Newsletter: September/October 2011 Newsletter

Our guest speaker for the September General Membership Meeting is RDML Joe Carnevale, USN (Ret), Senior Defense Advisor for Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA). Joe will discuss the 2012 federal defense budget.

 

Joe represents SCA before Congress, the US Navy, US Coast Guard and other Federal agencies, applying over thirty years of experience to defense acquisition issues. He actively participates in a variety of ship maintenance and construction issues including the surface ship maintenance budget, the shipbuilding budget, multi-ship/multi-option contracting, the Naval Technical Committee, Naval Vessel Rules, ship building issues specific to ship classes and many other important issues affecting the ship building and repair industrial base.

 

Prior to joining Shipbuilders Council of America in June of 2005, Mr. Carnevale led the professional services division of one of the fastest growing Fortune 500 companies. He served as Director of Fleet Maintenance for the Commander, Fleet Forces Command, where he addressed the complete range of Fleet maintenance issues as well as the recovery operation for USS COLE (DDG 67). As Program Executive Officer (DD 21) for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development & Acquisition), he led the development of the next generation of U.S. Navy surface combatant. He has directly participated in the construction of six different ship classes.

 

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts, (B.S. Chemical Engineering, 1971), Mr. Carnevale joined the Navy, participating in combat operations in Vietnam. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology earning two postgraduate degrees, (M.S. Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, Ocean Engineer’s Degree, 1980). He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (lower half) in 1998.

 

Other Navy assignments include:

Executive Assistant to ASN(RD&A)                               1996-1998

Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Pascagoula                           1993-1996

DASN(SHIPS) Director for Surface Combatants            1990-1993

AEGIS Area Commander, Pascagoula                             1987-1990

 

SCA is the national trade association representing the U.S. shipyard industry.  SCA members constitute the shipyard industrial base that builds, repairs, maintains and modernizes Navy ships and craft, U.S. Coast Guard vessels of all sizes, as well as vessels for other government agencies. In addition, SCA members build, repair and service America's fleet of commercial vessels.  The Council represents 48 companies that own and operate over 120 shipyards, with facilities on all three U.S. coasts, the Great Lakes, the inland waterways system, Alaska and Hawaii. SCA also represents 69 affiliate members that provide goods and services to the shipyard industry.

The 25th annual golf tournament was held in lieu of the August General Membership meeting.

Our guest speaker for the July meeting was RADM David M. Thomas, Jr, USN, Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT). The goal of SURFLANT is to improve the readiness of surface ships and to get them to their expected service life. SURFLANT is responsible for eighty ships, 6 of which are based outside the United States. At any one time, 64% of the fleet is underway. This is twice the operational tempo the Navy had ten to fifteen years ago. As a result, there is very little slack in the operating schedule to make reassignments when ships complete an availability after the original completion date.

 

RADM Thomas said he enjoys his partnership with VSRA member companies, and he appreciates the fantastic work being done in this port. Two of RADM Thomas’s goals are to reinstate pre-availability inspections in order to make the availability work packages better reflect the ship’s maintenance condition and to have more consistency in what is required to consider an availability complete.    

At the June meeting, the Board of Directors approved six new member companies. The new companies are ADS, Inc.; Aggreko LLC; American Rag and Wipers, Inc.; Coastal Crossways Staffing Corp.; Moran Environmental Recovery LLC and National Specialty Alloys. At the July meeting, the Board of Directors approved four new member companies. The new companies are Ingalls Shipbuilding; Marriott Execustay; Seacoast Electric, a Division of EIS and Tidal Corrosion Services.

 

This brings our total membership to 211 member companies. 

ADS, Inc. is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company providing goods and services to all branches of the government, including U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command.

 

Please visit their website at www.ADSinc.com

Aggreko LLC provides temporary power generation and distribution, heating, A/C and dehumidification chiller systems, boilers, heat exchangers, oil free compressed air and air components as well as engineering for manufacturing or repair processes. 

