Mary Mcmillan

  • Fireworks exploded over the Bay Bridge and thousands of people crowding the waterfront near the new ballpark gasped in admiration. Some of the best seats for the spectacle are along the north side of Pier 50.

    home of Westar Marine Services where owner s and employees share a barbecue in honor of the annual display sponsored by a local radio station. But the folks at Westar are more than passive observers, the tugs that are managing the fireworks barges are contracted from Westar.

    This annual fireworks event sums up Westar Marine Services' role on San Francisco Bay. They are the company that takes on all of the niche jobs that others with their large investments in big horsepower and Z-drives can't afford to be doing.

    Founded in 1976 by the late "Buzz" Heffron the company is now owned by Buzz's daughter Wendy Morrow and Mary McMillan who was the original firm's book keeper and office manager. Both women are active in the daily operations of the company and currently serve as vice-president and president, respectively.

    In a continuation of the family nature of the company both husband s work for Westar. When he is not busy barbecuing for company picnics, Mary's husband Bill Sherfy is the company's port captain.

    The marine area inside the Golden Gate Bridge amounts to an inland sea extending from the Port of Redwood City in the South Bay. 20 miles north to Oakland and the Bay Bridge, then another 25 miles north through the Richmond San Rafael Bridge and across San Pablo Bay to the Carquniez Strait. From that point it is over 50 miles up through Suisun Bay and up the San Joaquin River to Stockton or nearly 60 miles up the Sacramento River to Sacramento. According to the San Francisco Bar Pilots, excluding the rivers. "The San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun Bays. From the Gulf of the Farallones to the Sacramento Delta, these waters include nine bridges, twenty ports, two hundred miles of shipping lanes — and countless hidden dangers." The diversity of the company's fleet of nine tugs and five water taxis, defines their success in serving a wide range of niche markets over this large geographical area. The largest of their tugs. Orion, does some ship assist work and handles the company's tank barge that lighters molasses, carried as back haul freight by Hawaiian ships, from Oakland up river to Stockland.

    Built for service in the canals south of Chicago, the 3,000 hp, 100-ft. (30.4 m) twin-screw tug Orion has a telescoping wheelhouse that works well when pushing light barges.

    Another large model bow tug, Sagittarian, is equipped with a towing winch, while a third large boat.

    Solana. has push knees. A large winch has been installed on the foredeck of the Solana to set anchors for the construction industry. Westar has six tugs in the 1,000 hp and under class: Bearcat, Betty L. Warrior.

    Kitsap. Wildcat and Mudcat. They also have five water taxis ranging from 26 to 49 passengers.

    When Buzz Heffron started the company in the 1970s, he did so to meet a need for delivery of large orders of ship's stores and paint to vessels at anchor in the Bay. Tending to the needs of visiting ships remains an important part of the company's business. In its warehouse at Pier 50, just south of the new Pacific Bell baseball park, they receive miscellaneous supplies ordered by agents for their ships. These are consolidated into plywood totes and labeled with the vessel names. When the ship arrives in port, smaller orders are run out on one of the water taxis, while larger orders are taken out to the ships on one of the company's two crane equipped barges. These can also pick up garbage for disposal ashore. A separate company maintains a lube oil barge at the Westar pier and contracts with Westar for towing services to the ships.

    Since the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the authorities in San Francisco Bay have introduced stringent tug escort requirements for petroleum product vessels. This has led to the advent of fierce competition among companies with Z-drive and cycloidal drive tugs. But smaller tankers and tank barges, while requiring escort, don't require the most expensive technology and rates. This has left another comfortable niche for the entrepreneurs at Westar. They have contracts with barging companies like Sause Brothers as well as some smaller tankers.

    Westar has always maintained a central position in the Bay area construction industry. With the extensive seismic upgrades to the Bay Area bridges, this work has grown. With their tugs they handle construction company barges, with their own barges they transport materials to the site and with their water taxis they move personnel to work the work site and ashore after their shift.

    When the State of California, long a leader in reducing air-pollution, announced the Carl Moyer Program to reduce Nox emissions, Westar Marine Services decided to get on board. The program was supported by an appropriation of $50 million dollars for the 2000/2001 fiscal year. A significant portion of this amount was allotted for Carl Moyer Program incentive grants, as a means to reduce emissions from heavyduty engines.

    These grants cover the incremental cost of cleaner on-road, off-road, marine, locomotive and stationary agricultural pump engines, as well as forklifts and airport ground support equipment. Beginning in summer 1999, grants became available through participating air pollution control and air quality management districts grants. "Heavy-duty engines are a significant source of smog-forming pollutants," says a State of California press release, adding that, " In addition, the fine particulate matter exhaust from heavy-duty diesel engines is a toxic air contaminant. The incentive program focuses on reducing emissions of smogforming oxides of nitrogen (NOx), but will also reduce particulate emissions.

