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Articles by Casey Conley
Autonomous vessels and startup vibe work fuel Leeway Marine’s growth
For most of his career, Jamie Sangster served as a marine systems officer in the Canadian navy. The job involves solving problems and keeping the nation’s technically challenging but critically important warships operating smoothly at sea. The skills he acquired during 20 years in the navy have served him well with Leeway Marine, which is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Sangster founded the marine surveying and logistics company nearly a decade ago with other retired navy officers.
Tugboat operators face build or repower
Western Towboat Co., Seattle, has a versatile fleet of harbor and oceangoing tugboats that tow a little bit of everything in Puget Sound and beyond. The company has a new Titan-class oceangoing tugboat, Northern Titan, under construction at its shipyard facility along the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Once complete, Northern Titan will be the company’s eighth Titan-class tug in service, joining the other 120', 6,000-hp vessels in the series, towing cargo barges between Seattle and Whittier, Alaska.
Next-gen marine fuels power progress, yet challenges remain
Last summer, San Francisco Bay Ferry put the first hydrogen-fueled vessel in the United States into commercial service. The 70' Sea Change carried passengers between tourist haunts along Fisherman’s Wharf and the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco during a six-month trial. Sea Change ran throughout the demonstration on electrical power created by 12 fuel cells from Hydrogenics, now known as Accelera by Cummins.
Payroc Introduces Roc Services: Invoicing for Service Professionals
Roc Services is an invoicing system that offers item catalog and quick item entry, accessible through both desktop and mobile apps. Merchants can send invoices via SMS or email, with payment data seamlessly synced to the reporting portal, ensuring a streamlined process from start to finish. “We are thrilled to introduce Roc Services to our sales partners and their merchants,” said Casey Conley, Chief Product Officer at Payroc.
Payroc Introduces Roc Terminal+: The Ultimate Payment Terminal Solution for Businesses
Payroc is proud to launch Roc Terminal+, a robust payment terminal tailored specifically for small to medium-sized businesses. Roc Terminal+ simplifies omnichannel payment acceptance, customer checkout, and business reporting —all within one intuitive payment device. Powered on Newland N950 Android technology, Roc Terminal+ delivers unparalleled flexibility, allowing merchants to seamlessly transition between in-person and online transactions.
Tech Transforms the Trades
The construction trades, for many, evoke contractors unrolling huge blueprints, or the sound of power tools and heavy equipment. These days, you’re just as likely to encounter a contractor reviewing plans on an iPad, a foreman documenting work on a smartphone and the sound of drones capturing images overhead. Contractors and tradespeople are leveraging powerful software and hardware to find efficiencies, reduce costs, prevent injuries and improve the finished product.
40 Influential Leaders - Heather Staples Lavoie
Heather Staples Lavoie CEO of Illume Advisors For many people, medical care revolves around doctors’ offices, specialist visits or in some cases, hospital stays. Heather Staples Lavoie, the CEO of the consulting firm Illume Advisors, is using technology and analytics to help change that paradigm.
40 Influential Leaders - Mike Somers
Mike Somers President and CEO of the NH Lodging and Restaurant Association Around this time last year, there were signs of gloom everywhere. Interest rates were rising and experts considered a recession to be a foregone conclusion. Fast forward a year, rates have stabilized, and the recession never came. That has translated into another strong season for NH’s restaurant and lodging industry, which continues to outperform other New England states.
40 Influential Leaders - Michael Skelton
Michael Skelton President and CEO of the Business and Industry Association Year after year, NH lands on numerous “Top 10” lists for its welcoming business climate. It’s not a stretch to give some credit to the Business and Industry Association (BIA). Based in Concord, the BIA advocates for business and manufacturing. It counts 400 members across the Granite State that collectively employ around 100,000 people. The combined annual economic impact of these BIA member firms in NH exceeds $5 billion.
