Trends – Page 4 – Professional Mariner

USCG awards QUALSHIP 21 status to Liberian, Panamanian registry

The U.S. Coast Guard has granted the Liberian Registry and the Panama Ship Registry QUALSHIP 21 (QS21) status for 2023-2024. To qualify for QS21, flag administrations must have a three-year Port State Control (PSC) detention ratio of less than 1.00 percent and be credited with 10-plus PSC exams per year for the last three years. Admission to the QS21…

MarAd chief cites growing crew gap for US sealift fleet

The head of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) is “not at all confident” that all the ships in the Ready Reserve Force could be crewed if called to duty in a crisis, USNI News has reported. The U.S. was already short 1,800 credentialed mariners for its vessels before the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, retired Rear Adm. Ann Phillips said in…

Ports group: Chinese-made cranes pose no threat

An American trade group representing port authorities is rebutting “alarmist” media reports that cranes built in China and used in U.S. ports pose a security risk. In a recent statement, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) said there have been no known security breaches as a result of any cranes at U.S. ports. The group also said crane are…

Chipping away at pilot safety challenges

Even in an industry where many occupations come with hazards, the lot of marine pilots has a particularly large range of risks and dangers. In conditions that are often less than ideal, the pilot boat crew and the pilot in particular must expose themselves to wind and wave in relatively small vessels with minimal protections or anchor points. And,…

Foreign ships working alongside US vessels at offshore wind sites

In May 2020, Geoquip Saentis docked in New Bedford, Mass. Built by the U.K.-headquartered Geoquip Marine Group, Saentis was designed for geological surveying. It has been chartered around the world for the preparation stages of offshore wind farms. Its mission in New Bedford was collecting information on the ground conditions for the building of Vineyard Wind 1, the 800-megawatt, 62-turbine farm planned…

Maritime industry labor challenges persist despite cooling economy

Recruiting and retaining employees remains a challenge within the maritime industry, although insiders say there are many opportunities for advancement for those who pursue a career on the water. Steve Haft, vice president of human resources for Saltchuk Marine Shared Services in Seattle, Wash., said the company finds employees from many places. This includes U.S. maritime academy graduates as well…

Tips for starting a maritime career

At McAllister Towing, before applying for a position, we recommend applying for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). After receiving your TWIC, you must obtain a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) through the National Maritime Center (NMC) by submitting your application to the nearest of 19 Regional Exam Centers (REC). The REC will forward your application to NMC for evaluation. Once your…

Flexible SCR solutions favored for smaller workboats

In a few short months, the San Francisco Bar Pilots will take delivery of a new vessel designed to handle rough waters outside the Golden Gate Bridge. The 67-foot aluminum launch is under construction at Snow & Company in Seattle. It features the same Camarc Design hull used by pilots up and down the West Coast. The propulsion package sets…

Nudging the industry toward a greener future

Tore Hoem looked across the vast fjord on a frigid Arctic afternoon on Svalbard, some 1,250 miles north of Oslo, Norway, and predicted the weather would hold. “The sea looks OK,” said Hoem, the adventures director for tour company Hurtigruten Svalbard. “I don’t expect too much wind. We might have a bit of waves. Let’s see.” Moments earlier, he guided…

Coastal port congestion making inland container service more appealing

Supply chains are stressed. The biggest United States ports struggle to process container after container of imported goods. Given this challenging environment, some shippers believe container-on-barge (COB) service on the inland waterways might be a long-term solution. Building out that service, however, remains the challenge. There is general agreement that there is great potential to increase container movement by…