    In recognition of his work in the air quality field and his efforts in bringing about this program, the incentive program is named after the late Dr. C a rl M o y e r . ' ' Westar's boats have been purchased over years from a variety of sources to meet diverse needs. As a result, they have had a variety of different manufacturer's main engines. Westar has tried three different manufacturers' IMO compliant engines in their repowers under the Carl Moyer program. This has included three boats with Cummins engines. In June of this year the company repowered a fourth boat with Cummins engines and have engines on order for a fifth boat. The company initially found success with the Cummins model N14. These six-cylinder 14-liter 855 cu.

    in. displacement engines can be set-up with continuous duty ratings of 360, 400 or 440 hp, depending on the owners' demands and planned fuel consumption.

    Westar has taken all of the N14s at the 360 hp rating. Wildcat, repowered in 1999 with a pair of N14s, was also lengthened by five feet and had a pair of Kort nozzles added to increase its bollard pull still further. Mudcat, a former LCM with a shallow 4.2-ft. (1.2 m) draft that allows the vessel to work in many of the Bay's shallow areas, was repowered with a pair of N 14s in 2000. The 65-ft. (19.8 m), 49-passenger steel crew boat Ms. Katie, named for a much loved company cat, was repowered with N14 that have the same 360 hp rating as the two-cycle engines that were taken out, but they are considerably lighter. With gear, the old engines weighed about 4,500 lbs. each, while the new engines with gear weigh about 3,000 lbs.

    Fuel consumption with the new engines has been reduced by 20 to 25 percent while giving the boat a top speed of 17 knots, some three knots faster than previously. In each case, as the people at Westar repower their boats they carry out other upgrades such as the new wheelhouse, lengthening and nozzles on the Wildcat. Among other upgrades on the Ms. Katie was the con- version from mechanical controls to electronic Mathers control units. The majority of design work is done inhouse by naval architect and Westar general manager Richard Smith.

    The Cummins repowers have proven so successful that the company has installed in the Solana a pair of Cummins KTA38 M0 engines rated for 850 hp or a combined 1,700 hp at 1,800 rpm.

    The engines turn into ZF BW461 gears with 5.63:1 ratios. This gives this big 65 x 24-ft. (19.8 x 7.3 m) boat a new lease on life and will give the Bay Area construction industry an important tool for anchor handling. Also slated for a Cummins repower this June is Sagittarian.

    This 79 x 25-ft. (24 x 7.6 m) model bow tug will get a pair of V-12 2300 cu. in.

    displacement Cummins KTA 38 M2 engines, each generating 1,200 hp each at 1,800 rpm.

    The success of the Cummins repowers to date and the support offered by Tom O'Connor and the people at Cummins West in San Leandro is prompting plans for further repowers. With the higher horsepower boats carrying KTA38s in their hulls and the smaller boats packing N14s, the company is looking to their mid range boats. Plans call for installation of Cummins QSK19 M's in the 69 x 23-ft. (21 x 7 m) model bow tug Bearcat and the 60 x 23-ft. (18.2 x 7 m) push boat Betty L. At 660 hp each, these engines will give the boats 1,320 hp and many more years of working life.

    A recent report by the Carl Moyer program says that "Over 80 percent of first and second year engine project funds (about $38 million) have been committed to specific projects. Of these funds 50 percent paid for alternative fuel projects (610 engines), 26 percent paid for agricultural irrigation pump projects (947 engines), 16 percent paid for marine vessel projects (95 engines), four percent paid for forklift projects (105 motors), and four percent paid for both on- and off-road diesel-to-diesel repower projects (108 engines)." Mary McMillan and Wendy Morrow were in the process of a fleet upgrade before the State of California Carl Moyer program but are now getting some real help from the state. At the same time they are investing a good bit of their own money to maintain their position in niche marketing of marine services in the Bay Area. While enjoying a barbecue and fireworks with her crews, Mary McMillan explains that the company's success comes from a "family-like" work environment. She adds, "We offer so many services from ship's stores delivery to tank barge escort and construction assistance, that when one area is slow the other hopefully picks up. So we try to balance the cyclical nature of the typical marine businesses." Circle 33 on Reader Service Card

  • MR Nov-23#53  bottom, 
from Christopher and Mary Ann to their two sons and)
    November 2023 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 53

    .com Phone: (920) 738-5432 Manufactured in the USA All in the Family The Pastrana family is a maritime family top to bottom, from Christopher and Mary Ann to their two sons and two sons-in-law. “For continuity and succession planning, we asked our children if they are interested to take this on,”

