Here’s a look at what’s coming up in the April 2010 edition of Professional Mariner:
Haiti Relief: Merchant mariners are playing key roles in the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Shipbuilding News: Gladding-Hearn displays one of its new U.S. Navy escort vessels for use by the Coast Guard. This 12-boat order is an example of how small yards are diversifying.
Shipbuilding: Bisso Towboat’s new 100-foot ASD tug Michael S is a 4,000-hp z-drive built at Main Iron Works in Houma, La. This is the third z-drive in the 120-year old company’s fleet of 12 tugs.
Training and Education: A decade in coming, new STCW rules will bring significant changes to how mariners meet their U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
Industry Growth: For the first time in more than two years, the volume of container traffic has begun to grow, raising hopes for the maritime sectors like tugs and pilots that support international trade.
The St. Lawrence Seaway: The waterway marked its 50th anniversary in 2009 while experiencing a decline in tonnage and transits.
Towing Industry: These are rough times on the Great Lakes but some tug operators are showing entrepreneurial spirit and imagination in their quest to keep their vessels and crews working.
Marine Electronics and Security: Thermal imaging is becoming both more affordable and effective in addressing a number of security issues, including piracy.
Training: Bourbon provides state of the art training for its anchor handling tug crews at its training center in Singapore.
Training and Education: Pacific Maritime Institute offers a new apprenticeship program for ABs designed along the lines of its successful program for third mates.
Arctic Navigation: Some commercial vessel operators are only now discovering their ability to navigate in the Arctic. Capt. Sean Anderson and the Crowley Maritime pushboat Aku have been fixtures on the northwestern Alaska waters for decades.
Nautical Institute: The London-based organization works around the world to help mariners operate more safely, efficiently and professionally.
A Mariner’s Notebook: Capt Kelly Sweeney’s column.
