15 May

Federal stimulus spending plan includes $340 million for maritime projects

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
The $787 billion stimulus bill passed earlier this year to jump-start the U.S. economy includes at least $340 million to upgrade maritime infrastructure, with appropriations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd). The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, provides $64.1…
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15 May

A dramatic rescue by a salvage team

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
Fedra comes ashore at Europa Point. With an emergency helicopter grounded and a daring cliff-top rescue halted by blinding spray and hurricane-force winds, all Jim Conroy could do was wait as waves pounded the cargo ship Fedra against the rocks at Gibraltar's Europa Point. Eleven men were still on board, exposed to the full fury of the storm as they…
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15 May

Extension of AIS requirement would affect thousands of vessels

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
The U.S. Coast Guard has proposed adding thousands of commercial vessels to the vessel Automatic Identification System (AIS) and the Requirements for Notices of Arrival and Departure (NOAD). It's part of a continuing program to enhance waterway security, oversight and operational safety. The proposed new rules would apply to all vessels in U.S. inland and offshore navigable waters, including almost…
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15 May

Economist: U.S. maritime industry ‘just plain terrible’ in 2009

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(NORFOLK, Va.) -- At a maritime trade conference in Virginia, economist and consultant William Ralph said business is 'just plain terrible' so far in 2009, the Virginian-Pilot newspaper reported. Ralph said container shipping may not see a recovery until 2011. The president of CMA CGM's American division said the 'bottom has hit.'   Click here to view the newspaper's story.
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14 May

Columbia River channel project gets $26.6M in stimulus funds

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
The following is the text of a press release issued May 13 by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.:   (WASHINGTON) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the Columbia River Channel Deepening project will receive $26.6 million to complete work to deepen the Columbia River navigation channel…
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14 May

U.S. military using old B-52s to monitor suspicious ships

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(BARKSDALE AIR BASE, La.) -- The U.S. Strategic Command is using 50-year-old B-52H Stratofortress planes to monitor suspicious ships, National Defense magazine reported. The Department of Homeland Security wants to track vessels as far away as 2,000 miles from the U.S., beyond the current range of the automated identification system. The Government Accountability Office has warned that the creation of redundant…
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