Professional Mariner – December/January 2023

Earning his place aboard Midnight Sun

MARINER PROFILE Tyler Vanderlip TOTE Services Second Mate — Midnight Sun Tyler Vanderlip grew up in Malibu, Calif., where he spent much of his free time on the water diving, sailing and fishing. Those early pastimes turned into a career working aboard oceangoing ships. Vanderlip, 29, works as the second mate aboard TOTE Services’ roll-on/ roll-off Midnight Sun. The 839-foot…

Historic low water in the Mississippi Valley tests river pilots and their patience

Lack of rain in the central United States has caused unprecedented low water levels along the Mississippi River throughout the fall, contributing to a rise in groundings and other disruptions on the vital waterway. The low water levels have frustrated shipping and agriculture industries, which were preparing to ship the country’s seasonal grain harvest. “For the soybean industry, it’s…

Captain accused of drugging, assaulting female cadets surrenders credential

The captain of the oceangoing ship accused of drugging two female cadets in his stateroom and then raping one of them has surrendered his license. John C. Merrone, 50, is accused of drugging the two female U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadets several years ago aboard the U.S.-flagged bulker Liberty Glory. Documents released by the U.S. Coast Guard allege Merrone…

Climate researchers find surprising effects from IMO sulfur cap

Climate researchers working for NASA have determined the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 sulfur fuel cap has succeeded in cutting pollution from ocean shipping. But it isn’t all good news. A team of scientists led by Tianle Yuan determined lower sulfur content in heavy maritime fuels reduced and sometimes eliminated entirely a cloud phenomenon known as ship tracks. Ship…

Kitsap ferry crew handles transits, passengers with a deft touch

The fast ferry Reliance was halfway across Puget Sound making 34 knots when deck hand Chaz Peters called the wheelhouse with an emergency. A passenger was having a seizure. Senior deck hand Mike Poole handed the conn back to Capt. Tom Cain and pulled up the camera footage showing the injured passenger. Both deck hands tended to the man as…

Often overlooked, tugboat fenders are more than just a bumper

From their powerful engines to their sturdy towing winches, modern tugboats are muscular marvels of innovation. By comparison, their fendering packages can feel like an afterthought. But it goes without saying that properly designed fenders are integral to the tug’s overall performance. They are also critical to the vessel’s longevity, and can have an outsized impact on long-term maintenance costs.…

Hurricane-force winds blamed in fatal liftboat capsizing

The liftboat SEACOR Power cleared the jetties near Port Fourchon, La., on a stormy spring afternoon and entered the Gulf of Mexico. Seemingly out of nowhere, a series of squalls passed over the region that reduced visibility to zero. Bryan Mires, the first mate helming the vessel, suggested dropping the spuds to ride out the weather. Capt. David Ledet agreed.…

Improper engine repair cited in fire that disabled US containership

An engine room fire that caused a containership to lose propulsion and drift for several hours before being towed to the Port of Los Angeles was likely caused by an improper engine repair, according to federal investigators. Specifically, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined the crewmember insufficiently swaged a compression fitting ferrule during the installation of fuel oil return…

Misunderstanding of dashed line on ECS put barge in train’s path

Facing strong winds, the 120-foot Baxter Southern pushed its four empty barges against the Upper Mississippi River’s right descending bank near Galland, Iowa. Almost immediately, the towboat’s crew saw the light from a train bearing down on them. The three mariners on the barges moved to one of the aft vessels and braced for impact while the pilot tried to…

Flexible SCR solutions favored for smaller workboats

In a few short months, the San Francisco Bar Pilots will take delivery of a new vessel designed to handle rough waters outside the Golden Gate Bridge. The 67-foot aluminum launch is under construction at Snow & Company in Seattle. It features the same Camarc Design hull used by pilots up and down the West Coast. The propulsion package sets…