02 Mar

Three Russian crewmen charged with manslaughter in sinking of U.S. fishing boat

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News
The United States charged three crewmembers of a Russian tanker with manslaughter, following a collision with a Maine-based fishing boat that left three fishermen dead. Virgo lies at anchor in Placentia Bay outside Come By Chance, Newfoundland. The Cypriot-flagged ship with a Russian crew was detained and searched by Canadian police. Starbound, an 83-foot, steel-hull trawler, was heading to Rockland,…
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02 Mar

Strong timbers make strong tugs

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized
While the era of working wooden tugs has passed in most of North America, they still play a valued role in the harbor of Vancouver, British Columbia. Their continued employment is partially due to the high quality of the timber used in their construction, but mostly it just makes good economic sense. "Tymac No. 20 is up in the shipyard…
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02 Mar

Log towing in troubled waters

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized
Much of the marine traffic down the Inside Passage along the British Columbia coast passes through the tidal bore at Seymour Narrows, but for log-towing tugs the preferred route has always been through the three "rapids". The 90-foot, single-screw Yacata Spirit uses its 1,000-hp engines to tow log booms 1,250 feet long and 280 feet wide through the three rapids.…
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02 Mar

Pilots prevail in Louisiana

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized
Industry's push to rein in pilot costs in Louisiana has gone down to defeat. Heavy traffic, fast currents and restricted waters are nothing new for Louisiana pilots. A recent effort by a pilot users group failed to reform pilot regulations. A coalition of shipping interests backed legislation to reform the system for regulating the pilots, but the bill never made…
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02 Mar

Chief engineer awarded seamanship trophy

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized
Keeping his head as the flood waters rose around him in the engine room from a gaping hole in his ship's hull have earned Chief Engineer Charles W. Brown the 2000 American Merchant Marine Seamanship Trophy. Capt. Robert Safarik presents the American Merchant Marine Seamanship Trophy to Jody Greene, wife of recipient Chief Engineer Charles W. Brown, who was back…
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02 Mar

Crewmember drowns after barge trips tug

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News
One crewmember was killed after a tugboat was capsized by its own barge at the entrance to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Bay Titan capsized at the entrance to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal after being tripped by its own towline and barge while trying to turn into the canal. One crewman drowned. The barge apparently surged past Bay Titan…
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02 Mar

Bringing ships over the Brunswick Bar

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized
"Keep 'em on the centerline" was the resonating mantra passed to Capt. Bruce Fendig and Capt. Edwin Fendig III from their father, Capt. Edwin Fendig Jr. The pilot boat GRAYFEN maneuvers into position to remove Capt. Edwin Fendig III from Dresden. The vessel is a retrofitted crewboat and is named in honor of Capt. Lawrence Gray, the association's senior active…
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