CANAL PROJECT PASSES A MILESTONE
Work began in July on an important milestone in the Panama Canal expansion project, the construction of a new set of Atlantic and Pacific locks.
The first phase is the permanent structural concrete to form the floor of the upper lock chamber at Gatun, near the Atlantic end of the canal. The concrete is formulated to last at least 100 years. At the Pacific end, concrete pouring began for the construction of three tunnels to carry all the electrical wiring, water pipes and other communications cables needed to keep the locks functioning. The lock construction project, conducted under the direction of the Panama Canal Authority, will require nearly 5,000,000cu m of concrete.
OLD WAR MINE BLOWN UP
A massive German mine from the Second World War was blown up off the coast of Essex, England on July 28. The mine was dredged up seven miles offshore in excellent, shiny condition, even after 60 years in the water. The assignment was made more dangerous because the dredge had pierced the mine's casing.
The parachute-type mine was carefully detached from the dredge and placed back on the seabed before an eight-man team of divers from Portsmouth's Southern Diving Unit 2 attached explosives. The explosion sent water 100m into the air The leader of the diving team, Lieutenant-Commander Al Nekrews, said similar mines were not uncommon in that area.
The Golden Bear's crew line the rail
107(49) Certified
MEPC
Flexible configuration to fit in small space Completely Automatic Operation Continuous Perfomance reporting IMO MEPC 107(49) Approvals US Coast Guard Cer
rtifed
ABS Type Approval Simple Design Very low Maintenanc
Laminar flow ce
Self Priming Max coalescence Min power requireme
ents
OILY WATER SEPARATOR
Distributed in New Zealand by:
PH 09 448 5900 | info@sopac.co.nz www.sopac.co.nz
VIP.S82
US SAIL TRAINING SHIP RETURNS TO NEW ZEALAND
The US oceanographic survey training ship Golden Bear made an early morning arrival in Auckland on July 28 for her first visit in nine years. She was welcomed to town by the United States' ambassador to New Zealand, David Huebner. Built in 1989 at the Bethlehem Steel shipyards at Sparrows Point, Maryland, she was launched as the USNS Maury. At the time she was the largest and fastest oceanographic ship ever built. Her engines are mounted on rafts, as is the practice on nuclear submarines. This isolates the engines from the hull and thus reduces vibration.
In 1994 she was transferred to the California Maritime Academy and renamed the Golden Bear, the academy's third vessel to sail under the name. The Golden Bear's home port is Vallejo in California and she is used today for comprehensive ship training for all those set on a career in civilian or naval ships. She makes two two-month long voyages each year, with the trainees learning the responsibilities of the US merchant marine fleet. While in New Zealand she also called at Wellington, where the Keelhaulers, the CAM's rugby team, took on the Fighting Billy Goats, a team from Wellington's Victoria University.
MARINE CRANES
& Truck Loader Cranes, for all applications
CRANE Sales & Services Ltd Custom marinised to suit New Zealand conditions.
Spare parts for all cranes.
Auckland,NZ ph:0800 ALLCRANE (0800 255 27263) sales@allcrane.co.nz - www.allcrane.co.nz
September/October 2011 Professional Skipper 63
ALL
VIP.S78
