Maritime News – Page 1033 – Professional Mariner

12 Sep

Coast Guard cutter maps out modern-day Northwest Passage

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is a feature story issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (KODIAK, Alaska) -- In 1865 the first U.S. Light House Service tender reached the shores of Russian Alaska and sparked the beginning of what has been more than 145 years of Coast Guard history in the Bering Sea. While the wooden ships of the Light House and…

12 Sep

Hurricane Ike forces shutdown of Galveston ferry system

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(GALVESTON, Texas) -- The approach of Hurricane Ike has forced the closure of the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry system, the Associated Press reported. The ferries last halted operations during Hurricane Rita in 2005. The state-owned system operates five boats. Click here to view the AP's story.

11 Sep

Coast Guard reduces sea time needed for towing mate’s license

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship Directorate announced the Federal Register is scheduled to publish a final rule Thursday to amend Coast Guard regulations relating to merchant mariner training and service. These regulatory changes remove the expiration date…

11 Sep

Houston-Galveston port closed to inbound vessels due to gale

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (HOUSTON) -- In preparation for potential severe weather associated with Hurricane IKE, Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston will set Port Condition Yankee effective 11 a.m. local time. The Coast Guard anticipates gale force winds to make landfall within 24 hours, the port is now…

11 Sep

Washburn & Doughty sets keel for tugboat damaged in July fire

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(EAST BOOTHBAY, Maine) -- Washburn & Doughty took an important step toward reopening after fire devastated the boatyard in July, the television station WMTW reported. A crew has set the keel for a tugboat that was destroyed in the massive blaze. Click here to view the TV station's story.

10 Sep

Bill would free coastwise shipping of non-bulk cargo from HMT

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) has introduced a bill that would exempt coastwise shipping of non-bulk cargo between U.S. ports from the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT). Specifically, the bill (S. 3199) provides that no HMT would be imposed on non-bulk commercial cargo “that is loaded at a port in the U.S. mainland and unloaded at another port in the U.S. mainland…

10 Sep

Provincetown’s 260-foot naval ship to be removed by barge

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(PROVINCETOWN, Mass.) -- The owners of a World War II naval ship that has been moored at Fisherman's Wharf since 2002 have decided to sell the vessel, the Cape Cod Times reported. The Provincia, which is 260 feet long, is a former Navy barracks ship. The owners' plans to transform the vessel into a restaurant, summer apartments, art studios and…

10 Sep

Coast Guard establishes protocols, info site for Hurricane Ike

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) -- With the approach of Hurricane Ike to the Texas coast, the Coast Guard is preparing to respond in any way necessary. The Coast Guard has established an information site for Hurricane Ike at http://www.uscgstormwatch.com/. The National Weather Service…

10 Sep

Soot-emitting tugs, freighters may harm Great Lakes air quality

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(MUSKEGON, Mich.) -- As a government study revealed that commercial ships spew twice as much air pollution as previously believed, there is concern that vessels are harming the air quality in the Great Lakes, the Muskegon Chronicle newspaper reported. Some Great Lakes communities, including Ottawa County, violate federal air-quality standards for soot. Tugboats are one source of the black-carbon material,…

09 Sep

TWIC compliance dates set for Mississippi River, Fla., Va. ports

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration announced Tuesday that Jan. 13, 2009, is the Transportation Worker Identification Credential compliance date for owners and operators of facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones of Hampton…