17 Sep

Northwest Passage could become shipping lane due to melting ice

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(September 17, 2007) The Northwest Passage, sought for hundreds of years by explorers, could become an open shipping lane due to melting Artic ice, according to the Associated Press.The European Space Agency said that nearly 200 satellite photos taken in September showed an ice-free passage along northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland. The images also show ice retreating to its lowest…
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14 Sep

Coast Guard investigates barge sinkings

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(BEAR MOUNTAIN, NY -- September 14, 2007) The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the grounding and sinking of two barges on the Hudson River near the Bear Mountain Bridge in Bear Mountain, N.Y., after the two barges broke free of the tug Buchanan 12 at 0400 on Sept. 11.The barges dumped thousands of tons of crushed stone into the river,…
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12 Sep

Prosecutors drop charges against airboat operators

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(NEW ORLEANS, LA -- September 6, 2007) Federal prosecutors will not criminally charge the operators of an airboat that overturned in 2004, killing two of the 16 passengers and injuring 10 others, according to WWLTV of New Orleans. Administrative charges are still being contemplated in the Louisiana Swamp Tours accidents, according to Lt. Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Esau, spokeswoman for the U.S.…
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06 Sep

Association for Rescue at Sea to recognize heroism

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(WASHINGTON, DC -- September 6, 2007) The Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) will honor Coast Guardsmen Joshua H. Mitchelltree and David Ramsey with gold medals for heroic actions during rescues they made last year.The association will also honor Harold T. Robinson, a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarist, and the captain and crew of MV Patagonia for rescues that they performed.Mitcheltree…
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30 Aug

Conrad Industries wins Texas ferry contract

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(GALVESTON, TX -- August 30, 2007) The Texas Department of Transportation awarded Conrad Industries a contract for the construction of a 264-foot passenger/vehicle ferry scheduled for delivery during 2009 with a contract price of $22.5 million. The ferry will transport up to 70 cars and work the Galveston terminal. The Puerto Rico and Municipal Islands Maritime Transportation Authority has executed…
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28 Aug

NASCO begins construction of product carriers

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(SAN DIEGO, CA -- August 28, 2007) General Dynamics NASSCO has began construction of its first product carrier ship for U.S. Shipping Partners. NASSCO is building the ship from designs provided through its collaboration with DSEC of Korea, a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering.  The San Diego shipyard is scheduled to lay the ship’s keel in December and…
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22 Aug

Crew of British research vessel gathers extraordinary and dangerous data on waves

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
The crew and scientists aboard the British ship RRS Discovery expected a routine scientific voyage to study global warming in the North Atlantic, perhaps with some rough seas. What they got instead was a terrifying ordeal and a fight for survival atop the largest waves ever measured on a ship.They won't ever forget the chaotic conditions they endured off the…
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