EDITOR'S NOTE
he current economic malaise is predictably unpredictable. Yes, business is tough, and despite a general feeling that there is a start of a rebound in some of the consumer markets, most involved in the construction and supply to the marine and offshore markets eye 2010-11 warily, because that is when the current orderbook will have largely run its course, and there could be a significant lull in activities on the dearth of orders placed in the last nine months. But while the depth and breadth of the slowdown to our market is not yet known, one gets the feeling that the long-term, quality players in this market are well positioned to invest and prosper when and where others may fall. A good example is a recent news blurb detailing the Chapter 11 filing of U.S. Shipping Partners, and the deal for Crowley Maritime to help pick up the pieces, signing a deal to manage five U.S.-flag petroleum tankers, three of which are still due for delivery from NASSCO. A report from the Gulf of Mexico area by Matt Gresham finds that while business is indeed down, it is certainly not out, particularly to the Tidewater's, Bollinger's, Edison Chouest's and Quality's, companies that have weathered vicious storms many times in the past � both theoretical financial ones and real versions cooked up by Mother Nature � and emerged from them roughed up yet stronger.
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MARITIME REPORTER
AND
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ENGINEERING NEWS
PUBLISHERS John E. O'Malley John C. O'Malley � jomalley@marinelink.com
Associate Publisher & Editor
Gregory R. Trauthwein � trauthwein@marinelink.com Editorial Intern Hallie Santo � intern@marinelink.com
Contributing Editors Editorial Consultant
Dennis L. Bryant � Rich DeSimone � Edward Lundquist � Matt Gresham James R. McCaul, President, International Maritime Assoc. PRODUCTION
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Michelle Howard � mhoward@marinelink.com
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Lucia Annunziata annunziata@marinelink.com Tel: (212) 477-6700 Fax: (212) 254-6271 Joe Colacova joseph@marinelink.com Tel: (561) 732-0312 Fax: (561) 732-9670 Patrick Haley haley@marinelink.com Tel: (561) 732-1185 Fax: (561) 732-8414
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Dawn Trauthwein dtrauthwein@marinelink.com Tel: (631) 868-3575 Fax: (631) 868-3575
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Tony Stein � tony.r.stein@btinternet.com
12, Braehead, Bo'ness, West Lothian EH51 OBZ, Scotland, U.K. Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 1506 822240 Roland Persson � roland@orn.nu �RN MARKETING AB, Box 184, S-271 24 Ystad, Sweden Tel: +46 411-184 00; Fax: +46 411 105 31 Uwe Riemeyer � riemeyer@intermediapartners.de Tel: +49 202 27169 0 ; Fax: +49 202 27169 20
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