Casualty News – Page 374 – Professional Mariner

24 Sep

Towboat in Mississippi spill lacked a qualified pilot, Coast Guard says

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

A towboat involved in a collision that led to a major oil spill on the Mississippi River lacked a properly licensed pilot to operate the vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The main section of the damaged barge is lifted from the river before being placed on the deck of a salvage barge. Above, the bow section was removed first.Â …

24 Sep

Safety alert about controllable-pitch props issued following Alaska Ranger sinking

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

In response to the Alaska Ranger disaster earlier this year, the Coast Guard has issued a safety alert emphasizing the need for vessel officers to understand their controllable-pitch propeller systems. A good Samaritan vessel searches for survivors of the Alaska Ranger sinking on March 23. (Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) Five men died after the 189-foot fish-factory ship sank in…

24 Sep

Coast Guard honors crew for extinguishing pushboat galley fire in Houston Ship Channel

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

A Houston towboat crew was recognized by the Coast Guard for meritorious service after they extinguished a galley fire on another vessel. The grease fire broke out on the push boat Sara K on May 24 in the upper Houston Ship Channel. After overhearing the Sara Kâ€™s radio distress call, the crew of the nearby towing vessel San Rafael responded…

24 Sep

Alaska cruise ship comes to rest on sandbar; second incident for the company in 6 months

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The 178-foot Spirit of Glacier Bay sits high and dry in Tarr Inlet near Glacier Bay National Park.Â No injuries were reported among the 51 people aboard. The grounding occurred on the morning of June 4. Seas were calm and visibility was six miles at the time.Â (Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) Already undergoing a U.S. Coast Guard safety review…

24 Sep

Containership strikes marina after blown fuse disables its propulsion and steering systems

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

Rio Haina, a 252-foot containership, looks out of place among the pleasure craft tied up at the Miami Beach Marina. The ship damaged two boats but no one was injured. (Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) The U.S. Coast Guard said an unwise electrical-wiring configuration caused a containership to lose power and smash into the Miami Beach Marina. The outbound 252-foot…

24 Sep

Cargo ship full of mattresses and cars burns in Miami River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

(MIAMI) -- A cargo ship containing mattresses and cars caught fire in the Miami River, the television station WPLG reported. The 215-foot vessel was getting ready for a scheduled departure to Haiti when the blaze broke out. The Coast Guard restricted vessel traffic while the Miami Fire Department responded. Click here to view the TV station's story.

23 Sep

K-Sea tug, fuel barge run aground in Hudson River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is the text of two press releases issued Sept. 12 and 13 by the U.S. Coast Guard: (NEW YORK) -- The Coast Guard is monitoring a grounded tug and barge about 15 miles south of Albany on the Hudson River today. The 114-foot tug Tasman Sea was pushing the 320-foot fuel barge DBL 81 north on…

23 Sep

Wooden-hull tug sinks at California timber dock, leaks oil

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (HUMBOLDT BAY, Calif.) -- The Coast Guard, along with the Department of Fish and Game's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), is responding to a sunken vessel in the vicinity of Fields Landing Marina. At 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, Coast Guard…

23 Sep

EPA research ship spills diesel fuel into Virginia’s Elizabeth River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

(NORFOLK, Va.) -- A research vessel recently purchased by the Environmental Protection Agency spilled as much as 1,700 gallons of diesel fuel into the Elizabeth River, the Virginian-Pilot newspaper reported. The Rude was formerly owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The spill happened at NOAA's Marine Operations Center. Click here to view the newspaper's story.

23 Sep

Rhode Island ferry gets tangled in anchor line, strikes sailboats

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (BOSTON) -- Coast Guard crews responded to a report that a Newport, R.I., -based ferry had struck two empty sailboats in Newport Harbor at 3:48 p.m., today. No injuries or pollution were reported. All vessels involved sustained minor scratches. The crew of the…