  • MR Nov-23#52  this 
business. He told me: ‘Mary Ann, as long 
as there)
    November 2023 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 52

    Kong mogul] Sir Gordon Wu came to our of? ce, and we also went to his of? ce in Hong Kong; he was interested to get into this business. He told me: ‘Mary Ann, as long as there's water, you have business. The name of the game is ef? ciency.’ So I guess the challenge for us is ? nding that ef? ciency

  • MR Nov-23#51  maritime transportation,” said Mary Ann. So 
in 2010 the company)
    November 2023 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 51

    did not mean quitting, and the decision was made to change its course. “We will give our country what it needs – safe maritime transportation,” said Mary Ann. So in 2010 the company switched gears and decided to take the plunge and invest in new, modern tonnage. Looking at the tra- ditional ferry ?

  • MR Nov-23#50  select  are ‘all in’ – from Mary Ann and her husband Christopher)
    November 2023 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 50

    Ferries Company is best build its country’s national economy. And the Pastrana family known by the brand FastCat, connecting select are ‘all in’ – from Mary Ann and her husband Christopher; Philippine Islands via modern catamaran RoPax to their two sons who are learning the maritime trade in the A ferries

  • MN Oct-23#31  this system,” 
Stephaich said.
Mary Ann Bucci, executive direc-
tor)
    October 2023 - Marine News page: 31

    to the day that we have not just a groundbreaking, but a ribbon cutting when we’ll be able to achieve the full bene? ts of this system,” Stephaich said. Mary Ann Bucci, executive direc- tor at the Port of Pittsburgh, de- scribed the locks as the river gateway for commerce moving in and out of the city.

  • MN Oct-23#30  House for 
Infrastructure; Mary Ann Bucci, the executive)
    October 2023 - Marine News page: 30

    , the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President and White House for Infrastructure; Mary Ann Bucci, the executive director of the Port of Pittsburgh Commission; and Mark Gentile, the president of Trumbull Corps; participate in a groundbreaking

  • MN Aug-23#36  Lakes 
Dredge and Dock; 
Rep. Mary Gay 
Scanlon, D-Pa.; 
President)
    August 2023 - Marine News page: 36

    wind industry. as more offshore wind projects advance to development and From left to right: Lasse Petterson, CEO of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock; Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa.; President Joe Biden; and Steinar Nerbovik, CEO of Philadelphia Shipyard. Philly Shipyar

  • MN Feb-23#41  operate 
year-round on the St. Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper)
    February 2023 - Marine News page: 41

    Authority (EUPTA), located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The 92-foot U.S.-made steel ferry, Neebish Island III, will operate year-round on the St. Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula be- tween Barbeau, Mich., and Neebish Island. The vesselwas designed by Seacraft Design, LLC of Sturgeon Bay

  • MR Nov-22#56  cutaway view of the 
ship Queen Mary was one. I was fasci- Paci)
    November 2022 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 56

    paper for heart vessels. The British, Atlantic, passenger collectors. Tom’s booth at the annual surgeons. Where a cutaway view of the ship Queen Mary was one. I was fasci- Paci? c Marine Expo in Seattle is an boat’s pro? le isn’t enough, additional nated to see, not only the luxury salons, ever-popula

  • MR Nov-22#37  production and, if desired,  mary gas-?  red power, or heat)
    November 2022 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 37

    in the concept gives the major greener With Siemens turbines providing pri- to CCS. The CCS-power-generation hydrocarbon production and, if desired, mary gas-? red power, or heat and power, part is a work in progress.” Moreover, upstream and downstream gas and elec- Ocean GeoLoop’s CCS tech may also

  • MN Nov-22#70  a new crane barge on 
the St. Marys River.
“The new crane)
    November 2022 - Marine News page: 70

    Vessels USACE Crane Barge Southwest Shipyard in Houston for a new crane barge on the St. Marys River. “The new crane barge will perform critical lock and hy- dropower facility maintenance at the Soo Project Of? ce (Soo Locks),” said Justin Proulx, Chief of the St. Marys River Section. “Additionally

  • MT Sep-22#67  load rating from 12,000-lbs to 
mary task of a release. multiples)
    September 2022 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 67

    paired with a strong back self-buoyant lander to ? oat back to the surface. That’s the pri- to substantially increase the load rating from 12,000-lbs to mary task of a release. multiples higher. Typical lander anchor weights, however, are Releases serve other secondary purposes. They are used to under 100-lbs

  • MR Jun-22#12  for a refund of the funds it 
mary expenditures of the fund)
    June 2022 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 12

