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Anchors await restoration; Newport News shipyard steps up

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

When The Mariners' Museum embarked on a project to restore pieces from its "boneyard" full of old boats, cannons and anchors via a fund-raising drive it didn't expect the high level of donor response or the amount of anchor-polishing its under-equipped staff would face as a result.

Senate vote pushes Craney Island port project ahead

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A Senate bill that helps advance the construction of Hampton Roads’ next major ocean terminal, passed overwhelmingly Wednesday.

NN coal terminal to dredge berth to handle giant ships

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

With dredging Kinder Morgan's Pier IX will match other area terminals

Houston energy giant Kinder Morgan submitted a proposal to dredge a berth at its Newport News coal terminal to 52 feet from its current 45 feet, which would allow larger "Panamax" ships to dock on either side of its pier.

A port first: box ship drafts 49 feet of water

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Port of Virginia has outdone itself, when it comes to handling big container ships.

Ports officials predict financial turnaround

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

From a $13.7 million loss to $230,000 in the black

After years of operating at a loss, the combined budget of the Virginia Port Authority and its nonprofit operator is expected to be in the black, according to a draft budget for Fiscal Year 2014.

Doumar orders release of coal-laden ship from Port of Virginia

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A federal judge ordered the Coast Guard to accept a bond payment of $1.5 million in exchange for the release of a coal-laden cargo ship accused of violating environmental laws and docked at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal.

Shipyard increasingly profitable for first quarter of 2013

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Revenue at the shipyard's parent company, Huntington Ingalls Industry, was flat in first-quarter 2013 earnings report released Wednesday, but earnings per share was a penny better than Wall Street estimates.

Judge blasts Coast Guard in hearing

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEWPORT NEWS—A federal judge blasted the Coast Guard repeatedly for preventing a Maltese-flagged ship from leaving the Port of Virginia as its crew are investigated for allegedly violating environmental laws.

Ford's structure complete after last "puzzle piece"

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

If the hull of the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is a massive jigsaw puzzle – a metaphor sometimes employed by its shipbuilders – then the forward end of the catapult is like a corner piece.

Ford launch moved back from July to November

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier will be launched in November as opposed to July as was originally set in a contract between the Navy and Newport News Shipbuilding, a Navy official said.

Judge to ship owner, Coast Guard: Compromise

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:56:48 GMT

A federal judge on Monday urged lawyers for a coal ship owner and the Coast Guard to come to an agreement so the ship can operate while the government investigates it for an alleged environmental crime.

Petters bullish on 2013 for Huntington Ingalls

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

With two years under his belt at the helm of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Mike Petters offered a sunny take on the Newport News company's future Wednesday.

Customs agents find moth in military shipment

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Customs agents found a potentially harmful moth on a military cargo plane bringing equipment from Afghanistan to Naval Station Norfolk.

Investors for Newport News Shipbuilding's parent company will meet in Miss.

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Next week's annual shareholders meeting for Newport News-based Huntington Ingalls Industries will be more of a hike for local investors than last year's event.

Virginia opens Shanghai trade office

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Virginia opened a Shanghai office Tuesday to promote the export of agricultural and forestry products from the commonwealth.

Jacksonville port eyes former VPA official

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:31:16 GMT

Jerry A. Bridges, the former Virginia Port Authority executive director who left that post abruptly in October, is a finalist for the top ports job in Jacksonville.

Mike Petters, shipyard CEO, to speak for early child education

By Sarah J. Pawlowski, spawlowski@dailypress.com | 757-247-7478 — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Mike Petters, president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, said he thinks raising a child is a lot like building a ship — you have to lay a strong foundation to get it right.

Navy asks for more money for subs, carriers in 2014

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON—The Navy asked Congress for money to build an extra Virginia-class submarine in the fiscal year starting in October, according to the White House's budget request released Wednesday.

Shipyard official says Ford valve shortage is mostly in the rear view

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD— A valve shortage that has driven up the price of the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is mostly resolved, according to a top Newport News Shipbuilding official.

Dockworkers approve contract

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Members of the International Longshoremen's Association on Tuesday voted to ratify a new master contract running through Sept. 2018.

Aid program that moves food through Virginia ports could be transformed

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Port of Virginia trails American rivals in a number of cargo volume categories, but when it comes to the distribution of food to famine-stricken areas across the globe the state ocean terminal complex is a leader.

McDonnell: Port restructuring is imperative

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Though Gov. Bob McDonnell said he accepts a recent decision by a board of his appointees not to privatize management of Virginia's ocean terminals, but that his acceptance depends on the results of a corporate restructuring effort, an audit of the current nonprofit operator and the installation of a new team to run the ports.

Refueling and overhaul starts on the USS Lincoln

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Despite project delay, shipyard officials say they should keep cost below budget

For Newport News Shipbuilding and its various subcontractors and parts suppliers, the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln in Dry Dock 11 was a time to breathe a quick sigh of relief and then to get back to work.

Valve shortage drives up cost of shipyard's Ford carrier

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A government watchdog agency said Newport News Shipbuilding's inability to get critical valves in a timely fashion has driven up the cost of its next-generation aircraft carrier.

Newport News Shipbuilding signs contract for Lincoln overhaul

By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744 — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:35:00 GMT

Newport News Shipbuilding signed a contract with the Navy to refuel and overhaul the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln for $2.6 billion.