Maritime News – Page 971 – Professional Mariner

23 Sep

Washburn & Doughty to rebuild following catastrophic fire

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The fire that destroyed the shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine, apparently began with sparks from a cutting torch. (Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) The flames were spectacular, sending a dark plume skyward that was visible for miles and reducing the heart of a venerable Maine shipyard to a pile of charred metal. But before the smoke had cleared, a resurrection…

23 Sep

LNG making headway despite obstacles as projects advance on land and offshore

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

Despite regulatory hurdles and sometimes fierce local opposition, six new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals have opened or are about to come on line in the United States.“The six new LNG terminals that just came on line or are coming on line in the U.S. are a mix of offshore and onshore, and we see that mix going forward,” said…

23 Sep

Rescue tug to be stationed year round at entrance to Strait of Juan de Fuca

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

A state-funded emergency response tug based in Neah Bay, Wash., is now standing by 365 days a year to assist vessels and help prevent oil spills in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and along the Washington coast. Continuous service began July 1. Since 1999, a state-funded response tug has been stationed in Neah Bay to help disabled ships and…

23 Sep

U.S. environmental agency to require permits for routine vessel discharges

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

A federal court ruling that the Clean Water Act applies to ballast water, bilge water and other routine vessel discharges has led to action, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that will require permits for thousands of commercial vessels. Eleventh-hour legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Bush provides a reprieve for millions of other vessels, including fishing boats…

23 Sep

St. Lawrence Seaway employees may go on strike in October

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.: (CORNWALL, Ontario) -- The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) has received the results of strike votes taken by its 445 unionized employees. The votes give the union a mandate to strike on 72 hours' notice at any time after October 10,…

23 Sep

NCL, Aker Yards in dispute over cruiseship construction costs

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(MIAMI) -- Norwegian Cruise Lines and Aker Yards France are involved in a dispute over the cost of constructing the latest NCL ship, USA Today reported on its Cruise Log blog. Aker Yards confirms the dispute involving the first of two 4,200-passenger vessels it is building. The new ships are 60 percent larger than NCL's biggest existing vessel. There was…

23 Sep

Feds charge Spanish mariner with skipping oily water separator

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice: (BOSTON) -- A Spanish seafarer was charged today in U.S. District Court with covering up discharges of oil contaminated waste from the M/T Nautilus. United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Rear Admiral Dale G. Gabel, UnitedStates Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard…

22 Sep

Illinois River closed to commercial vessels due to high water

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (ST. LOUIS) -- The Coast Guard captain of the port at Sector Upper Mississippi continues waterway restrictions for the Mississippi and Illinois rivers due to high water levels Monday, Sept., 22, 2008. Restrictions for the Illinois and Mississippi rivers are listed below: The Illinois…

22 Sep

Cummings: Coast Guard must issue towing safety regulations

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued Sept. 16 by U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md.: (WASHINGTON) -- Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, released the following statement in response to the Subcommittee’s hearing this morning examining the circumstances surrounding the collision of a tanker…

22 Sep

Feds approve Oregon LNG terminal, the West Coast’s first

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued Sept. 18 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: (WASHINGTON) -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today approved the first new liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal and related sendout pipeline to serve rising energy demand in the Pacific Northwest. The project, proposed by Bradwood Landing, LLC and…