22 Aug

Fire destroys Alaska cruise boat at Seattle service dock; crew flees

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
A cruise boat was destroyed by fire while on a maintenance visit at a Seattle dock. The owner said open solvent cans on deck may have been a factor. The 104-foot Safari Spirit burned at Fishermen’s Terminal on April 27 and was declared a “constructive” loss that is beyond repair. The vessel had been docked for general maintenance in preparation…
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Crewmember hurt, hull breached when OSV runs up on jetty while en route to anchorage
22 Aug

Crewmember hurt, hull breached when OSV runs up on jetty while en route to anchorage

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
An offshore supply vessel ran aground on a Galveston, Texas, jetty while heading for a nighttime anchorage, injuring one crewman and leaving a six-foot tear in the hull, the U.S. Coast Guard reported. The 94-foot Ashton T, owned by T&T Marine of Galveston, was heading from the T&T docks on Pelican Island to the Galveston Anchorage at about 2350 on…
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22 Aug

Towing vessel ‘bridging’ examinations, which were voluntary, shift to involuntary phase

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
The nation’s Towing Vessel Bridging Program has passed a turning point this summer. Previously, the Bridging Program’s safety examinations were voluntary and were scheduled at a time convenient for the operator. Beginning in July, the U.S. Coast Guard began conducting mandatory exams in which enforcement action is possible if violations are found. The so-called Phase 2 of the Bridging Program…
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Alaska ferry hits seafood pier while trying to dock in swift current
22 Aug

Alaska ferry hits seafood pier while trying to dock in swift current

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
An Alaska state ferry went off course and crashed into a fish-processing dock while attempting to maneuver into its regular berth. The U.S. Coast Guard said the 408-foot Matanuska approached its terminal at Petersburg, Alaska, at flood tide, and the swift current in Wrangell Narrows was a factor in the accident. Matanuska, part of the Alaska Marine Highway, was turning…
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22 Aug

Washington ferries reduce crewing on some boats, may cut engineers

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
Washington State Ferries (WSF) has reduced crew sizes on nearly half its vessels and is considering additional cuts, drawing a labor challenge from three of its largest unions. Starting June 17, the state-owned ferry system pulled one seaman from each watch on its Jumbo, Issaquah and Evergreen State class ferries. Company officials are also considering reducing engine-room personnel from four…
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U.S. Army veteran takes office as new superintendent at Kings Point
22 Aug

U.S. Army veteran takes office as new superintendent at Kings Point

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
In a break with the tradition of having someone with a maritime background at the helm, a retired Army officer has been named superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Retired Army Col. James Helis took over in July as the fourth superintendent at Kings Point in as many years. Helis, a 30-year Army veteran, spent the past eight years…
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Foss’s second hybrid tugboat employs new, more-powerful lithium polymer batteries
22 Aug

Foss’s second hybrid tugboat employs new, more-powerful lithium polymer batteries

Professional Mariner StaffPublication > Professional Mariner, Tugboats & Towing
Foss Maritime Co. took advantage of advances in battery technology when it built its second hybrid tug, Campbell Foss. The lithium polymer batteries in Campbell Foss, made by Corvus Energy Ltd. of Richmond, British Columbia, are lighter and more powerful than the conventional lead-acid batteries in Foss’s first hybrid tug, Carolyn Dorothy. Campbell Foss began operations Jan. 29 at the…
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New international safety standards for lifeboat hooks coming in 2013
22 Aug

New international safety standards for lifeboat hooks coming in 2013

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
Impending mandatory changes in lifeboat hook designs promise to address recurring accidents that have resulted in injuries and deaths. All hook design manufacturers must carry out a design review, followed by physical testing under load, witnessed by a third party such as a classification society. If a hook system fails at any point during the evaluation process, it will be…
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