Maritime News – Page 991 – Professional Mariner

20 Jun

Coast Guard automated ID system launched aboard satellite

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 announced Friday the launch of an ORBCOMM concept demonstration satellite, equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS) capability, from Kapustin Yar, Russia, Thursday. The satellite attained a proper orbit and is expected to start transmitting operational data within…

19 Jun

Soaring fuel costs threaten nation’s oceanography research fleet

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(SAN DIEGO) -- Rising fuel costs are posing a threat to the nation's fleet of oceanographic research vessels, the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper reported. Scientific institutes say they may be forced to lay up ships if they don't get more federal funding to cover fuel costs. The number of research-days at sea is already falling nationwide. Click here to view the…

19 Jun

Port authorities urge Congress to endorse MARPOL limits

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is a press release issued by the American Association of Port Authorities: (ALEXANDRIA, Va.) -- The American Association of Port Authorities this week sent an urgent request to leaders of the United States Senate and leaders of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, urging them to endorse swift passage of H.R. 802, the Maritime Pollution…

19 Jun

Shortage of vessels poses challenge for deepwater oil drilling

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(NEW YORK) -- President Bush faces one big obstacle in his quest to drill aggressively for oil on the Continental Shelf: a shortage of oil-service ships, the New York Times reported. Oil companies such as Petrobras are already facing challenges to hire enough vessel to exploit new deepwater oil and gas discoveries. Shipyards from South Korea to Norway are working…

19 Jun

C&C builds full ABS vessels

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News, Maritime News

C&C Boat Works of Belle Chasse, La., has stepped up its boatbuilding quality by having its new series of 162-foot supply boats classed full ABS rather than ABS load line. The first vessel so classed is Isla Blanca sold to Adriatic Marine in Raceland, La., and delivered in June 2008. The company has two more sister ships to build for…

18 Jun

Foss Maritime vessels win CSA Devlin Awards

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The following is the text of a press release issued by Foss Maritime Co.: (SEATTLE) -- Foss Maritime Company’s commitment to safety was underscored earlier this month when a top maritime organization recognized 18 of its vessels for outstanding safety records.The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) presented the Foss vessels with Jones F. Devlin Awards at the Annual…

16 Jun

Tug, barge didn’t hit Bay St. Louis Bridge, judge rules

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(GULFPORT, Miss.) -- A judge has dropped Matthews Marine as a defendant in a personal-injury lawsuit involving a construction accident at the Bay St. Louis Bridge, the Sun Herald newspaper reported. Plaintiffs had argued that a Matthews Marine tug and barge had struck a support beam prior to a collapse that killed two construction workers. The judge and plaintiff's attorney…

16 Jun

Cruise industry goes on offensive to thwart stricter discharge rules

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(JUNEAU, Alaska) -- The state's cruise industry is aggressively lobbying for changes to new rules that would place stricter limits on the discharge of metals in cruise-ship waste, the Anchorage Daily News reported. The campaign includes legislative tours of vessels' sewage treatment facilities. The cruise lines argue that the technology necessary to meet the metal limits doesn't exist yet. …

16 Jun

Turbine tow is Erie Canal’s largest cargo in years

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(SYRACUSE, N.Y.) -- A load of two turbines on a barge is the Erie Canal's largest cargo in years, the Post-Standard newspaper of Syracuse reported. The 450-ton load was towed through Central New York over the weekend. The tugboat Margo, towing the turbines, was headed to Duluth, Minn., from Virginia. Click here to view the newspaper's story and a photo.

13 Jun

MarAd agrees to assist Guam with $195M maritime expansion

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

(HAGATNA, Guam) -- The U.S. Maritime Administration and the territory of Guam have agreed on a memorandum of understanding to make improvements to Guam's maritime and port infrastructure, the Pacific Daily News newspaper reported. The master plan will cost an estimated $195 million. The expansion is needed because the U.S. government plans to relocate thousands of U.S. Marines and their…