Brownwater – Page 4 – Professional Mariner

19 Mar

SAFETY ALERT: Readiness and testing of emergency dewatering equipment

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Maritime News

(WASHINGTON) — Emergency dewatering equipment, whether fixed or portable, is essential equipment placed on vessels to maintain the survivability and safety of personnel during emergencies that may require its use. When there is a situation requiring the use of emergency dewatering equipment, it is imperative that this equipment is readily available and fully operational. This includes preparing the equipment for…

18 Mar

Brownwater News March 2021

AWO offers assistance for mariner vaccinations The American Waterways Operators (AWO) is making a letter available to its members to assist eligible mariners and other essential industry employees when they visit COVID-19 vaccination centers across the country. The letter verifies that the employees meet Phase I eligibility guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Although each…

18 Feb

Brownwater News February 2021

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Brownwater Newsletter

Coast Guard confirms mask mandate for towing industry In a Feb. 8 post on its Maritime Commons website, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that a recent order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that operators of all commercial vessels — including towing vessels — must implement mask-wearing protocols on board due to COVID-19. The Coast Guard…

03 Feb

Coalition calls for emergency funding for US maritime transportation system

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Maritime News

(WASHINGTON) — A coalition of 37 maritime industry groups is asking Congress and President Biden to fund a new relief program to strengthen an industry weakened by the effects of COVID-19, FreightWaves.com reported. “Despite container surges at several large ports, commercial cargo volumes have plummeted across the industry – total waterborne trade volume is down 5.5 percent compared to last…

03 Feb

Southern Towing announces acquisition of Devall Towing

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Tugboats & Towing

(CHICAGO) — Southern Towing Company (STC), an affiliate of CC Industries (CCI), has acquired Devall Towing from the Devall family. Founded in 1952, Devall is a towboat and barge operator for specialty chemicals along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Lower Mississippi River. The acquisition expands STC’s operations into specialty chemical products. The combination of Devall’s long-standing customer relationships with STC’s…

27 Jan

Coast Guard Foundation names Thomas Allegretti board chairman

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Industry News, Tugboats & Towing

(STONINGTON, Conn.) — The Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families, announced that Thomas Allegretti was elected chairman of the board as of Jan. 7. Allegretti first joined the Coast Guard Foundation board in 2006 and has been an integral part of the organization’s growth in the…

25 Jan

US maritime leaders applaud Biden’s ‘Buy American’ order

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Licensing & Training, Maritime News

(WASHINGTON) — The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the nation’s domestic maritime industry, on Monday applauded the new executive order to be signed by President Biden on Jan. 25, “Strengthening ‘Buy American’ Provisions, Ensuring [the] Future of America is Made in America by All of America’s Workers.” Signaled as a priority, the executive order formally confirms the Biden…

22 Dec

Congress passes WRDA with inland waterways cost-share adjustment

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Maritime News, Tugboats & Towing

(WASHINGTON) — As part of an omnibus appropriations and COVID-19 relief funding package, the House and Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 on Monday, marking a historic win for the inland waterways. The package included the top priority of the Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) to adjust the cost-share for construction and major rehabilitation of inland waterways…

22 Dec

Bayou payday: Dredges dig in to bring Lower Mississippi to 50 feet

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Uncategorizedbrownwater, dredging, Gulf of Mexico, Head of Passes, Mississippi River, Port of Baton Rouge, ship channel

A long-awaited project to deepen the Lower Mississippi River ship channel to 50 feet from the Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, La., is now underway. It will eventually allow larger ships to call at ports and refineries farther upriver than is currently possible, reducing shipping costs for exporters. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates it will take four…