finally, but looming ever larger in the proverbial porthole are the fi rst ever, but long-awaited

MarineNews 100 industry awards which will debut in our August edition. Designed to showcase the best in every category of the shallow draft, coastwise and brown water industry, you must apply to be considered. Click on http://mn100.maritimemagazine.com for full details. [email protected]

Joseph Keefe, Editor, [email protected]

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