Mexican Navy Contracts Damen for Two Vessels

Rendering of the FCS 5009 (Image courtesy of Damen)

Secretaria de Marina orders seventh patrol vessel and a fast crew supplier

In August 2014 the Mexican Navy (Secretaría de Marina) and the Netherlands’ Damen Shipyards Group signed contracts for the delivery of the design, material package, technical assistance and training for two vessels that will be built by the Mexican Navy, using the Damen Technical Cooperation program, which enables customers to build their vessel on the location of their choice.

The first contract is for a Damen Stan Patrol 4207, the seventh of the Tenochtitlan-class (named after the first vessel of this class in use by the Mexican Navy), to be built on the navy yard ASTIMAR 1 in Tampico. This yard, located on the Gulf of Mexico, has already concluded the construction of three Stan Patrols and will now undertake the construction of the other four.

The second contract is for a Damen Fast Crew Supplier 5009, which features the Damen Sea Axe bow that reduces slamming up to 70%. The FCS 5009 has been adapted to meet specific Mexican Navy requirements. Among others it will include a deck crane and an extra accommodation module. In total the vessel can transport 145 passengers and 17 crew members. The vessel has four Caterpillar 3512C TA engines, and can reach a speed of 21 knots. The vessel will be constructed on the Navy yard ASTIMAR 6 in Guaymas, a city on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Damen Technical Cooperation allows yards that are not a part of the Damen Shipyards Group to build modern, high quality vessels. With the design, material packages and technical and logistical assistance, these shipyards can improve their capabilities, using the experience and taking advantage of the quality of Damen. Through this building method over five hundred vessels, on shipyards all over the globe, have been built.

damen.com
 

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  Rendering of the FCS 5009 (Image courtesy of Damen)

Mexican Navy Contracts Damen for Two Vessels

Rendering of the FCS 5009 (Image courtesy of Damen)

Secretaria de Marina orders seventh patrol vessel and a fast crew supplier

In August 2014 the Mexican Navy (Secretaría de Marina) and the Netherlands’ Damen Shipyards Group signed contracts for the delivery of the design, material package, technical assistance and training for two vessels that will be built by the Mexican Navy, using the Damen Technical Cooperation program, which enables customers to build their vessel on the location of their choice.

The first contract is for a Damen Stan Patrol 4207, the seventh of the Tenochtitlan-class (named after the first vessel of this class in use by the Mexican Navy), to be built on the navy yard ASTIMAR 1 in Tampico. This yard, located on the Gulf of Mexico, has already concluded the construction of three Stan Patrols and will now undertake the construction of the other four.

The second contract is for a Damen Fast Crew Supplier 5009, which features the Damen Sea Axe bow that reduces slamming up to 70%. The FCS 5009 has been adapted to meet specific Mexican Navy requirements. Among others it will include a deck crane and an extra accommodation module. In total the vessel can transport 145 passengers and 17 crew members. The vessel has four Caterpillar 3512C TA engines, and can reach a speed of 21 knots. The vessel will be constructed on the Navy yard ASTIMAR 6 in Guaymas, a city on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Damen Technical Cooperation allows yards that are not a part of the Damen Shipyards Group to build modern, high quality vessels. With the design, material packages and technical and logistical assistance, these shipyards can improve their capabilities, using the experience and taking advantage of the quality of Damen. Through this building method over five hundred vessels, on shipyards all over the globe, have been built.

damen.com
 

• 
  Rendering of the FCS 5009 (Image courtesy of Damen)

Mexico Mine Still causing Pollution, Blocking Investigation

       

A Mexican copper mine which spewed millions of gallons of acid into a river last month is still causing pollution and the facility’s owners are blocking the work of investigators probing the accident, authorities said.
The massive acid leak in August, involving some 40,000 cubic meters (10.6 million gallons) of sulfuric acid, was one of Mexico’s largest ever mining-related environmental disasters.
“As of this moment, the government of Sonora (state) totally breaks off any relationship with the mining company,” which is continuing to discharge toxic substances in the river, director of the state civil protection agency, Carlos Arias said at a press conference Friday.

The toxic acid, used to dissolve copper from ore, spilled out of a holding tank at the Buenavista copper mine in Sonora State, one of the largest in the world.
The chemical turned a 60-kilometer (40-mile) stretch of the Sonora River orange, causing authorities to shut off the municipal water supply to 20,000 people in seven towns.
Arias said since the spill, Buenavista, a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, has blocked access to investigators, and he warned Sonora state authorities would come back — this time backed up by security forces.
“We will act with the full weight of the law, because they are already in a plan that cannot continue,” Arias said, adding the government was mulling permanent closure of the mine.
The mining company “categorically denied the accusations,” in a statement Friday night.
“Buenavista del Cobre has worked alongside state authorities,” the company said, lamenting “the politicization of the accident.”
The mining company has created a fund of two billion pesos ($147 million) to repair the environmental damage. Environmental authorities have also imposed fines of more than 44 million pesos ($3 million) over the spill.
Federal prosecutors are still investigating whether the leak was caused by shoddy construction and installation of the pipeline or, as the company argues, by excessive rains.

Border Protests starting Sept 18, 2014

Protest Plans to Shut Down Ports of Entry Moving Forward

Plans to shut down ports of entry between the United States and Mexico by a citizen protest group are being finalized. The list of ports includes six Texas ports, four in Arizona, two in New Mexico and five in California. Organizers say this is the final list and plan to move forward on all ports listed.

“This event is for Patriotic Americans who feel strongly about our nation’s sovereignty and bringing our Marine, Sgt. Tahmooressi, home,” said event organizer Stasyi Barth in a statement posted on the groups website. Sgt. Tahmooressi is being held in a Mexican jail for allegedly entering Mexico with weapons that are illegal in that country. He claims the entry was accidental.

Clarifying her previous comments about militia groups not being welcome in the protest, Barth said, “This is NOT a militia event,” Barth explained. “No militia groups have been involved in the organizing of this event, nor are they planning on participating. The mere mention of ‘militia’ draws fear and headlines, which is obviously the intent of the media.”

“We are standing up for law enforcement, not against them,” she continued.
 “This is a peaceful protest to air our grievances to our government, as allowed by the Constitution.”

In Texas, the group plans on blocking ports of entry located.
One of the leaders in Texas told another media outlet they have about 200 people lined up in Texas and expect more to just show up at the scene.
Laredo,             Rio Grande City,             Presidio, Hildago,
Brownsville            Del Rio.

California protests are scheduled for.
Calexico West,    Calexico East,    Stay Mesa,        Tecate,

San Ysidro. New Mexico protests are planned for Columbus and Santa Theresa while in Arizona, the ports of entry of Naco, Nogales, Douglas and San Luis are planned for closure.

“This event is for you, every patriotic American, to express your grievances in a safe and peaceful way,” Barth said on her website. As far as firearms Barth explained, “Yes, some states allow you to carry a firearm and I will not impede on that right. However, please keep it hidden and safely away from others.”

The website details out rules of conduct for event attendees to adhere to in order to assure the safety of all involved on both sides of the protest. She said she is anticipating counter protests and encourages all participants to not engage them. “They will say angry, hateful and vile things; do not respond” Barth continued. “They are looking for news coverage that they can point to, proving you are the bad guy.”

The events are all scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. CDT (8 a.m. PDT)