Great Lakes pilotage costs to rise 7 percent in 2025

Great Lakes pilotage costs to rise 7 percent in 2025

The U.S. Coast Guard published a final rule in December 2024 in the Federal Register outlining U.S. Great Lakes pilotage rates for the 2025 shipping season. The new rates seek to generate revenue for each of the three U.S. Great Lakes pilot associations by implementing hourly charges for pilotage services according to geographic area. Pilotage rates are paid by vessel…
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Five Marine Highway projects receive nearly $5 million

Five Marine Highway projects receive nearly $5 million

Late last year, the Maritime Administration (MarAd) awarded $4.85 million in grants to five projects through the United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP) in Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Washington and West Virginia. The grants will pay for equipment and infrastructure like cranes and loading machinery, vehicle ramps and expanded barge service to enhance cargo-handling capacities at ports and terminals. The outgoing Secretary of Transportation…
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Steel cutting ceremony starts Eastern’s build of new Saltchuk Marine tugs

In December 2024, Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) held a “steel cutting ceremony” as it began construction of the first of four advanced escort tugs destined for Saltchuk Marine in Seattle. The 84-foot-long by 42-foot-wide high-performance, state-of-the-art tugs will be built at Eastern’s Allanton Shipyard in Panama City, Fla., before going into service in the Pacific. “Saltchuk could not ask for…
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Statue of Liberty ferry goes hybrid with Corvus Energy

Statue of Liberty ferry goes hybrid with Corvus Energy

Corvus Energy was selected as the energy storage systems (ESS) supplier for Statue City Cruises’ ferries, which service the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island routes in New York Harbor. “Corvus Energy’s ESS will be integrated aboard Statue City Cruises’ current fleet of nine ferries with the goal of reducing fuel consumption and emissions along the New York/New Jersey…
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All American to build three e-ferries for San Francisco

All American to build three e-ferries for San Francisco

All American Marine (AAM) announced late last year that they will partner with San Francisco Bay Ferry to build the nation’s first-ever battery-electric, zero-emission high-speed passenger vessels. The vessels are part of massive federal, state and local investment in electrification and zero-emission technology. Three 150-passenger ferries will be built at the Bellingham, Washington-based AAM, with the first vessel scheduled for operation…
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Washburn & Doughty launches new tractor tug for McAllister

Washburn & Doughty launches new tractor tug for McAllister

Transportation Company launched a new tractor tug in mid-January that will “serve the maritime transportation system for decades,” a McAllister executive said. The 93-foot by 38-foot-wide Isabel McAllister was launched by Washburn & Doughty Associates Inc. in Boothbay, Maine, on January 11. The newbuild is equipped with 6,770 horsepower via two Caterpillar 3516E Tier 4-compliant engines linked to Schottel SRP…
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Burgers’ new Chicago passenger vessel

Burgers’ new Chicago passenger vessel

The Wisconsin-based Burger Boat Company was awarded a contract to build an 89-foot passenger vessel for Chicago-based Wendella Sightseeing Co. Inc. in January. The announcement marks Burger’s continued relationship with Wendella, which offers sightseeing tours and taxi service on Chicago’s waterways. “We are honored to partner with Wendella Sightseeing Co. Inc. to deliver a vessel that combines innovation, quality and…
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MarAd administrator steps down after successful two-year tenure

MarAd administrator steps down after successful two-year tenure

U.S. Navy rear admiral (Ret.) Ann Phillips departed as the head of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) in January. Phillips, who was sworn in as MarAd’s 20th administrator in May 2022, “guided a team of nearly 900 professionals, orchestrating 33 wide-ranging responsibilities that provide critical infrastructure and support for the nation’s commercial and military maritime sectors,” MarAd said in a…
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Dali companies agree to settle for $103 million to cover response to collapse of Baltimore bridge

Dali companies agree to settle for $103 million to cover response to collapse of Baltimore bridge

In October 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a settlement with the shipowners and operators of the 984-foot container ship Dali for costs sustained responding to the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, the Singaporean corporations that owned and operated Dali, agreed to pay $103,078,056 in civil damages under the…
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Dredging industry sees big increase in awards while bidding below government estimates

Dredging industry sees big increase in awards while bidding below government estimates

The American dredging industry saw a 39 percent increase in U.S. Army Corps of Engineer awards between fiscal years 2022-23 amidst a $3 billion investment in construction of new dredges and associated vessels and equipment, according to a Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) report. “The private sector U.S. dredging industry continues to be highly competitive [and] innovative and saves the…
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