01 Jun

Chief mate of MSC prepositioning ship lost after going overboard near Guam

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
The civilian chief mate of a U.S. Military Sealift Command ship fell overboard in rough weather near Guam and was lost at sea. The unidentified employee of Waterman Steamship Corp. was serving aboard the Maritime Prepositioning Force vessel USNS Maj Stephen W. Pless when the mariner plunged into the Philippine Sea on Feb. 27, the Navy said in a statement.…
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01 Jun

Tug operator in collision with duck boat was talking on cell phone, NTSB reports

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
The mate who was operating a Delaware River tugboat when its sludge barge struck a disabled duck tour boat last year was talking on his personal cell phone at the moment of the collision, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said. Two Hungarian students were killed when Caribbean Sea's barge The Resource struck the drifting tour boat DUKW 34 on…
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31 May

Oil tanker operators now required to secure contracts with salvors, marine firefighters

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
In a development long sought by the salvage industry, operators of oil tank vessels in U.S. waters are now required to have contracts in place with salvors and marine firefighters before an accident takes place. The new federal provision — Salvage and Marine Firefighting Requirements; Vessel Response Plans for Oil — went into effect on Feb. 22. It applies to…
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31 May

DNV proposes ballast-free crude carrierable to cut pollution while reducing costs

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
Det Norske Veritas (DNV), the Norwegian classification society, has unveiled an innovative design concept for a very large crude carrier (VLCC) that eliminates the need for ballast tanks. Such a vessel, according to DNV, would prevent the spread of invasive species and reduce air pollution, yet would be cheaper to operate than a conventional tanker. DNV calls the ballast-free tanker…
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31 May

Plimsolls go to PortVision vessel tracking, Samson R&D and Kings Point teacher

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
The 2011 winners of Professional Mariner's Plimsoll Awards for Outstanding Service are Capt. George R. Sandberg, the director of Nautical Science Simulation at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; and the research and development team at Samson, the Washington-based maker of synthetic lines. The winner of the Plimsoll Award for Innovation is PortVision, a Houston company that has developed an AIS…
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31 May

Aker Philadelphia gets a reprieve with state infusion of $42 million

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
A new partnership between Aker Philadelphia Shipbuilding Inc. and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will keep the yard afloat for at least two years. The yard was facing closure for lack of new work. The deal, which involves an investment by the state of $42 million to purchase the assets of the yard, is intended to preserve about 1,000 shipyard and…
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25 Apr

Experimentation with "green" vessels drives technology change

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
The construction of environmentally friendly vessels for the maritime industry is growing. This trend is influenced by several factors: new emissions and environmental regulations, higher fuel costs, public pressure to make the industry greener and a push from owners to make vessels more cost-effective. "This is what drives innovations in our industry — the need to be that much cleaner…
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25 Apr

Seaway operators develop tool to integrate draft data to ensure under-keel clearances

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
The shipping industry and managers of the St. Lawrence Seaway have developed an onboard navigation system that integrates "real time" and predictive data about under-keel clearance to improve safety — and profitability — for maritime operators. The Draught Information System (DIS) was tested last summer in a pilot project involving members of the Canadian Shipowners Association (CSA), St. Lawrence Seaway…
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