23 Jul

Research ship studying Lake Ontario water quality, invasive species

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) -- The research ship Lake Guardian is spending 2008 studying water quality, the aquatic food chain and invasive species in Lake Ontario, the Democrat & Chronicle newspaper reported. A joint team of U.S. and Canadian scientists are taking water samples and surveying lake trout and other fish species. The 180-foot vessel is operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.    Click here to view the newspaper's…
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22 Jul

Maritime environmental center opens on Chesapeake Bay

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
The following is the text of a press release issued 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, joined the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Port Administration, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science…
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18 Jul

Coast Guards says new medical rules will simplify medical evaluations but not boost rejections

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
  The revision of the medical rules comes against a backdrop of casualties involving mariner health issues, such as the 2003 crash of the Staten Island Ferry Andrew J. Barberi. The Coast Guard has taken steps to improve the simplicity, consistency, effectiveness and speed of its medical evaluation process. A new 52-page document posted by the Coast Guard offers mariners…
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18 Jul

Congress considering strict new ballast water standards

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
This Hyde Guardian system on the cruise ship Celebrity Mercury employs filtration and ultra-violet radtion to remove and kill organisms in ballast water. The system, installed by the ship's crew during normal operations, was comissioned in January 2007. A bill pending in the U.S. Congress to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species by requiring the treatment of ballast water…
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