New resort in Tilton expected to draw more tourists to Lakes Region
On busy summer weekends, countless travelers from New England and beyond load up the car and head north into New Hampshire. A good number follow the GPS to exit 20 off Interstate 93 in Tilton for the final leg of their journey. With its proximity to Lake Winnipesaukee and other summer destinations, Tilton has become the primary western gateway to the Lakes Region. This status has transformed a quiet community of barely 4,000 people into one of the busiest commercial districts in central NH.
40 Influential Leaders - Tom Boucher
Tom Boucher CEO and Owner of Great NH Restaurants Anyone who has spent any time in the hospitality industry knows the saying, “the customer is always right.” Tom Boucher, CEO and owner of Great NH Restaurants, takes a different approach. “For me, it is always the customer, and the employee and company—[they] all sit on a three-legged stool that needs to be balanced,” he says.
40 Influential Leaders - Maureen Beauregard
Maureen Beauregard President and CEO of Easterseals NH Easterseals NH serves more than 18,000 people across the state. Its staff of more than 1,300 people work with people in every age group and income level providing services including childcare, veteran’s services, vocational services, medical rehabilitation, substance misuse services and adult day programs. The nonprofit is involved in all 10 counties and just about every NH community.
40 Influential Leaders
Author By Casey Conley, Judi Currie, Adam Drapcho, Scott Merrill, Matthew J. Mowry, Kathie Ragsdale, Sheryl Rich-Kern To celebrate Business NH Magazine’s 40th anniversary, we are spotlighting 40 influential leaders in the state who are advancing their industry or taking a leadership role in addressing a major challenge facing NH. The good news we had many more nominees than we could spotlight for this special section.
Tilton: A new resort is expected to draw more tourists to the region.
Lake Estate on Winnisquam under construction. (Courtesy Photo) On busy summer weekends, countless travelers from New England and beyond load up the car and head north into NH. A good number follow the GPS to exit 20 off Interstate 93 in Tilton for the final leg of their journey. With its proximity to Lake Winnipesaukee and other summer destinations, Tilton has become the primary western gateway to the Lakes Region.
NH Universities Respond to AI Boom
Not long after University of NH students returned for the spring semester, Prof. Nora Draper led an unconventional exercise with her students using ChatGPT. Draper, an associate professor of communication, asked the software program to write a rap about UNH campus life. Not just any rap, but one written in the style of the Beastie Boys, a group that formed 25 years before some of her students were born. The results were impressive.
C&C Marine marks Christmas with towboat light display
Belle Chasse, La. — C&C Marine and Repair is celebrating the holidays with its 2nd annual Christmas light display. This year’s display is prominently located near the company’s main office on Engineers Road in Belle Chasse, La. The new display includes a 5,000-hp inland towboat (m/v Kent Furlong) being pulled by Santa’s 20-foot-tall reindeer and led by Rudolph. Also new to this year’s display is a 10-foot Santa steering the reindeer from the boat’s pilot house.
Great Lakes pilotage groups defend proposed rate increases
By Melissa Russell The U.S. Coast Guard has proposed a 5.78 percent increase for Great Lakes pilotage rates for the 2023 shipping season. The new rate structure would raise shipping costs by about $4.5 million over 2022, or about 14 percent, according to a Coast Guard estimate. Shipping industry representatives expressed concern over the steady rise in rates over the past decade.
Burger Boat Co. delivers vehicle ferry to Michigan operator
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. — Burger Boat Company delivered the vehicle ferry Neebish Islander III to the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA), located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The 92-foot U.S.-made steel ferry will operate year-round on the St. Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between Barbeau, Mich., and Neebish Island. The ferry was designed to operate in the harsh winter environment and through the solid ice conditions it will encounter on its route.
Alaska Marine Highway comes back from the brink
Story By Alan Earls When the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMH) vessel M/V Matanuska returned to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, late in the evening on June 20, 2022, it marked the end of a three-year service interruption to a port that had once been a key southern terminus. The immediate cause of the interruption had been new border crossing requirements between Canada and the U.S., resolution of which was delayed by the pandemic.
