ferries – Page 3 – Professional Mariner

14 Nov

BHGI to design new ferry for Casco Bay Lines

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsferries, shipbuilding

(BRISTOL, R.I.) — Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) has been selected by Casco Bay Lines (CBL) of Portland, Maine, to provide naval architecture and marine engineering services for the evaluation and design of a new Subchapter K passenger/vehicle ferry that will be operated year-round. The new vessel will replace M/V Maquoit II. BHGI will be responsible for developing a preliminary…

13 Oct

NTSB cites ‘microsleep,’ complacency in Seattle ferry accident

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsferries

(WASHINGTON) — Fatigue and complacency led a Washington State Ferries (WSF) passenger and car vessel to strike a mooring dolphin at a Seattle ferry terminal last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday. The contact resulted in $10.3 million in damage to the ferry and $300,000 in damage to the dolphin. The ferry Cathlamet had crossed Puget Sound…

02 Oct

WSF: Bacteria, fungus in fuel filters led to ferry grounding

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsferries

(SEATTLE) — Bacterial and fungal growth in its diesel storage tanks led the ferry Walla Walla to run aground on Bainbridge Island in April, according to a Washington State Ferries (WSF) report. The contamination was reportedly caused by air and water in the fuel system that overwhelmed the fuel filters, leading to a loss of power. “We’ve made several changes…

07 Sep

MEBA secures contract for Staten Island Ferry officers

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsferries

(NEW YORK) — After 13 years of negotiations, the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA) and the City of New York have reached an agreement on a new contract. The landmark deal will have significant implications for the Staten Island Ferry, as it brings the wages of all officers (deck and engine) in line with industry standards. The MEBA represents all…

29 Aug

Conrad lands order to build four ferries for Puerto Rico

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsferries, shipbuilding

(MORGAN CITY, La.) — Conrad Shipyard has been awarded a contract by the Puerto Rico Maritime Transit Authority (PRMTA) to build four cargo and passenger ferries. The vessels, designed to carry 300 passengers and 300 short tons of cargo, will operate between Ceiba and the islands of Vieques and Culebra. Passenger amenities incorporated into the ferries were designed with comfort…

02 Jun

Alaska ferry goes into service four years after delivery

Rich MillerMaritime Newsferries, shipbuilding

(JUNEAU, Alaska) – The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) announced that the U.S. Coast Guard has granted M/V Hubbard its certificate of inspection (COI), allowing the ferry to go into service and begin its first operational year since it was delivered in 2019. Hubbard will operate in Lynn Canal six days a week this summer, with sailings between Juneau, Haines…

30 May

WETA completes Bay Area ferry conversion project

Rich MillerMaritime Newsferries, Ports, propulsion

(SAN FRANCISCO) – The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) have announced that WETA’s Gemini Class Clean Air Conversion Project has been completed, resulting in a substantial decrease in air pollution emissions from four San Francisco Bay Ferry vessels serving Oakland, Alameda and Richmond. WETA already operates the…

12 May

WSF cites fuel contamination for grounding on Seattle run

Rich MillerCasualty Newsferries, U.S. Coast Guard

The following is a statement from Eben Phillips, director of vessel engineering and maintenance for Washington State Ferries (WSF), regarding the recent grounding of the ferry Walla Walla: "On April 15, Walla Walla had both its ship's service generator and vital generator shut down in Rich Passage, ultimately resulting in a full loss of propulsion and steerage, and subsequently (the…

19 Apr

WSF: Captain lost situational awareness before allision

Rich MillerCasualty Newsferries

(SEATTLE) — A Washington State Ferries (WSF) captain lost situational awareness before his vessel hit a docking dolphin near a terminal in Puget Sound while cruising at about 15 knots, according to a WSF report. The ferry Cathlamet was en route from the Vashon Island Terminal to the Fauntleroy Terminal when the allision occurred at 8:13 a.m. on July 28.…

17 Apr

Ferry carrying 600 passengers grounds near Seattle

Rich MillerCasualty Newsferries, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — A Washington state ferry ran aground south of Bainbridge Island on Saturday, prompting the evacuation of nearly 600 passengers aboard the vessel. All were safely disembarked and no pollution was reported. At about 4:30 p.m., Walla Walla grounded in Rich Passage en route from Bremerton to Seattle. According to operator Washington State Ferries (WSF), the vessel appeared to…