25 Jul

Cosco Busan operator charged with making false statements

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(SAN FRANCISCO) -- The company operating Cosco Busan has been charged with making false statements to federal investigators, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Fleet Management was indicted this week for allegedly falsifying documents, obstructing justice and misdemeanor negligence. Cosco Busan spilled more than 50,000 gallons of fuel when it struck a bridge tower in heavy fog Nov. 7, 2007. The…
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24 Jul

California passes nation’s toughest emissions rules for ships

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- California officials have ordered the nation's toughest rules requiring ocean-going ships to reduce their emissions as they approach the state's coastline, the San Francisco Examiner reported. The California Air Resources Board voted unanimously to require ships to switch to cleaner fuels near the coast. A debate between the shipping industry and the regulators continues over whether the…
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23 Jul

Congressman urges more ice-breaking on northern Great Lakes

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News
(CHARLEVOIX, Mich.) -- Local officials including a Democratic congressman are calling for a new Coast Guard ice-breaker to be stationed at Charlevoix, the Petoskey News-Review reported. Rep. Bart Stupak said more ice-breaking capacity is needed on the northern Great Lakes. The cutter Acacia was decommissioned two years ago, leaving the region with only one ice-breaker instead of two.   Click here…
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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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