Professional Mariner Staff – Professional Mariner

26 Mar

Icebreaker gap brings U.S. Great Lakes fleet to standstill

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Icebreakers, shipping

(CLEVELAND) — A little over a day and half since the Soo Locks opened, providing access to Lake Superior and critical raw materials like iron ore, the U.S.-flagged Great Lakes commercial fleet is at a standstill in the St. Marys River and Whitefish Bay, the critical connection between Lake Superior and all other Great Lakes. The only way into Lake…

26 Mar

NMC to begin email delivery of medical certificates

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingNMC

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) will begin issuing medical certificates electronically via email effective Wednesday, April 1. This enhancement improves delivery speed, reliability, and accessibility by providing mariners with immediate access to their certificates. What’s changing on April 1: • Medical certificate (no waiver) delivered via email – standard delivery method. – All new medical certificates that…

26 Mar

O-ring failure led to engine room fire on bulker in Alabama

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — On Jan. 4, 2025, about 2323 local time, the bulk carrier Lem Verbena was docked at the Alabama State Docks on the Mobile River in Mobile, Ala., with 19 crewmembers on board when a fire started in the engine room. The crew activated the vessel’s carbon-dioxide fixed fire extinguishing system. Shoreside firefighters later determined the fire had been…

26 Mar

U.S. to invest $488 million to revitalize nation’s ports

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Ports, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) has announced $488 million in funding to restore American maritime dominance and revitalize American ports, shipyards and maritime capabilities. The funding will support projects that: • Improve ports' ability to load and unload goods. • Streamline supply chain movements. • Modernize ports’ infrastructure and operations. • Support America’s vibrant seafood and seafood-related businesses.…

26 Mar

Ships entangled after collision on Mississippi River near New Orleans

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsSalvage, U.S. Coast Guard

(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard is responding after two vessels, the freighter Pac Dubhe and bulk carrier African Buzzard, collided and subsequently grounded near mile marker 124.5 on the Mississippi River on Monday. African Buzzard is currently aground. The two vessels are entangled, with African Buzzard's anchor lodged in the bow of Pac Dubhe. Both vessel operators are…

25 Mar

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project delivers first power

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsoffshore wind

(VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.) — Dominion Energy's wind farm off the Virginia Beach coast sent its first power to the regional electric grid on Monday, VPM News reported. The $11 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project (CVOW) stretches from about 27 to 44 miles off the oceanfront and will be the nation's largest commercial offshore wind farm. The first fully completed…

25 Mar

Port of Baltimore posts second-best year for overall cargo

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPorts, shipping

(ANNAPOLIS, Md.) — The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore handled approximately 50 million tons of cargo in 2025 at its state-owned public and private marine terminals, making it the port’s second-best year. The accomplishment continues to reveal the port’s resilience and comes as the port and surrounding communities continue to recover from the devastation of the Francis Scott Key…

23 Mar

IMO urges safe-passage framework for Strait of Hormuz

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Security, shipping

(LONDON) — The Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has strongly condemned the threats and attacks against vessels and the purported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2817, which have adversely affected merchant and commercial vessels and threatened the safety and welfare of seafarers. The council, meeting in an extraordinary session on…

20 Mar

NTSB cites pilot’s ‘expectation bias’ in grounding of bulker

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsLicensing and training, NTSB, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — On Jan. 8, 2025, at 1813 local time, the dry bulk carrier Algoma Verity was transiting upbound on the Delaware River near Philadelphia, Pa., when it ran aground outside the channel. The vessel repositioned and continued its upbound transit, outside the channel, until it grounded again at 1828. Algoma Verity was refloated three days later. No pollution or…

20 Mar

Master Boat to fabricate hull modules for new Navy towing vessels

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsshipbuilding, Tugboats and towing

(CODEN, Ala.) — Master Boat Builders has signed a contract with Austal USA to fabricate modules for the U.S. Navy’s Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship (T-ATS) program. The contract establishes Master Boat as a key subcontractor contributing to the construction and delivery of critical vessels that enhance the Navy’s and the Trump administration’s push to diversify and strengthen the…