Please visit their website at www.aggreko.com

American Rag and Wipers, Inc. is a manufacturer/supplier of wiping cloths, rags, and containment products. They sell to shipyards and various other military contractors. They are a service connected veteran-owned certified corporation.

 

Please visit their website at www.americanragandwipers.com

Coastal Crossways Staffing Corp. is a woman-owned small business provider of fire preventers, laborers and unskilled workers.

Moran Environmental Recovery LLC (MER) is an integrated provider of industrial and marine cleaning services, facility decontamination and abatement, site remediation, and emergency response services. They target clients within three industrial areas: energy and industrial, professional services, and transportation. They also have operations in Jacksonville (Mayport), Mobile, Savannah, Charleston, Philadelphia (Naval Shipyard), Baltimore, Wilmington, New York, Providence, Boston/Portsmouth, and Portland.

 

Please visit their website at http://www.moranenvironmental.com

With over twenty five years of experience, National Specialty Alloys (NSA) is proud to be your single source solution with their range of capabilities, accurate processing, same-day shipping, and much more. From their vast inventory of alloy bars, to custom processing, customer service, and beyond, discover the NSA Advantage. When you expect the best, count on quality and performance from NSA.

 

Please visit their website at www.nsalloys.com

Ingalls Shipbuilding is a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. Ingalls Shipbuilding has pioneered the development and production of technologically advanced, highly capable warships for the surface Navy fleet, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, and foreign and commercial customers. They perform ship repair and modernization.

 

Please visit their website at http://www.huntingtoningalls.com/is

Marriott Execustay has been providing extended stay lodging services to many defense contractors specifically to those in the ship repair industry. They have existing lodging contracts with BAE, HII, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics and many more. They strive to be active members of local associations in the industries they support.

 

Please visit their website at http://www.execustay.com

 

Tidal Corrosion Services specializes in surface preparation and coatings application.

If you missed the 25th Annual VSRF Golf Tournament held at Bayville Golf Club, you really missed a great time - starting with the play over the water on the first tee throughout the entire day!  As expected, all 144 golfer slots sold out.  There were some terrific raffle and door prize items. Congratulations if you were one of the lucky ones!  Also, congratulations to Capitol Finishes for winning First Place! 

 

A big “Thank You” goes to all of our sponsors and volunteers in making this tournament flourish each year.  With your continued support and level of sponsorship of this great event, we were able to execute a successful tournament which will assist in our mission of providing workforce training, development, and career outreach to the ship repair industry.  Again, thank you for making this a “sought after” tournament year after year! Mark your calendar and save the date for next year’s tournament; Tuesday, August 14, 2012.

 

We would like to recognize our generous sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors – BAE Systems and Earl Industries

 

Gold Sponsors – Auxiliary Systems; BB&T; C&M Industries; Horizon Services LLC; L3 Communications/PacOr; Marine Hydraulics International; McPhillips, Roberts & Deans; Metro Machine Corp.; MF&B Marine LLC; Tecnico Corporation and VT Milcom

 

Silver Sponsors – G4S Secure Solutions USA and International Flooring & Protective Coatings

 

Hole Sponsors – Applied Technical Services; Beach Commercial Finance; Capitol Finishes Inc.; Collins Machine Works; Crofton Diving; Integrity Staffing Services Inc.; National Specialty Alloys; Newport News Shipbuilding; QED Systems Inc. and Vandeventer Black LLP

 

Long Drive Sponsors – Epsilon Systems Solutions and Sales Systems Ltd.

 

Closest to Pin Sponsors – Network Industries and Colonna’s Shipyard Inc.

