28 Feb

Seaspan orders eight ships that approach 10,000-TEU barrier

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized
Now that Seaspan Container Lines Ltd. has placed orders for containerships capable of carrying almost 10,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), the question arises, "Is there any size limit?" The main engine of one of Seaspan's 8,500-TEU ships under construction by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea. The MAN B&W 12-cylinder engine will generate 93,120 hp.    Image Credit: Photos courtesy…
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28 Feb

AIS makes its presence felt

Professional Mariner StaffTugboats & Towing
It's one of the most revolutionary developments in marine navigation: the universal automatic identification system (AIS). The transponder broadcasts a broad range of information about a ship on VHF marine radio, including its position, speed, direction, cargo, classification and destination. An AIS unit transmits all this information in real time, ship to ship and ship to shore, without a central…
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28 Feb

Currents, tow configuration, lack of power called factors in bridge accident

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News
Coast Guard headquarters in Washington has concluded that several factors, including strong currents, lack of horsepower and poor tow configuration, contributed to the fatal allision between the towboat Brown Water V and the Queen Isabella Causeway in Texas in September 2001. The accident resulted in the deaths of eight people whose vehicles tumbled into the water after the bridge collapsed…
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