20 Nov

Coast Guard wants escorts for single-hull barges on Buzzards Bay

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
The region shaded darker blue is the area covered by New Coast Guard regulations. (Ginny Howe illustration) The U.S. Coast Guard has announced new regulations that require tugs pulling single-hull oil barges to be accompanied by a second tug when transiting Massachusetts' Buzzards Bay.   The new regulations, which go into effect Nov. 28, mirror some of the regulations that the…
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20 Nov

Slow-to-arrive z-drive units create headaches for tug operators and builders

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Tugboats & Towing
Ocean Henry Bain is a new tug employing controllable-pitch propellers. The vessel is the third in a series of 5,000-hp z-drive tugs built for Ocean Group, a Quebec company that operates on the St. Lawrence River. The tug has Rolls-Royce drives with CP props in nozzles. (Mac McKay) What takes longer than ordering a new Toyota Prius, or, say, obtaining…
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20 Nov

Coast Guard plans to hire civilians to boost its troubled Marine Safety role

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
Lt. Cliff Harder of Sector Houston/Galveston describes procedures to Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard, during a safety and security inspection of a chemical carrier in the Houston Ship Channel. Allen has acknowledged that the Coast Guard's resources have been stretched thin. (Photos courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)   The Coast Guard hopes to hire hundreds of civilian inspectors…
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20 Nov

Bender building six anchor handlers for Seacor Marine

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
Above, anchor handler John Coghill at its christening at the Bender shipyard in Mobile, Ala. The 265-foot anchor handler has a diesel-electric power plant comprising five Caterpillar generators producing 10,750 horsepower. (Courtesy Bender Shipbuilding and Repair) In early May, Seacor Marine LLC of Houma, La., christened the first of six anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels built by Bender Shipbuilding and…
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19 Nov

Coast Guard took no action before Cosco Busan struck bridge

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- November 18, 2007) The Coast Guard maintained radio silence for the two minutes before Cosco Busan struck the San Franciso Bay Bridge last week, neglecting to inform the crew of the impending collision. Coast Guard official have defended the decision, saying they were trying to limit communications during the "critical maneuver." Cocso Busan pilot John Cota has…
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14 Nov

Seacor Marine receives newest vessel, John Coghill

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(HOUMA, LA -- November 12, 2007) Seacor Marine announced today that it received delivery of its newest vessel, M/V John Coghill. Named in honor of a retired Seacor Marine employee, John Coghill is a 265-ft. Anchor Handling Towing Supply vessel (AHTS) featuring an environmentally friendlier, lower emission diesel electric power plant and 10,750 total horsepower from four Caterpillar 3516 diesel…
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12 Nov

Coast Guard presents first Captain Domenic A. Calicchio Award

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(PORTSMOUTH, VA -- November 7, 2007) The Coast Guard dedicate and presented its first Captain Domenic A. Calicchio Award at the Coast Guard Training Center, Yorktown, Va. The award will be presented to the Investigating Officer Course graduate who, as elected by fellow classmates, most exemplifies the personal and professional qualities exhibited by Calicchio. The Coast guard considers Calicchio’s  service…
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09 Nov

State hopes Nichols Bros. will reopen

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(FREELAND, WA -- November 9, 2007) State officials have expressed hope that the closing of Nichols Bros. Boat Builders will be only temporary.The shipyard on Whidbey Island in Washington laid off its workers and closed its doors on Nov. 2. But according to a story by the Associated Press, state transportation officials still hope that Nichols Bros. will remain in…
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