Ship fire contained at the Port of Anchorage
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard responded to a fire aboard the tanker Atlantic Lily in the Port of Anchorage, Friday night. At approximately 10 p.m., thick, black smoke was seen billowing from the exhaust stack of the 600-foot foreign-flagged tank vessel, following by a loud boom and flames. The crew quickly responded to the emergency, deploying fire hoses, and extinguishing the flames. Anchorage Fire Department and Port of Alaska personnel arrived on scene shortly after to provide support.
‘Midshipman X’, Maersk Line Ltd. reach settlement
NEW YORK — The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadet who recounted her rape aboard an American ship under the pseudonym “Midshipman X” has reached a settlement with Maersk Line, Limited (MLL). Attorneys representing Hope Hicks, who used the name “Midshipman X” in an online essay published in fall 2021, announced Friday in a joint statement with MLL that the case had been resolved.
Coast Guard heavy icebreaker sets sail for Antarctica
SEATTLE – The Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew departed Seattle on Wednesday and is scheduled to transit to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze. Operation Deep Freeze is an annual joint military mission to resupply the United States Antarctic stations in support of the National Science Foundation, the lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program. This marks the 26th year for the Polar Star to render support.
Bollinger Shipyards will acquire VT Halter Marine
LOCKPORT, La. — Bollinger Shipyards, the largest privately-owned and operated shipbuilder in the United States, announced Sunday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire VT Halter Marine and ST Engineering Halter Marine Offshore (STEHMO) from parent company ST Engineering North America.
Shell signs agreement to acquire ECL business of PANOLIN
Wholly-owned subsidiaries of Shell have entered into agreements to acquire the Environmentally Considerate Lubricants (ECLs) business of the PANOLIN Group.
Matson picks Philly Shipyard to build three containerships
HONOLULU — Matson Navigation Co. has contracted with Philly Shipyard to build three new Aloha class containerships for an aggregate price of approximately $1 billion. The first vessel is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026 with subsequent deliveries in 2027. The new vessels will join two Aloha class ships previously built for Matson by Philly Shipyard that entered service in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Bisso Towboat orders ASD tugboat from Main Iron Works
Luling, La. — Bisso Towboat Co., Inc. has signed an agreement with Main Iron Works, LLC, of Houma, La., to begin construction of a 5,000-hp ASD tractor tug. The new vessel will share the same hull form as the 6,008-hp Capt. Joseph Bisso that entered service in January 2022, albeit with less-powerful engines. The tug will feature two Caterpillar 3516E Tier 4 main engines each generating 2,500-hp at 1600 rpm.
Captain accused of drugging, assaulting cadets surrenders license
By Casey Conley The captain of an oceangoing ship accused of drugging two female cadets in his stateroom while underway in the Atlantic Ocean and then raping one of them has surrendered his license. John C. Merrone, 50, is accused of drugging the two female U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadets on or about Sept. 9, 2019.
Eastern Shipbuilding changes tactics in OPC contract challenge
Eastern Shipbuilding has withdrawn its formal protest of the U.S. Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutter contract (OPC) award and has instead filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. In a statement, the Florida shipbuilder said it was forced to change tactics because the Coast Guard refused to participate in the protest process before the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). “The federal procurement process is designed to be fair and transparent.
NTSB finds SEACOR Power crew did not face pressure to sail
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that crew aboard the liftboat SEACOR Power did not face pressure from the home office to get underway. Thirteen people died when the 233-foot SEACOR Power capsized on April 13, 2021 at about 1537 with 19 people on board during a severe storm that brought heavy rain and winds exceeding 80 mph. Six people were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and good Samaritan vessels. The bodies of six deceased people from the vessel were recovered.
Southern shipyards win order for three CTVs
(New Bedford, Mass.) — Windea CTV LLC, a U.S. operator of offshore wind Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs), announced Tuesday that it has commenced construction of three 30-meter hybrid ready CTVs. Two of the Incat Crowther-designed CTVs will be constructed at St. Johns Shipyard in Palatka, Fla., and one will be built at Gulf Craft in Franklin, La. The CTVs are scheduled to be delivered in 2023 and will go immediately into service for GE Renewables.
