Kirby Inland Marine will pay $15.3 million to resolve federal and state claims stemming from a 2014 collision and oil spill in the Houston Ship Channel.  The federal government and the state of Texas sought damages and reimbursements under the Oil Pollution Act stemming from the 2014 incident that spilled 4,000 barrels (168,000 gallons) of oil. The incident happened at…

Jerald S. Paul, a Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) graduate whose professional career includes time as a sailor, attorney and nuclear engineer, will take over as the institution’s next president.   Paul will succeed current President William J. Brennan, who has held the position for 12 years. Brennan plans to step down in late April. “Coming back to MMA is a real thrill,” Paul…

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) chose Philly Shipyard to build a Jones Act-compliant offshore wind vessel.   The 461-by-112-foot ship will be the first U.S.-flagged inclined fallpipe vessel for subsea rock installation. It will be used to transport and place up to 20,000 metric tons of rock on the seabed. Those stones will solidify offshore wind tower foundations, cables and other components, GLDD said in…

The second of three new Ollis-class ferries built for the Staten Island Ferry service has left Eastern Shipbuilding. Shipyard officials said the 320-foot, 4,500-passenger Sandy Ground left for New York City in early December under tow by the tugboat Sarah Dann. The new ferry is scheduled to enter service in 2022 The lead Ollis-class vessel is named for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis, who died heroically while serving in Afghanistan. The…