Professional Mariner Staff – Page 4

27 Jul

Healy to undergo major repairs after ‘significant’ breakdown

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newscasualties, Icebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy experienced a significant engineering casualty while operating northwest of Port Angeles, Wash. There were no reported injuries. On July 13, tugboats safely towed Healy back to home port for an investigation into the incident and to undergo major repairs. “The crew of Coast Guard cutter Healy acted with speed and skill in responding…

23 Jul

Gunderson Marine & Iron names Tom Lee as president

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsshipbuilding

(PORTLAND, Ore.) — Gunderson Marine & Iron (GM&I) has appointed Tom Lee as president, strengthening the company's executive leadership as it continues its growth across marine manufacturing, complex steel fabrication, and defense projects. Dee Burch will hold the role of chief executive officer and owner, where he will continue to lead the company's long-term strategic vision, customer relationships, and future…

23 Jul

Long Beach, MarAd to partner on nuclear power for vessels

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPorts, propulsion, shipping

(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — The Port of Long Beach became the first port in the nation to sign a memorandum of cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MarAd) on Wednesday to advance work on development of small modular reactor (SMR) technology to power commercial vessels, ports and other maritime assets. The agreement represents a significant milestone, making…

21 Jul

Usual suspects: High water, fast current in Vicksburg bridge strike

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On May 5, 2025, at 0957 local time, the towing vessel Myra Eckstein, with a crew of 10 on board, was pushing 25 barges downbound on the Lower Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Miss., when the lead barge on the starboard side contacted a fixed pier of the Vicksburg Highway 80 Bridge at mile 435.8. As a result of…

21 Jul

NMC reports ‘substantial progress’ in reducing application backlog

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingNMC, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) has made substantial progress in reducing the backlog of applications resulting from the 2026 lapse in appropriations. As a result of sustained recovery efforts and increased production capacity, the NMC is updating its published processing timeline outlined in the NMC announcement dated June 16. Effective immediately, complete applications are expected to be…

20 Jul

Hanwha Philly, TOTE to partner on missile defense ships

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, shipbuilding

(PHILADELPHIA) — Hanwha Philly Shipyard and TOTE Services, a leading U.S. maritime services company specializing in vessel construction management and ship management, on Friday announced they have been selected to deliver the Missile Defense Agency’s missile range instrumentation vessels (MRIVs). TOTE Services will serve as vessel construction manager (VCM) and Hanwha Philly will build the ships at its Philadelphia shipyard.…

20 Jul

Ex-captain pleads guilty to drugging, raping USMMA cadet

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsLicensing and training

(BROOKLYN, N.Y.) — On Wednesday in federal court in Brooklyn, John Merrone pleaded guilty to all five counts of an indictment charging him with aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual contact relating to the rape of a 21-year-old United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) student cadet (Jane Doe) working on a vessel under the command of the defendant.…

20 Jul

Training ship Lone Star State christened in Philadelphia

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsLicensing and training, shipbuilding

(PHILADELPHIA) — It has been said that the longest journey begins with a single step. For Texas A&M University Maritime Academy, the journey to have a large training ship to call their own has lasted longer than some of the cadets currently enrolled at the academy have been alive. “We have dreamed of this day for 21 years, ever since…

20 Jul

Lake Charles pilots add newbuild from Gladding-Hearn

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPilot boats, shipbuilding

(SOMERSET, Mass.) – With three Gladding-Hearn pilot boats already in its fleet, the Lake Charles pilots have taken delivery of Calcasieu Pilot from the Somerset, Mass., shipyard. The pilots, who took delivery of their first Gladding-Hearn pilot boat, a 63-footer, in 1995, support crew transfers from the Cameron, La., jetties to the sea buoy, approximately 30 miles offshore. Based on…

20 Jul

Long Island ferry operator promotes four senior managers

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsferries, Licensing and training, U.S. Coast Guard

(PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y.) — Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company President Brian Buckley McAllister recently announced senior management promotions at the ferry. Founded in 1883, the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company continues to build on its long history of service by advancing experienced maritime leadership for the future. The company transports approximately half a million cars between Connecticut and…