15 Sep

HMS Detroit replica sold

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The town of Amherstburg, Ontario, has given up on a project to build a replica of the HMS Detroit, selling the unfinished hull to the Newport-based group Tall Ships Rhode Island.  Read more from The Windsor Star. 

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15 Sep

Olin Stephens dies

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

With more than 2,200 designs to his credit, reknowned naval architect Olin Stephens has died aged 100.  Read the obituary from The New York Times.

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12 Sep

Carnival Liberty crew to receive Meritorious Service award

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of an announcement issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:   (MIAMI) -- Coast Guard Rear Adm. Steve Branham, Commander Coast Guard Seventh District, will present a United States Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award during an award ceremony to be held Saturday for the captain and crew of the cruise ship Carnival Liberty.   Capt.…

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12 Sep

Coast Guard cutter maps out modern-day Northwest Passage

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is a feature story issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:   (KODIAK, Alaska) -- In 1865 the first U.S. Light House Service tender reached the shores of Russian Alaska and sparked the beginning of what has been more than 145 years of Coast Guard history in the Bering Sea.  While the wooden ships of the Light House and…

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12 Sep

Hurricane Ike forces shutdown of Galveston ferry system

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(GALVESTON, Texas) -- The approach of Hurricane Ike has forced the closure of the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry system, the Associated Press reported. The ferries last halted operations during Hurricane Rita in 2005. The state-owned system operates five boats.   Click here to view the AP's story.

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11 Sep

Coast Guard reduces sea time needed for towing mate’s license

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:   (WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship Directorate announced the Federal Register is scheduled to publish a final rule Thursday to amend Coast Guard regulations relating to merchant mariner training and service.   These regulatory changes remove the expiration date…

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11 Sep

Houston-Galveston port closed to inbound vessels due to gale

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:   (HOUSTON) -- In preparation for potential severe weather associated with Hurricane IKE, Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston will set Port Condition Yankee effective 11 a.m. local time.   The Coast Guard anticipates gale force winds to make landfall within 24 hours, the port is now…

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11 Sep

Washburn & Doughty sets keel for tugboat damaged in July fire

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(EAST BOOTHBAY, Maine) -- Washburn & Doughty took an important step toward reopening after fire devastated the boatyard in July, the television station WMTW reported. A crew has set the keel for a tugboat that was destroyed in the massive blaze.   Click here to view the TV station's story.

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10 Sep

Bill would free coastwise shipping of non-bulk cargo from HMT

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) has introduced a bill that would exempt coastwise shipping of non-bulk cargo between U.S. ports from the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT).    Specifically, the bill (S. 3199) provides that no HMT would be imposed on non-bulk commercial cargo “that is loaded at a port in the U.S. mainland and unloaded at another port in the U.S. mainland…

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10 Sep

Provincetown’s 260-foot naval ship to be removed by barge

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(PROVINCETOWN, Mass.) -- The owners of a World War II naval ship that has been moored at Fisherman's Wharf since 2002 have decided to sell the vessel, the Cape Cod Times reported. The Provincia, which is 260 feet long, is a former Navy barracks ship. The owners' plans to transform the vessel into a restaurant, summer apartments, art studios and…

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