British Columbia emerges as hub for cleaner and greener tugboats

British Columbia emerges as hub for cleaner and greener tugboats

The cleanest fleet of harbor tugboats operating anywhere in the world isn’t in Rotterdam or Singapore or Sydney. They’re just across the Canadian border in British Columbia. HaiSea Marine, a joint venture between Seaspan and the Haisla Nation, has developed five new tugboats that will support LNG Canada’s export facility in Kitimat, B.C. The fleet consists of two 8,050-hp escort…
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Mariner shortage puts new emphasis on well-being, work-life balance

Since her first job at sea 16 years ago as an engineer on a fishing vessel in Alaska, Miriam Anthony has been the crewmember others sought for guidance and comfort. “I’d be on the bridge and crewmembers would come up and talk about their life at home and their challenges, and I loved the company and working things out with…
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Houthi attacks in Middle Eastern waters upend shipping routes

Houthi attacks in Middle Eastern waters upend shipping routes

Shipping activity through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has fallen by more than 50 percent in recent months as Houthi rebels continue to attack commercial ships in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Many shipping lines have abandoned the region altogether. The rebels, who are based in Yemen, attacked at least 53 ships since last fall, according to…
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Timing and pitch: Piloting a ship is like ‘making beautiful music’

Timing and pitch: Piloting a ship is like ‘making beautiful music’

Our pilot boat rounded Ediz Hook, near Port Angeles, Wash., cutting through the nighttime sea and making a beeline for an inbound containership. We matched the ship’s speed and pulled along its lee side in the predawn darkness. With the lights of Port Angeles winking on the shoreline a mile away, the pilot, Capt. Pat Ninburg, and deck hand, David Ellis, stood on the…
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NTSB: Dali had electrical problems before leaving Port of Baltimore

NTSB: Dali had electrical problems before leaving Port of Baltimore

The containership Dali twice lost electrical power before departing from the Port of Baltimore and striking the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the National Transportation Board (NTSB) said in a preliminary investigation report that raised new questions about its electrical plant.  Dali experienced two blackouts on March 25, roughly 10 hours before departing, while conducting maintenance in port. Crewmembers quickly addressed…
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Barge breaks free from tow, strikes bridge near Galveston, Texas

Barge breaks free from tow, strikes bridge near Galveston, Texas

A tank barge loaded with vacuum gas oil broke free from its tow in Galveston, Texas, and struck a causeway bridge, damaging the span and spilling up to 20,000 gallons of oil into the sea. The towboat LCPL Phillip C. George departed Texas International Terminals in the Port of Galveston with a string of two barges when a coupling broke…
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NTSB cites bank effect as leading factor in S.C. pier strike

NTSB cites bank effect as leading factor in S.C. pier strike

Bow Triumph was downbound in the Cooper River when it approached a sharp bend near Naval Weapons Station Joint Base Charleston. The local pilot conning the tanker lined up along the left edge of the channel and issued helm commands to steer through the turn. The Charleston Branch Pilot Association pilot issued a series of engine and rudder commands but…
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Shaver Transportation puts newest towboat to work on the Columbia and Snake rivers

Shaver Transportation puts newest towboat to work on the Columbia and Snake rivers

Capt. Steve is named for Steve Shaver, the company’s longtime president The Shaver Transportation Company has added a new towboat to its fleet. Founded in 1880, Shaver Transportation is the oldest family-owned and operated tugboat and barge company on the West Coast. Headquartered in Portland, Ore., Shaver provides service for the Columbia Snake River System. With the addition of the…
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