    ? led suit to challenge to fund responses to oil spills and threatened spills. The pri- the constitutionality of the tax and for a refund of the funds it mary expenditures of the fund are state access for removal paid to the IRS. The trial court ruled in Tra? gura’s favor, ? nding actions, payments to

  • MR May-22#26  very signi?  cantly.”   mary or dual companion fuel)
    May 2022 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 26

    FUTURE FUELS we expect it to increase very signi? cantly.” mary or dual companion fuel. The sum of ships able to use LNG, LPG or methanol is Shell LNG alone, with 50 LNG carriers chartered, has 700 anyone’s guess, as their fuel type when built is unknown and ship-to-shp bunkering operations available

  • MR May-22#20  Trade Specialist Mary-
anne Burke (pictured right))
    May 2022 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 20

    Depart- ment of Commerce is hosting Discover Global Markets: The Blue Economy, in Providence, R.I., Sept. 20-22, 2022. Inter- national Trade Specialist Mary- anne Burke (pictured right) leads the Marine Technology Team of the International Trade Administration (ITA). Mary- anne is part of ITA’s U.S. Com- merci

  • MT Jan-22#58   brother Doug, sister-in-law Mary, nieces 
nical dif?  culties)
    January 2022 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 58

    was his parents Sally and Terri, his younger Tahiti race. Overcoming numerous tech- to enable scienti? c observations of the brother Doug, sister-in-law Mary, nieces nical dif? culties, they ? nished ? rst. Rag- human-in? uenced effects on the oceans and nephew Britt, Becca and Charlie, time’s reputation

  • MT Jan-22#47  sphere 
hadal lander, DOV Mary Carol, with one hand 
onto)
    January 2022 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 47

    Figure 7. The author, Kevin Hardy, lifts the single sphere hadal lander, DOV Mary Carol, with one hand onto the ship after a test dive off San Diego in 2002. DOV Mary Carol later dove both the Puerto Rico Trench and Aleutian Trench. was to leave the 17” OD the same, but make the ID smaller, creating

  • MR Dec-21#43  advance ocean science and 
wife Mary (right) at 
technology)
    December 2021 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 43

    ar- (center) with the eas (MPAs), address marine plastic pollution, com- author (left) and his bat coral disease, and advance ocean science and wife Mary (right) at technology. Walter’s legacy with Scripps also made Scripps in 2018. notable contributions to the 2019 White House Sum- mit on Ocean Science

  • MT Nov-21#8  the author (left) 
and his wife Mary (right) at Scripps in 2018
Photo)
    November 2021 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 8

    ? CALL FOR THE USNS WALTER MUNK By Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., U.S. Navy (retired) Walter Munk (center) with the author (left) and his wife Mary (right) at Scripps in 2018 Photo courtesy the Author n the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, Con- highest levels of the U.S. Government. At every

  • MN Oct-21#15  new boats for the Virginia and Mary-
The company continues)
    October 2021 - Marine News page: 15

    Notable commercial marine wins in North America this plans to secure the commitment in its business. year have included new boats for the Virginia and Mary- The company continues to invest in its core products to land pilot associations, including IPS and inboard con? gu- improve ef? ciency, reduce fuel

  • MT Sep-21#60  cycle work  known as marine primary productivity. Through this)
    September 2021 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 60

    planet’s natural that of the planet itself—through a biological phenomenon systems. How does each part of the global carbon cycle work known as marine primary productivity. Through this pro- and how may it be impacted by the changing climate? What cess, tiny organisms, like phytoplankton, use photosynthesis

  • MR Sep-21#39  journey times between St. 
Mary’s and the off-islands,)
    September 2021 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 39

    build slots and cost. This cargo ferry will be designed for a 12-knot service speed, allowing for signi? cantly faster journey times between St. Mary’s and the off-islands, a 50% increase in cargo capacity, and will have a reduced fuel consumption of 55%. “We worked with the Isles of Scilly in a

  • MR Jun-21#29  Offshore Patrol Cutter 
the St. Marys River and helps facilitate)
    June 2021 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 29

    the aging WMECs is under construc- passes northern Lake Michigan, northern Lake Huron, tion. The 360-foot Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter the St. Marys River and helps facilitate the spring ship- (OPC) is one of the service’s highest acquisition priorities. Designed to complement the capabilities

  • MR May-21#27  Carriers (LOHC), to 
is the primary source of hydrogen production)
    May 2021 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 27

    as a hydrogen carrier, such as to 2% of the world energy demand [IEA, 2019]. Natural gas ammonia or Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC), to is the primary source of hydrogen production (gray hydrogen, limit signi? cant loss of cargo space. Ammonia has higher en- 75%) and is used widely in the ammonia