 

Beverage Cart Sponsors –IMS Environmental Services; LTD Hospitality and Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer PC

 

2011 Prize Winners

1st Place – Capitol Finishes (John Workman; Randy Pulley Jr;. Randy Pulley and Ray Sweeney)

2nd Place – VT Milcom (David Staley, Don Zimbro, Sean Quinn, Walter Yourstone)

3rd Place – L3 Communications/PacOrd (Gus Pedrotti, Jim McFadden, John Weber, Mike Popko)

High Score – Auxiliary Systems (Rick Williams, Nathan Williams, Buck Hodges, Steve Pitt)

Long Drive – David Staley (VT Milcom) and Pete Strauss (Bank of America)

Closest to Pin – Gus Pedrotti (L3/PacOrd) and  Kevin King (NDI Engineering)

Sony Bravia 55” 1080HP-HDTV – Jimmy Jones (QED)

Sony 9” Portable DVD Player – Jerry Miller (Earl Industries)

VIZIO Tablet w/WiFi and Entertainment Bundle – Chris O’Neal (Applied Technical Services)

Nikon Coolpix S80 Touch Camera w/case – Mike Nowakowski (Colonna’s Shipyard)

Sony BluRay Disc/DVD Player – Brian Tuttle (Analytic Stress)

One Night Stay at (9) different Hotels, Sponsored by LTD Hospitality Group – Jean Blanchard (Earl Industries)

Trip to New York and (2) tickets to a Broadway show, Sponsored by NSC Technologies – Kevin King (NDI Engineering)

Sponsored by the VSRA Safety Committee

 

The 16^th Annual Safety & Health Seminar is scheduled for September 28, 2011 at the Ted Constant Center at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. This will be a   dynamic day of presentations, activities and networking for Ship Repair Project Managers, Superintendents, and Safety Professionals!

 

Each year, the Virginia Ship Repair Association conducts an all-day seminar focused on safety and health issues. This year’s theme is "Safety - Everyone is Responsible.” The seminar will focus on production employees in a one-day event packed with great information and hands-on activities from the area's subject matter experts. Safety professionals from across Hampton Roads from the over 200 VSRA member companies, as well as government representatives, are also expected to participate.

 

Seminar Attendees will receive a Certificate of Participation reflecting 8.0 Safety
Training Hours certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene. Certification Maintenance Points may be earned with your attendance. Sponsorships are available for this important event. The exposure gained through sponsorship is of great value to companies and affords many networking opportunities.    There are four sponsorship levels available: Platinum ($1,500); Gold ($750); Silver ($500); and Bronze ($250).  

 

Early Bird registration is available through September 16, 2011. The cost for members  is $80 and $135 for non-members. After September 16, 2011, members will pay $85 and non-members $150. If five or more register from the same company, they will receive a 10% discount. Breakfast and lunch are included! For more details and registration, you may visit our website at www.VirginiaShipRepair.org, e-mail us at admin@VirginiaShipRepair.org, or you may call us at (757)233-7034.  

Mark your calendars now for the VSRA Contracts Seminar.   Each seminar is only $50 for Members and $100 for Non-Members. We thank your sponsors for providing the refreshments for the social hours, which begins at 4:30 P.M.

 

Theme:            Bid Protest Seminar

Instructor:       Kevin Cosgrove, Hunton & Williams LLP and

Terrence Murphy, Kaufman & Conoles, P.C.

When:              Thursday, September 22, 2011, 3:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Where:             Kaufman & Canoles, 150 West Main St., Suite 2100, Norfolk, VA 23510

                        Parking is available in the City Garage on Plume St.

Sponsor:          Food and beverages sponsored by Jo-Kell, Inc.

 

Theme:            Standards of Conduct Seminar

Instructor:       Michael J. Gardner, Troutman Sanders LLP and

                        Patrick H. O’Donnell, Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

When:              Thursday, October 6, 2011, 3:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Where:             Troutman Sanders LLP, 222 Central Park Ave, Suite 2000, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

                        Parking is available in the Town Center Garage

Sponsor:          Food and beverages sponsored by Troutman Sanders LLP

**Note: FAR 3.1002(b) states, “Contractors should have a written code of business ethics and conduct. To promote compliance with such code of business ethics and conduct, contractors should have an employee business ethics and compliance training program and an internal control system ….” This seminar helps contractors meet some of these training requirements.

