Professional Mariner Staff – Page 1965

28 Feb

Fuel barge pokes a hole in a tanker, spilling 25,000 gallons of oil in a Texas river

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

An estimated 25,200 gallons of No. 6 oil spilled in the Neches River near Port Arthur, Texas, when fuel barge Buffalo 405 struck and pierced the hull of the 528-foot Danish oil tanker Torm Mary during a fueling operation on Aug. 2, at about 0020. Booms surround Torm Mary and San Tomas after the tanker and tug were involved in…

28 Feb

Ballast regs tightened to stop spread of exotic species

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized

A 2003 survey of 81 vessels that entered the waters of the state of Washington found that 24 had discharged improperly exchanged ballast water. Twenty of those vessels "knowingly violated the law in some way," said Scott Smith of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The ballast water problem is global in nature. Reducing the environmental threats posed by…

28 Feb

Newest simulators expand horizons

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized

Forget about video games. That's the first thing instructors at maritime academies and training schools tell students about the latest generation of shiphandling simulators. Lee Brown, a systems engineer at the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School, examines charts as the school's new simulator projects images of New York Harbor. Image Credit: Courtesy Calhoon MEBA Engineering School/Michael Roe At the Calhoon…

28 Feb

New Alaska high-speed ferry strikes mooring dolphin when departing Skagway

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Fairweather rubbed against the mooring lines of a nearby cruise ship and struck a mooring dolphin while departing Skagway, Alaska, on Sept. 21. Fairweather was delivered to the Alaska Marine Highway System in March 2004. Since going into service, the ferry has been operating on just three engines. The fourth has been inoperative because…

28 Feb

Saint Mary’s River transit demands peak performance by lake pilots

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized

The journey north to the two Sault Ste. Maries, Lake Superior's twin international cities, begins through DeTour Village, Mich., at the mouth of the St. Mary's River. Olympic Merit heads up the 63-nm-long river connecting Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Image Credit: Terry W. Phipps Marked by the 63-foot DeTour Reef crib light, the 63-nm river welcomes thousands of…

28 Feb

From Baton Rouge to New Orleans: Towboating in the “War Zone”

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized

Many towboaters in Louisiana call the 100-mile stretch of Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans the "War Zoneâ€� for the heavy traffic that crowds the waters there. Lead hand Edward Green heads out to check lashings of the 35 barges in the tow. Facing page, Chief Engineer Ken Danna with one of his 20-cylinder EMDs. The boat can…

28 Feb

Eight crew killed by steam-boiler explosion aboard Norway

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

A steam-boiler explosion aboard the 1,035-foot SS Norway claimed eight lives and injured 19 on May 25. The incident occurred while the ship was docked in the Port of Miami after having just completed a weeklong Caribbean cruise. There were 2,135 passengers and 911 crew aboard at the time. All of the passengers were evacuated without injury. The explosion not…

28 Feb

Greek pilots keep old traditions alive while facing new forms of danger

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized

The Greeks have always been a seafaring nation, going back to Homeric times. After all, the Greek warriors who besieged Troy first had to cross the Aegean in their wooden warships. The world will once again be reminded of Greece's maritime heritage this August, as Athens plays host to the 2004 Olympic Games. Piraeus, the busy port that serves Athens,…

28 Feb

Washington state ferry hits a marked rock

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

Officials from Washington State Ferries are investigating the grounding of the 2,477-gt, double-ended ferry Sealth, which struck Reid Rock off San Juan Island on Dec. 24, 2004. Sealth was leaving Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, heading to Anacortes, Wash., when it struck the rock at about 2015, about 1 mile northeast of Brown Island, in the San Juan Channel.…

28 Feb

Invader-class refurbishment finished at North Florida Shipyards

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized

The last Invader-class tugboat to be refurbished as part of a four-year shipyard investment by Crowley Maritime Corp. has returned to her home port in Jacksonville, Fla. The 7,200-hp tug Sentry was delivered by North Florida Shipyards in May and quickly put back to work towing 730-foot triple-decker container barges from Jacksonville to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for Crowley Liner…