Maritime News – Page 3 – Professional Mariner

23 Jun

BRIX delivers offshore passenger catamaran to St. Lucia

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPassenger vessels, shipbuilding

(PORT ANGELES, Wash.) — BRIX Marine has delivered It’s About Time, a custom-built 4818-HTC offshore passenger catamaran from the company's PaxCat lineup, built for FunToSee Island Ferry of Castries, St. Lucia. This marks the second vessel BRIX Marine has built for FunToSee Island, continuing a growing partnership between the two companies. Stretching 55 feet, 6 inches overall with an 18-foot…

22 Jun

American christens latest Chesapeake-built cruise ship

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipbuilding

(GUILFORD, Conn.) —American Cruise Lines christened American Maverick in Newport, R.I., last week during the ship’s inaugural nine-day New England islands cruise. The celebration took place on board with guests, crew, community partners, and many employees from the line’s headquarters in Connecticut. American Maverick, built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding of Salisbury, Md., is the newest small cruise ship in the country…

22 Jun

Norfolk marks completion of $450 million dredging project

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsdredging, Ports, shipping

(NORFOLK, Va.) — With an audience of more than 200 people gathered Thursday at Norfolk International Terminals, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger inaugurated the Port of Virginia’s newest asset: the deepest harbor and shipping channel on the U.S. East Coast. Though the $450 million effort to deepen the channel to 55 feet was complete in February, the governor introduced the project…

14 Jun

New FRC in Guam is second to honor a fallen 9/11 hero

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(KEY WEST, Fla.) — The U.S. Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 63rd fast response cutter (FRC), Jeffrey Palazzo (WPC 1163), on Thursday in Key West. The vessel from Bollinger Shipyards is the fifth FRC to be home-ported in Guam, joining the recently commissioned Vincent Danz (WPC 1162). The Sentinel-class FRCs replaced the 1980s Island-class 110-foot patrol boats and possess…

12 Jun

Kodiak, Seward to home-port first Arctic security cutters

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, shipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard announced it will home-port its first two Arctic security cutters (ASCs) in Kodiak, Alaska, with a third ASC home-ported in Seward when the infrastructure is ready. This follows April’s announcement that the service would home-port its first two ASCs in Alaska. With the first delivery expected in 2028, the Coast Guard is accelerating preparations…

10 Jun

No safe passage: Strait of Hormuz remains ‘highly volatile’

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Security, shipping

(LONDON) — Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), issued the following statement Tuesday about the ongoing military conflict involving the United States and Iran, and its effect on commercial shipping: "I am increasingly concerned by reports that vessels continue to attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz without any credible security guarantees, despite well‑established risks and the…

09 Jun

Eastern delivers new ferry to Florida island community

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsferries, shipbuilding

(PANAMA CITY, Fla.) — Eastern Shipbuilding Group has delivered the vehicle-passenger ferry Falcon to the Fisher Island Community Association (FICA). Falcon will provide reliable and modern transportation service to the Fisher Island community. Falcon successfully completed trials prior to delivery and has entered service supporting daily operations between Fisher Island and Miami. “We are honored to deliver the Falcon to…

09 Jun

Safety alert: Failure of prototype shaft-seal material

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsSafety alert, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard identified a safety concern after a prototype component used in a mechanical shaft-seal system failed onboard a Coast Guard-inspected deep draft vessel. On Feb. 19, 2025, a U.S. flagged crude-oil tanker transiting near Delaware Bay experienced simultaneous failures of its port and starboard shaft seals, resulting in substantial seawater ingress. The crew subsequently deployed…

04 Jun

Coast Guard offers reward for stolen navigational beacon

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Navigation, U.S. Coast Guard

(SUPERIOR, Wis.) — The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for the recent break-in and theft of the Superior Entry South Breakwater Light. The theft is believed to have occurred on or about May 13 at the privately owned Superior Entry Lighthouse…

03 Jun

Safety alert: Responding to an engine high temperature alarm

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newscasualties, Safety alert, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — A fire aboard a small passenger vessel resulted in the death of one passenger, injuries to multiple passengers, and the total loss of the vessel. The investigation into the cause of the fire yielded several findings that warrant immediate review by all vessel operators. While underway, in response to a high jacket water-temperature alarm, the master shifted the…