CATEGORIES

Casualties - Three Die After Tanker, Fishing Boat Collide In Fog Near Galveston

One fisherman died and two are missing and presumed dead after a chemical tanker and fishing boat collided near Galveston, Texas, in heavy fog.

Engine Room Fire Disables Canadian Bulk Carrier Near Detroit

The Canada-flagged bulk carrier Tecumseh lost propulsion and briefly went adrift in the Detroit River after a fire in the engine room.

Employment - Women Stepping Up As Stereotypes Break Down In Maritime World

Is the tide finally turning on gender imbalance in the maritime industry?

As Industry Needs Grow, Maritime Schools Face Potential Instructor Gap

The increasingly sophisticated and regulated maritime world needs professionals with stronger skill sets than in the past. But accumulating those skills through dedicated and accredited programs may start to get more difficult.

Towing - Moran Tugs Power Up To Meet New Demands In Port Of Charleston

James A. Moran idled alongside an empty bulk carrier moored in South Carolina’s Cooper River as an aluminum skiff zipped back and forth, releasing the ship’s mooring lines.

NTSB: Coast Guard failed to adopt key safety rules for duck boats

Current and former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials say that implementing past safety recommendations for duck boats could have prevented the Stretch Duck 7 tragedy in 2018 that claimed the lives of 17 people.

Damen newcomer at Ontario port has line on versatility

Capt. Joe Farish eased the tugboat Sheri Lynn S. off the Picton Terminals dock before 0730. It had snowed overnight, and the channel in from Lake Ontario was smooth on the calm, overcast December morning.

OSHA orders Bouchard to compensate fired whistleblower

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Bouchard Transportation Co. to compensate a barge worker who the agency said was illegally fired after reporting safety concerns to the Coast Guard.

NTSB cites ineffective bridge communication in NY pier strike

Ineffective communication between the docking pilot and the master of a Carnival cruise ship was the primary cause of a 2018 pier strike in New York that caused $2.5 million in damage, according to federal investigators.

Army Corps workhorse locked and loaded for Three Rivers

In late September, with the main chamber closed for repairs, there were 17 tows waiting to lock on the Ohio River at the Willow Island Locks and Dam in Newport, Ohio. Capt. Dale Hohman, at the helm of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers towboat Evanick, performed a nifty maneuver on the upstream guide wall in the auxiliary chamber to get the traffic moving again.

All-Electric Tugs And Pilot Boats: Are They Ready For Prime Time?

There are electric ferries and tour boats, along with proposals for fully electric containerships, bunker tankers, and barges. But how will all-electric vessels measure up to the extreme power demands of harbor tugs, or the distance and speed requirements of pilot boats?

Towing - Subchapter M Glass 'Half Full' Amid Progress And Challenges

In one breath, Tom Allegretti, president, and CEO of the American Waterways Operators describes Subchapter M as “a singular milestone” for an industry striving to improve safety and eliminate spills.

Wind In The Winches: Towing Up The Mighty Columbia

It was a busy March day aboard Tidewater Transportation’s Captain Bob, catchup time due to annual lock closures by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

New SIT Towboat Bewitches With Hull ‘Voodoo,' Z-Drives

First light was breaking as Capt. Bob Asher maneuvered Karl E. Johnson across the Mississippi River to the Southern Illinois Transfer (SIT) fleet at Ste. Genevieve, Mo.

Navy Opts For Physical Throttles On Destroyers After Fatal Collisions

In the wake of high-profile collisions involving U.S. Navy destroyers, including a 2017 incident that killed 10 sailors aboard USS John S. McCain, the service is revising bridge training practices and addressing what it sees as an over-reliance on computer touch screens for ship control.

Industry Signals - Global Sulfur Cap Brings Uncertainty Over Fuel Prices, Blending

It has taken decades to build the fuel supply chain for the 50,000-vessel global merchant fleet. The pending 0.5 percent sulfur cap on marine fuel stands to upset this entrenched structure, with price volatility likely as a result.

Lindblad Cruise Ship Designed To Get Guests Close To Nature

Some cruise ships are so packed with amenities that guests never want to leave. National Geographic Venture is designed and outfitted for passengers to get off the vessel and explore their surroundings.

Icebreakers Cometh For US, Canada As Arctic Opens Wide

As Polar Star, America’s only operational heavy icebreaker, faltered again mechanically on its annual resupply mission to Antarctica last winter, lawmakers were finally voting to do something about it.

Bayou-Built Crew Boat Delivers The Goods, Island Style

Amid the oil industry downturn in the Gulf of Mexico and the cor-responding grim economics visited upon aluminum crew boat builders in south Louisiana, Breaux Brothers Enterprises of Loreauville put a new twist on the market.

North Carolina Adds Capacity, Maneuverability With New VSP Ferry

On a blistering June day, a sizable crowd gathered in the shade of an outdoor shelter fronting the Hatteras Ferry Terminal on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Ferries arrived and departed while a new ferry was being christened.

Bay Area Newcomer Carries Tier 4 Torch For Ferries

With the sun rising, Pyxis made its way up the Napa River and docked at the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. In 15 minutes, loaded with commuters, the fast catamaran backed out of its slip and headed for the San Francisco Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, one hour away.

US Gas Company Hit With Record Jones Act Fine For Using Chinese Ship

After a six-year dispute, natural gas producer Furie Operating Alaska LLC agreed in late March to pay the U.S. government $10 million in the biggest Jones Act fine to date. 

PSC Ship Detentions Lowest In Five Years, But Fire Violations Rise Again

The U.S. Coast Guard detained fewer foreign-flagged ships for environmental and safety-related deficiencies in 2016, with the number falling from 202 in 2015 to 103 — a five-year low.

Tug Captains Fault Training, Asset Shortage At Expanded Panama Canal

A year after the Panama Canal opened its new locks to accommodate larger ships, tugboat captains say canal officials still have not addressed many safety concerns, including a lack of training and a shortage of tugs that can handle the challenges of the expanded waterway.

High- Powered Pumper Fills Critical Response Gap In San Francisco

High-powered pumper fills critical response gap in San Francisco.

NTSB Cites Inadequate Manning, Fatigue In Fatal Sinking Of NY Tug

Before dawn on a late winter morning, Specialist and two other tugboats approached the site of the new Tappan Zee Bridge with a massive crane barge in tow. Specialist’s mate, then at the controls, believed his tug had enough space to clear a construction barge ahead.

Helmsman's Steering Error Cited In Columbia River Bulker Grounding

The bulk carrier Sparna was outbound on the Columbia River with a load of wheat when it left the navigation channel and struck a charted reef near Wauna, Ore., leaving large rocks lodged inside the hull.

Yacht Yards Keeping Their Bays Busy With Custom Newbuilds

With five major shipyards accounting for the bulk of the private yacht construction in North America, new yachts over 100 feet in length continue to hit the water — albeit at a more leisurely pace than the boom years a decade ago.

DC Push Brings New Hope For 355-Ship Navy

The changing of presidential administrations has brought a lot of uncertainty to the federal budget process, with President Trump’s public support of programs often tempered by contradictory realities when the rubber hits the road.

Eastern's New Factory Trawler A Standout In Alaska

In March, aboard the new factory trawler Araho, all was a bustle.