Professional Mariner Staff – Professional Mariner

14 Jun

New FRC in Guam is second to honor a fallen 9/11 hero

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(KEY WEST, Fla.) — The U.S. Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 63rd fast response cutter (FRC), Jeffrey Palazzo (WPC 1163), on Thursday in Key West. The vessel from Bollinger Shipyards is the fifth FRC to be home-ported in Guam, joining the recently commissioned Vincent Danz (WPC 1162). The Sentinel-class FRCs replaced the 1980s Island-class 110-foot patrol boats and possess…

12 Jun

NTSB: Crane operator didn’t verify clearance before boom accident

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, Ports

(WASHINGTON) — On June 2, 2024, about 1649 local time, the emissions control barge STAX 1 was capturing emissions from the containership Erving at the Fenix Marine Services Container Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles. A ship-to-shore container crane struck the barge’s capture-and-control articulated arm, causing it to collapse. Sections of it fell onto the barge, onto Erving, and…

12 Jun

Kodiak, Seward to home-port first Arctic security cutters

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, shipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard announced it will home-port its first two Arctic security cutters (ASCs) in Kodiak, Alaska, with a third ASC home-ported in Seward when the infrastructure is ready. This follows April’s announcement that the service would home-port its first two ASCs in Alaska. With the first delivery expected in 2028, the Coast Guard is accelerating preparations…

10 Jun

No safe passage: Strait of Hormuz remains ‘highly volatile’

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Security, shipping

(LONDON) — Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), issued the following statement Tuesday about the ongoing military conflict involving the United States and Iran, and its effect on commercial shipping: "I am increasingly concerned by reports that vessels continue to attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz without any credible security guarantees, despite well‑established risks and the…

10 Jun

Bridge tender’s miscalculation cited in Louisiana barge strike

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — On June 6, 2024, about 0512 local time, the towing vessel Josset was transiting the Morgan City-Port Allen Route of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, about 2.7 miles from Crescent, La., pushing three barges, when the lead barge struck the Bayou Grosse Tete Bridge. There were no injuries and no pollution was reported. Damage to the bridge was estimated…

09 Jun

Hines Furlong Line adds newbuild from Intracoastal Iron Works

Professional Mariner StaffTugboats & Towingbrownwater, shipbuilding

(BOURG, La.) — Another vessel has moved through construction for Hines Furlong Line, with M/V Bob Nienhuis built at Intracoastal Iron Works in Bourg, La., as part of the company’s ongoing 11-boat program. The 2,400 horsepower towboat, measuring 78 feet by 34 feet by 10 feet, is configured with a triple-screw propulsion system powered by three Mitsubishi S6R2 Tier 3…

09 Jun

Eastern delivers new ferry to Florida island community

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsferries, shipbuilding

(PANAMA CITY, Fla.) — Eastern Shipbuilding Group has delivered the vehicle-passenger ferry Falcon to the Fisher Island Community Association (FICA). Falcon will provide reliable and modern transportation service to the Fisher Island community. Falcon successfully completed trials prior to delivery and has entered service supporting daily operations between Fisher Island and Miami. “We are honored to deliver the Falcon to…

09 Jun

Safety alert: Failure of prototype shaft-seal material

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsSafety alert, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard identified a safety concern after a prototype component used in a mechanical shaft-seal system failed onboard a Coast Guard-inspected deep draft vessel. On Feb. 19, 2025, a U.S. flagged crude-oil tanker transiting near Delaware Bay experienced simultaneous failures of its port and starboard shaft seals, resulting in substantial seawater ingress. The crew subsequently deployed…

04 Jun

Coast Guard offers reward for stolen navigational beacon

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Navigation, U.S. Coast Guard

(SUPERIOR, Wis.) — The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for the recent break-in and theft of the Superior Entry South Breakwater Light. The theft is believed to have occurred on or about May 13 at the privately owned Superior Entry Lighthouse…

04 Jun

Halimar completes new inland towboat for Central Boat Rentals

Professional Mariner StaffTugboats & Towingbrownwater, shipbuilding

(MORGAN CITY, La.) — Halimar Shipyard has completed construction of M/V Mr. Bryan, a new twin-screw towboat built for inland service. The towboat is powered by a pair of Mitsubishi Tier 3 S6R2-Y3 engines, each rated at 803 horsepower at 1,400 rpm. The engines were specified to match the vessel’s operating profile and intended inland service. The vessel is owned…