The U.S. Coast Guard has published an interim rule to implement the Congressionally-mandated requirements to assure fire safety on “covered small passenger vessels” (CSPVs) as defined by 46 U.S.C. 3306(n). The legislature had adopted the statutory ruling in response to the fire and loss of 34 lives onboard the 75-foot dive boat Conception off the California coast on Sept. 2,…
A fire broke out aboard the 81-year-old bulk carrier Cuyahoga, one of the oldest cargo vessels transiting the Great Lakes, on March 15, 2024 while the ship was docked at Ashtabula, Oh. According to the Coast Guard, Cuyahoga – named for the river in Ohio – was undergoing maintenance in preparation for the latest shipping season when the fire started. A…
The 225-foot U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender Alder, accidentally discharged approximately 500 gallons of diesel fuel 30 miles northwest of Fort Bragg, Ca., on March 15, 2024. Alder was enroute to Humboldt Bay when the incident occurred. “We are investigating the incident and are working diligently to minimize any potential environmental impacts,” said Coast Guard Rear Adm. Andrew Sugimoto, commander,…
The development of ‘green’ vessel propulsion systems stands firmly fixed as one of the top five critical issues facing the maritime industry in 2024. “Markets are beginning to accept that fossil fuels will be needed in the transition [to zero carbon fuels], while owners adopt operational measures such as vessel speed, maintenance, and route optimization as new technologies and designs,…
In an industry first, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has introduced a comprehensive approach to support development of the next generation of vessel designs and equipment employing the latest technology driven by decarbonization and digitalization. The classification group’s updated Marine Vessel Rules now include an extensive set of newly developed functional requirements and a standardized risk-based methodology which provides…
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has met with two top South Korean shipbuilding industry executives in the Republic of Korea (ROK) for talks aimed at attracting Korean investment in “integrated commercial and naval shipbuilding facilities” in the U.S. Del Toro first visited Seoul, where he met with Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Dong Kwan Kim and HD Hyundai Vice…
Every year on May 22, National Maritime Day recognizes the launch of the maritime industry in the United States. The celebration also honors America’s merchant mariners for their contributions and sacrifices for our country. Special acknowledgment is given to ships and seafarers that have held a prominent place in our nation’s history. As a fundamental industry, its time-honored traditions comprise…
Cyber security and the perceived vulnerability of the nation’s supply chain has turned a spotlight on the ship-to-shore (STS) container cranes manufactured by China’s Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZPMC) that are installed at a number of U.S. ports. Currently, nearly 80 percent of the cranes at U.S. ports were built by ZPMC, one of the largest manufacturers in the…
I had been home for about two weeks on vacation, having recently completed a 90-day tour as a second mate on a car carrier running between the U.S. West Coast and the Orient. Frankly, my mind wasn’t on work, but enjoying the time with my wife and our “four-legged” kids. As the days progressed, though, I began to think more…
The Permanente Steamship Corp. was organized in 1940 by businessman Henry Kaiser to provide the millions of barrels of cement needed by his company to build scores of U.S. military facilities in the Pacific. After the war, the company acquired Silverbow Victory, a VC-2 Victory-type freighter built in 1944, and converted it into a self-unloading bulk carrier at the Kaiser…