14 Mar

CBP to assess fines for violation of the wood packaging import regulations

Maritime News
Effective Friday March 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection may issue claims for liquidated damages and/or penalties against importers, carriers or bonded custodians for importing wood packaging material (WPM) in violation of the regulations. Liquidated damages result from a breach of obligation under bond. When violations occur, liquidated damages and/or penalties will be assessed based on the value of the…
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02 Mar

Shipboard fire fighting – water makes a comeback

Casualty News, Maritime News
High velocity water sprays combined with low water discharge rates are changing the way shipboard fires are fought. The eruption of a fuel fire in the engine room of the cruise ship Nordic Empress (see sidebar) was controlled and extinguished expeditiously because of the swift activation of a water mist system designed to protect shipboard machinery spaces. This is the…
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28 Feb

New federal law requires inspection of towing vessels

Maritime News
Towing vessels will be required to undergo U.S. Coast Guard inspection as a result of new legislation that is expected to have a profound effect on the industry. C.F. Campbell is a 4,000-hp ocean-capable tug built in 1975 by Halter Marine. Over 5,000 tugs in the United States will be subject to U.S. Coast Guard inspection as a result of…
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28 Feb

Z-drive barge extends life of single-screw tug

Maritime News
Marcon International recorded 441 tugs for sale worldwide in its July 2004 market report. Of these, 162 were still single-screw boats. A number of innovative companies have found ways to upgrade and use these vessels in contemporary situations. The barge can carry up to 54 trailers.    Image Credit: Alan Haig-Brown In some cases, where the hull has enough beam,…
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28 Feb

2004 Plimsoll Awards won by Mississippi river pilot, Coast Guard R&D Center for support of AIS

Maritime News, Tugboats & Towing
The editors of Professional Mariner have presented the Plimsoll Awards for 2004 to Capt. Douglas J. Grubbs of the Crescent River Port Pilots' Association and to the U.S. Coast Guard's Research and Development Center in Groton, Conn. Grubbs and the R&D Center were honored for their work in developing automatic identification system technology and promoting its acceptance by mariners. Rear…
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28 Feb

Integrating AIS with other bridge electronics

Maritime News, Tugboats & Towing
The Automatic Identification System (AIS) was originally conceived as a safety and navigation aid for ships at sea. Mandated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and implemented and enforced by member states, AIS provides information otherwise unavailable to a crew. AIS transponders act as conduits for information about a vessel, gathering both dynamic data about a ship, such as position,…
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28 Feb

When a cylinder fails, engineers still keep ship on schedule

Maritime News
Patrick McCormack's routine as the first engineer aboard the 750-foot containership Horizon Anchorage cracked at 0800 hours. "When I came into the engine room, I could smell engine-cooling water," said McCormack. Horizon Anchorage on its way north from Tacoma, Wash.    Image Credit: Brian Gauvin "If you're smelling water, you go to the main engine. It jumped right out. It…
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