17 Jul

Sabine pilot files Jones Act lawsuit after injuring arm on tug

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

(BEAUMONT, Texas) -- A member of the Sabine Pilots has filed a Jones Act lawsuit claiming that negligence caused him to injure his arm during a transfer to an offshore tugboat, the Southeast Texas Record legal newspaper reported. The lawsuit says Harvey Gulf and Diamond Offshore failed to provide safe equipment for a pilot transfer in rough seas. The arm…

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17 Jul

Coast Guard at Seattle monitoring two stricken vessels

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:   (SEATTLE) -- Coast Guard Sector Seattle is monitoring two commercial vessels heading to the Puget Sound region today.   The two vessels are being monitored after two separate incidents.   Captain Stephen Metruck, Captain of the Port, Puget Sound, has directed the crew of…

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14 Jul

Tugboat Ruby E sinks in lower Mississippi River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:   (NEW ORLEANS) -- The Coast Guard established a safety zone on the Mississippi River early this morning from mile marker 101 to mile marker 102 permitting only one vessel to pass at a time due to a sunken 56-foot towing vessel, Ruby E, at…

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11 Jul

Cargo ship Amity Ace runs aground in Brunswick River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:   (BRUNSWICK, Ga.) -- The Coast Guard is responding to a 653-foot cargo ship that ran aground in the Brunswick River approximately two-miles east of the Sidney Lanier Bridge Friday morning.   The Amity Ace, a Panamanian-flagged vehicle carrier, reportedly loss propulsion around 5 a.m.…

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11 Jul

Toxic gas leaks from ship at Corpus Christi; 30 people exposed

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is the text of two press releases issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:   (CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) -- The Coast Guard responded to a chemical release at the Occidental chemical facility in La Quinta marine channel today.   At 5:30 a.m. the DuPont chemical facility adjacent to the Occidental chemical facility reported that alarms on their facility indicated…

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09 Jul

Large fire breaks out aboard cargo ship in Miami River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

(MIAMI) -- A large fire damaged a cargo ship docked along the Miami River, the Sun-Sentinal newspaper reported. The 200-foot Atlantic was loaded with vehicles, mattresses and bicycles bound for Haiti. It took 100 firefighters to bring the blaze under control.   Click here to view the newspaper's story.

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09 Jul

Buffalo Marine crew lauded for battling Houston pushboat fire

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is the text of a press release issued by Buffalo Marine Services Inc.:            (HOUSTON) -- Firefighting skills of the crew of the M/V SAN RAFAEL prevented a chain reaction of explosions that could have severely disrupted commerce on the upper Houston Ship Channel on May 24.          Captain Bill Diehl, U.S. Coast Guard and captain of…

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08 Jul

Cruise West’s spate of casualties prompts Coast Guard safety review

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) -- Cruise West is under a special Coast Guard safety review after the company's vessels experienced three mechanical failures and two groundings this season, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Coast Guard personnel are holding regular safety and maintenance "stand-downs" aboard Cruise West ships. The Seattle-based company said it is also reviewing its own management system.   Click here to…

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07 Jul

Barge-mounted crane rips down power lines over Ohio River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is the text of a press release issued June 27 by the U.S. Coast Guard:   (HUNTINGTON, W.V.) -- The Coast Guard closed a section of the Ohio River from mile marker 306.5 to 307.5 at approximately 3 p.m., today after a barge-mounted crane struck high tension power lines, causing them to be collapse.    The section of…

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07 Jul

Coast Guard: Alaska Ranger lost two lifeboats while backing

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News

The following is a safety alert issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:   Safety Alert 3-08 Controllable Pitch Propeller Systemsand Situational Awareness   A marine casualty in March of 2008 involving a fishing vessel in the BeringSea resulted in multiple fatalities and complete loss of the vessel.  AMarine Board of Investigation is currently examining the variouscircumstances surrounding the casualty.  Although…

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