 

 

Theme:            Contract Claims Seminar

Instructor:       Daniel R. Weckstein, Vandeventer Black LLP

When:              Thursday, November 2, 2011, 3:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Where:             Kaufman & Canoles, 150 West Main St., Suite 2100, Norfolk, VA 23510

                        Parking is available in the City Garage on Plume St.

Sponsor:          Food and beverages sponsored by Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc.

Submitted by Taylor Made Diagnostics

There’s a new challenge on the horizon in maintaining a drug-free workplace with the rising popularity of high-test energy drinks. The source of the problem is that some of these drinks, unbeknownst to the consumer, contain alcohol—as much as 12 percent in some products. Packaging is part of the problem. These ‘pick-me-up’ beverages, such as Four Loko, Rock Star, Tilt, and Jose (pronounced “Juice”) very often look like any other energy drink on the market. What this means is that you potentially have a problem with substance abuse in the workplace where employees don’t even realize they are operating heavy equipment and performing tasks under the influence of alcohol—putting themselves, their co-workers and your company at risk.

 

As government agencies mobilize to meet the challenge of new threats to workplace safety, some steadfast and proven strategies in ensuring a drug-free work environment are also the most proactive and effective in tackling these types of issues. Every day, in every city throughout Hampton Roads and the nation, substance abuse is costing employers billions of dollars. In fighting the war on drugs and substance abuse, many companies are committed to providing their employees safe, drug-free work environments. The weapon of choice is a Drug-Free Workplace Program that includes written policies and procedures, education, testing, and employee assistance programs. In fact, FAR 52.223-6 Drug-Free Workplace requires federal contractors to have an on-going drug-free awareness program.

 

Employee education is a vital part of a drug-free workplace program. How a company informs its employees of its policy and how it reinforces its message is important in determining the program’s success and the ability to adapt to emerging trends. The first line of defense is with supervisors who are most often the first to notice a change in behavior and performance that may signal drug or alcohol abuse. Key to addressing these issues is support from top management. A disconnect between management and supervisors can cost companies plenty, especially if you don’t already have a Drug-Free Workplace Program in place. Training is equally as important. Supervisors must also be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of alcohol and substance abuse and be familiar with policies and guidelines that foster education and counseling.  

 

It is also essential to be aware of and in compliance with all local, state and federal laws designed to protect the rights of employees. Employers should consult with an experienced attorney and occupational health provider to ensure that their policies are current and contain the necessary information about testing and consequences and that polices are written in clear, concise language.    

 

And remember that your Drug-Free Workplace Program is a contract between your company and employees that constitutes an agreement that safeguards the health and wellbeing of all parties. Remind employees that these programs are in place for their protection as well as yours and that, ultimately, there is a benefit to everyone when polices that prevent alcohol and drugs in the workplace are swiftly and effectively addressed.

Every three years, VSRA conducts a workforce, wage and training survey. While wages increased over the 2008 results, turn-over decreased, and hiring remained nearly the same. A new finding added this year focused on temporary/non-temporary wages. Due to reporting discrepancies, a follow-up survey will be released in the Fall on this particular area. The complete report for the 2011 version can be viewed on our website at http://www.virginiashiprepair.org/labormarketinfo.asp. You must be a Member and logged in to view the document. Please refer any suggestions, comments or questions to Michelle Tomaszewski.

Interest in offshore wind energy is growing rapidly as federal and state governments identify this emerging industry as a powerful economic opportunity. Virginia is at the forefront of this effort, which offers the prospect of creating more than 10,000 renewable energy jobs in the state. The Old Dominion University Business Gateway will host the Virginia Offshore Wind Conference and Supply Chain Workshop on September 26 from 8-12 in the Webb Center. Please contact the ODU Business Gateway at 757-683-5479 or visit www.ODUBusinessGateway.com/PDC for more information. $85 earlybird registration ends September 12; regular registration is $95.

 

9/21/11 - TASC Luncheon held at the Norfolk Airport Hilton, 11:30 A.M.   To register, go to www.tasc-tgic.org.