Casualties Newsletter December 2021
Reminder: New digital newsletter launching in January Professional Mariner is updating its newsletter format starting in the New Year. Instead of three themed newsletters a month, we will publish one newsletter each week containing a roundup of the most compelling news from the past week. In other words, the monthly Casualties Newsletter is going away. But the content that populated our themed newsletters will be included in the weekly news roundups, which will be published each Tuesday at noon.
December 2021 Brownwater News
Saying goodbye to Brownwater News Professional Mariner is updating its newsletter format starting in the new year. Instead of three themed newsletters a month, we will publish one newsletter each week containing a roundup of the most compelling news from the past week. In other words, the monthly Brownwater newsletter is going away. So are the focused Casualty and Shipbuilding newsletters.
December 2021 Shipbuilding News
Maritime Partners announces plan for methanol-powered towboat Maritime Partners, in cooperation with Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), e1 Marine and ABB, has announced plans to build the world’s first methanol-powered towboat. The vessel, called Hydrogen One, will join Maritime Partners’ fleet and become available for charter in 2023. The towboat will be powered by methanol that is mixed with water in a unit called a reformer to create hydrogen on demand.
Electric tour boats create new tradition for historic Niagara Falls operator
James V. Glynn passes Bridal Veil Falls and the larger American Falls on its way back to the dock. The iconic Horseshoe Falls is upriver. Fast charging equipment replenishes batteries on James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla between runs. On a drizzly summer morning, Capt. Kaitlynn McHenry guided Maid of the Mist’s James V. Glynn off the dock in Niagara Falls State Park. Instead of rumbling engines, the vessel got underway with a subtle whoosh. The 90.5-foot catamaran James V.
Mass. offshore wind tender promises maritime industry boost
Massachusetts regulators and utilities are vetting competing proposals from two offshore wind developers to supply clean energy to New England ratepayers. Both proposals, offered by Mayflower Wind and Vineyard Wind, would bring significant benefits to the maritime industry, such as port redevelopment and new vessel construction. All told, the plans promise new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment.
Diesel-electric hybrid propulsion proves value for U.S. operators
It’s been more than two years since Harbor Docking & Towing Co. added its first diesel-electric hybrid tugboats. That decision has paid off in multiple ways for the Lake Charles, La., operator. The Caterpillar hybrid system aboard Ralph and Capt. Robb delivers 91.5 tons of bollard pull while offering flexibility from different propulsion settings.
Port of Virginia avoids major container backlogs
Dozens of ships are waiting for berths off Los Angeles. Puget Sound is so overloaded, rarely used anchorages have filled up. And now, the cargo backlogs are spreading to the East Coast ports of Savannah and New York-New Jersey. The Port of Virginia, meanwhile, continues to operate normally despite similar surges in cargo that have bedeviled other ports.
Cadet’s rape allegation brings fresh scrutiny to Sea Year program
Cadets at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy gathered in 2019. A female cadet’s rape allegation has again raised concerns about Sea Year. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and Maersk Line Ltd. are facing scrutiny after a female cadet shared a detailed account of her rape aboard a merchant ship during Sea Year training. The cadet made the allegation in an anonymous post on a whistleblower website that includes other stories of harassment and sexual assault from men and women during Sea Year.
November 2021 Casualties newsletter
Second ship identified in Calif. pipeline strike U.S. Coast Guard officials investigating damage to a California oil pipeline have identified a second ship that might have been involved. Authorities boarded the 1,150-foot containership Beijing on Nov. 18 when it arrived in the Port of Long Beach. The service said Beijing was involved in a Jan. 25, 2021 anchor-dragging incident near the pipeline, which spilled oil earlier this fall. The Coast Guard has deemed vessel operator V. Ships Greece Ltd.
