Professional Mariner – July 2025 – Professional Mariner

Robert Allan and Schottel partner on 500th tug

A prolific Canadian naval architect and a German propulsion manufacturer recently achieved a production milestone on a breakthrough vessel. Robert Allan Ltd. and Schottel have partnered on their 500th tugboat. That vessel — a Robert Allan RAsalvor 4400-DFM design equipped with Schottel RudderPropellers (SRP) and SYDRIVE-M — is one of a pair of dual-fuel methanol escort tugs purpose-built for KOTUG…

New SOLAS regs mandate fixed firefighting equipment on ro-ro vessels

Starting in January 2026, fire detectors and water-based fire monitors will be required on the weather decks of roll-on roll-off and ropax vessels under new International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations. “The decision follows an increasing number of serious fire incidents involving vehicle cargo, including several high-profile incidents involving electric vehicles (EVs), that have exposed…

Donny Mudgett the first of a new fleet of vessels for Hines Furlong Line

A Midwest inland barge company marked the beginning of its newbuild program with the recent delivery of a 2,400-horsepower towboat. The 78-foot-long-by-34-foot-wide towboat Donny Mudgett is the first of 11 new vessels in Hines Furlong Lines’ newbuild program. Built at Intracoastal Iron Works in Bourg, La., Donny Mudgett is powered by three Mitsubishi Tier 3 S6R2-Y3MPTAW engines, each delivering 803…

IMO says satellite jamming is a ‘grave concern’ to shipping

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently joined two workers’ unions to express their “grave concern” over the interference and jamming of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) operating in the frequency bands allocated to the Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS). The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) made a joint statement with the IMO to raise…

Gladding-Hearn repowers launch for Charleston pilots

A Massachusetts shipyard has repowered a pilot boat with the latest iteration of what was a milestone technology a decade ago. Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Dulcos Corporation, recently delivered Fort Ripley, which has been in service in Port Charleston for 10 consecutive years. Built in 2014 as a collaboration between Ray Hunt Design and Gladding-Hearn, the all-aluminum 65-foot Fort Ripley was built for the Charleston Branch Pilots, and was…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group recognized for safety record

One of the most diverse vessel construction companies in the U.S. was bestowed an award by an insurer for its outstanding safety record. Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. (ESG) was awarded a 2024 AEU Safety Award for the company’s strong commitment to safety in the workplace. The accolade is presented by the American Equity Underwriters, Inc. — the leading provider of…

St. Johns Ship Building delivers third CTV for WINDEA

A Florida shipyard has delivered another Jones Act-compliant vessel for a U.S. offshore wind farm. St. Johns Ship Building delivered WINDEA Reliance, the third and final vessel in a series of 98-foot aluminum crew transfer vessels (CTVs) built for WINDEA CTV LLC, a partnership between MidOcean Wind and Hornblower Wind. WINDEA Reliance rounds out a newbuild program that includes WINDEA…

NOAA installs PORTS sensors in Honolulu

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that it has installed and activated another set of marine navigation sensors in the Hawaiian Islands, which is expected to facilitate the efficient flow of commercial traffic, among other benefits. NOAA said in late May that the first Physical Oceanographic Real-time System (PORTS) at Pearl Harbor-Honolulu, Hawaii, is now operational. “Installed by NOAA’s…

A snapshot of US port fees and tariffs

As the global economy tries to absorb the impact of President Donald Trump’s ever-changing tariff policy, the administration also plans to implement port fees on Chinese-owned and Chinese-built commercial ships and on car carriers made in any foreign country. The Office of the United States Trade Representative, a part of the executive branch, claimed last year — while still acting…

Maritime cybersecurity: An urgent call for awareness and action

Cybersecurity has become a daily concern for professional mariners, yet the industry’s preparedness lags behind the rapidly evolving threat landscape. From ransomware and phishing attacks to the theft of sensitive data, the maritime sector faces persistent and sophisticated cyberthreats. Recent studies and real-world incidents have revealed that cybersecurity awareness and readiness among maritime workers remain insufficient — posing a threat…