 

9/21/11 - ASNE Tidewater Section Dinner Meeting held at the Springhill Suites, Newtown Rd., 1800-1900 Social Hour, 1900-2030 Dinner and Program. The Guest Speaker is CDR Will Hermann, Commanding Officer USS New York (LPD-21). To register, go to www.asne-tw.org.

 

10/19/11 - TASC Luncheon held at the Norfolk Airport Hilton, 11:30 A.M.   To register, go to www.tasc-tgic.org.

 

10/19/11 - ASNE Tidewater Section Dinner Meeting held at the Springhill Suites, Newtown Rd., 1800-1900 Social Hour, 1900-2030 Dinner and Program. The Guest Speaker is Mr. Mike Petters, CEO Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). He will address HII and the shipbuilding outlook. To register, go to www.asne-tw.org.

The committee met in August. The committee meets the second Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. at QED Systems, Inc. at 4646 N. Witchduck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

 

The committee did not meet in August. The committee meets the first Thursday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the Troutman Sanders conference room, 150 Main Street, 16th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510. The committee met in July and discussed Representative Scott Rigell’s Small Business Forum, RAPIDGate, Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, the mini-seminar series, ASNE’s Fleet Maintenance and Modernization Symposium, the JINII meeting, and the golf tournament.

 

The committee meets on odd-numbered months, so they did not meet in August. The committee met in July and discussed EPA’s proposed Numeric Limits on Ballast Water discharges to combat harming native species. The EECATS training requirement has been eliminated. During a dredging project in San Diego, all of the dredged materials were subject to numeric limits and had to be solidified and taken to a landfill. The EPA has been conducting unannounced drills for facilities and companies that respond to oil spills.   The committee meets on odd-numbered months on the second Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the United Coatings Corp. Training Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707.

The committee did not meet in August. The committee meets the first Wednesday of the month at 11:00 a.m. at Troutman Sanders, 150 W. Main Street, Suite 1600, Norfolk, VA 23510. For the upcoming September meeting, there will be a Presentation and Discussion on complying with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA), which prohibits discrimination against workers due to their military service obligations and which guarantees returning veterans a job at their old place of employment

 

 

The committee met in August. Brian Applewhite encouraged all members to publicize the Safety Suggestion Program at their workplace. The 2011 VSRA Safety Seminar is coming September 28, 2011. All members were encouraged to publicize this event at their workplace. Subpart “F” changes was addressed, including extensions of most lighting and Motor vehicle requirements to November 1, 2011 and Lock/out Tag-out (LOTO) to January 31, 2012. All other subpart “F” requirements must be in place by October, including: Sanitation and Medical. Shane Bangert of Earl Industries reported that the next OSHA/VSRA partnership meeting will be held at Colonna’s Shipyard on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at 9:00 am. Most of this meeting will be reserved for Subpart “F” discussion. Angelo Costa is expected to be present. Chuck Hall of AMSEC reported for the SSARAC sub-committee. Danny Small of Marine Hydraulics Inc. reported that a member of his company had “found” a goggle and face piece apparatus that is expected to reduce eye injuries and “get into” tight areas. Joe Underwood of MSA was the Guest Speaker, and gave a presentation of the “ALTAIR 4” & “ALTAIR 5” four gas (Oxygen, LEL, CO & H2S) meters. The committee meets the second Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the United Coatings Corp. Training Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707.

The committee met in August at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel & Conference Center with 125+ in attendance. Also in attendance to provide information and help answer questions regarding RapidGate implementation in Hampton Roads were Mr. David Shutter, C1123, NSSA/NNSY Security Manager, Mrs. Gina Dara, CNRMA Regional Security and Mr. John I. Johnson, NSSA C1112. For the past 18+ months, RapidGate has been a “hot topic” locally within VSRA Security Committee, NSSA and Regional Security. RapidGate badges will take the place of Regional Contractor’s Badges. For more information, you may contact a RapidGate representative at 1-877-727-4342, Mr. Shutter at 443-3872 x2592 or Leigh Kennedy at 215-2550. The committee meets the second Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in the United Coatings Corp. Conference Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707.