November 2021 Brownwater News
Ohio man charged after pipe bombs found on towboats Authorities have charged an Ohio man with possession of unregistered destructive devices after pipe bombs were found aboard towboats operating on the Ohio River. The suspect in the case, Nathaniel Becker, 42, lived in Marietta, a small city along the river. He is accused of building pipe bombs found on towboats on Oct. 21 and Oct. 25. Neither of the devices exploded.
November 2021 Shipbuilding News
Bay Shipbuilding launches new Great Lakes freighter Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and The Interlake Steamship Co. celebrated the launch of Mark W. Barker, the first new U.S.-built Great Lakes freighter in nearly 40 years. The 639-by-78-foot, River-class self-unloading ship is slated for completion next year. It will operate within the Great Lakes and carry raw materials such as salt, iron ore and stone.
The State of Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding industry recovering from Covid-19 slowdown All American Marine launched Sea Change earlier this year. It will be the first vessel in the United States powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology. Pasha Hawaii’s ‘Ohana class containerships, built by Keppel AmFELS, will run on liquified natural gas as soon as they enter service. Staten Island Ferry’s Ollis class is powered by four EMD engines that meet Tier 4 emissions standards.
FIRE/PILOTS/PATROL - Professional Mariner
LA Pilots add speedy new launches The Los Angeles Pilot Service serves the busiest seaport in the United States. Two new launches will help its pilots move more efficiently and more comfortably from ship to ship. The 55-by-19-foot Angels Pilot and Angels Navigator replace two smaller vessels built 26 years ago by Willard Marine. Vigor Industrial built the new pilot boats in Vancouver, Wash., using proven plans from Camarc Design.
Maritime Casualty News October 2021
Severe weather can emerge rapidly, Coast Guard warns The U.S. Coast Guard is warning mariners to exercise vigilance against severe weather, particularly strong storms that can emerge suddenly. The agency issued a safety alert spurred by a series of serious incidents where weather was a factor.
Brownwater News October 2021
Mississippi River pilots face scrutiny over fees Lower Mississippi River pilots faced scrutiny this spring from Louisiana lawmakers and industry groups targeting their salaries, fees and hiring practices. The three primary pilot associations ultimately beat back new oversight and regulation, but the campaign placed fresh emphasis on the groups’ perceived insularity and lack of diversity.
Brownwater News September 2021
Report identifies carbon reduction strategies on inland waterways A new report published by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Vanderbilt University explores different options for cutting carbon emissions on inland waterways. The report considers alternative fuels and propulsion systems, including electrification, as leading strategies to “decarbonize” the industry.
Shipbuilding News September 2021
Crowley, Shell partnering on new LNG bunker barge Crowley Maritime has announced plans to build and operate the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering barge in the Jones Act trade. Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding will construct the 416-foot barge, which will operate under a long-term time charter to Shell NA LNG. According to Crowley, the barge will be deployed starting in 2024 to bunker ships calling on the East Coast of the United States.
Maritime Casualty News August 2021
NTSB releases latest Safer Seas Digest The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its most recent Safer Seas Digest offering key insights and lessons from major maritime casualties. The 2020 report covers 42 maritime incidents from last year that involved significant property damage or loss of life.
Brownwater News August 2021
One dead after Texas tour boat capsizes during storm One person died and another was injured after a tour boat capsized during a thunderstorm on Lake Conroe near Houston, Texas. The 60-passenger double-decker Lake Conroe Queen rolled over at about 2015 on Aug. 14, according to a CNN report. The deceased passenger was an 80-year-old man, while a second person was hospitalized in stable condition. The sternwheeler was built in the 1980s and is a replica of a traditional 1860s-era riverboat.
Brownwater News July, 2021
U.S.-flagged cruise ship aground in Lake Barkley Salvage efforts are ongoing to free a cruise ship that ran aground in Lake Barkley, within the Cumberland River, near the Kentucky town of Cadiz. Donjon-SMIT is leading the effort to refloat American Jazz, which became stuck on July 7 while cruising between Memphis and Nashville with 120 passengers. American Cruise Lines, the ship’s operator, said the vessel is not damaged and that there were no injuries or pollution as a result of the grounding.
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