We are pleased to offer the following courses:

 

COST: Members $120.00       Non Member $150.00

DATES: September 14, October 26, November 21, December 28, 2011 (7:30am – 3:30am)

LOCATION: United Coatings Corp. Training Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707

 

COST: Members $100.00       Non Member $135.00

DATES: October 27, November 22, December 29, 2011 (7:30am – 11:30am)

LOCATION: United Coatings Corp. Training Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707

 

 

 

COST: Members: $400.00      Non Members: $475.00

DATES: September 26-29, 2011 (7:30am – 3:30pm)

LOCATION: Metropolitan Laboratories, 330 County St. (3rd floor) Portsmouth, VA 23704

 

 

COST: Members: $375.00      Non Members: $495.00

DATES: September 22-23, December 1-2, 2011 (8:30am – 4:00pm)

LOCATION: Tecnico, 831 Industrial Ave, Chesapeake VA 23324

 

 

COST: $375.00 VSRA members, $495.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: October 20-21, December 8-9, 2011, 7:30am - 3:30pm

LOCATION: Tecnico Corporation, 831 Industrial Ave, Chesapeake, VA 23324

 

The training centers on leadership demands, behavioral management, tracking professional goals and developing stronger workers through career development and goal setting. Today, the job of a supervisor is complicated by the changing work environments, and a new breed of employees coming in the door. Supervisors will learn about the labor market, their own leadership and management strengths and how to effect change on the waterfront. The course delivers 16 plus hours of lecture, video, hands-on activities, The Kouzes & Posner Leadership Challenge System and text based assignments.

 

 

COST: $320.00 VSRA members, $425.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: October 12-14, November 30-December 2, 2011, 8:00am-4:30pm 

LOCATION: Metropolitan Labs, 330 County St., Portsmouth, VA 23707

                                                                                            

This course will review coating documents such as SSPC PA-2, NSTM Chapter 631 and NSTM Chapter 634 for non-skid and others. It will also provide a thorough review of SI 009-32 and applicable sections of 009-04. Recent changes to the NAVSEA NBPI Exam have resulted in lower pass rates. In order to better prepare your workers, VSRA is offering a 1-1/2-day pre-course specifically to address exam standards and increase inspector-level knowledge. Each attendee will receive a current copy of NAVSEA Standard Items 009-32 and 009-04.

 

 

This course is approved by NAVSEA.

COST: $750.00 VSRA members, $900.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: October 24-28, December 12-16, 2011, 7:00am - 5:00pm

LOCATION: NSSA Training Department, Naval Station Norfolk, 9727 Avionics Loop, Building LF-18, Norfolk, VA 23511

 

Attendance is limited to 20 applicants. A score of 80% or higher is required to be eligible for the certification. Students passing the exam will receive a four-year certification and a laminated wallet card from SSPC. Test results will come directly from SSPC. VSRA strongly recommends taking the NBPI Prep Course prior to attending.

 

Due to changes with the SSPC, all documents related to this course need to be submitted to the SSPC representative, Jeannine Bodack. Her email address is: bodack@sspc.org, phone: 877-281-7772 x 2204, fax: 412-281-9995. These documents must be submitted two weeks before the first day of class. Please go to the SSPC website http://www.sspc.org to view the current required documents.

 

 

**Please note, you must be logged in to receive the discounted VSRA price for seminars.**

 

Refund & Cancellation Policy: VSRA offers courses at a greatly reduced rate to our members. Cancellations must be made within 4 business days of the course date to receive full credit contingent on slots being filled. Late cancellations will be given a 50% credit towards future training or 100% if open slot is filled. No-shows WILL BE CHARGED the course fee, and no refunds will be made. Substitutions are welcome; however, please contact the VSRA office as soon as possible. If VSRA has to reschedule or cancel a course, we will work with your company to place employees in a future training course.