Safety alert: Overpressurizing inflatable boats

Safety alert: Overpressurizing inflatable boats

(WASHINGTON) — This U.S. Coast Guard safety alert addresses the importance of proper maintenance and adherence to manufacturer’s recommendations for filling/inflating buoyancy chambers on some models of inflatable boats. During a recent investigation of an incident that occurred involving foreign cruise vessel operations in the Antarctic, a U.S. passenger was severely injured due to a Zodiac Milpro model FC 580/MK5…
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Coast Guard, Port of Virginia host weeklong SAR forum

Coast Guard, Port of Virginia host weeklong SAR forum

(HAMPTON, Va.) — Coast Guard Sector Virginia and the Port of Virginia hosted the 17th annual Steven Todd Dooley Search and Rescue (SAR) Forum on Monday near Hampton Roads. The forum is an annual event that continues to strengthen regional interagency partnerships and communication, as well as improve the life-saving processes and skills required of search and rescue agencies. Courses…
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Safety alert: Properly configuring DSC-equipped radios

Safety alert: Properly configuring DSC-equipped radios

(WASHINGTON) — This safety alert is to remind mariners of the importance and value of properly configuring their very high frequency (VHF) radios equipped with digital selective calling (DSC) to enable proper function during an emergency. When properly installed, DSC allows the mariner to simply hit the red DSC button in an emergency, resulting in the vessel’s geographic coordinates and…
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AWO honors heroism of tug and towboat crews with new award

AWO honors heroism of tug and towboat crews with new award

(HOUSTON) — At its Winter Safety Meeting on Wednesday, the American Waterways Operators (AWO) announced the inaugural recipients of the new American Waterways Honor & Excellence in Rescue Operations (HERO) Award. The award documents and recognizes rescues undertaken by AWO member company employees who demonstrate selflessness, skill and bravery. Qualifying events for the award include, among others: rescuing commercial or…
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Safety alert: Dangerous gateway handhold arrangements

Safety alert: Dangerous gateway handhold arrangements

(WASHINGTON) — This U.S. Coast Guard safety alert addresses the importance of verifying the correct arrangement of handholds in embarkation gate arrangements aboard merchant vessels. The Coast Guard is currently investigating a casualty involving a fall from a pilot ladder where the handholds in the gate arrangement aboard the vessel terminated without being rigidly secured to the vessel’s structure. This…
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Crowley vessels, crews honored for environmental achievement

Crowley vessels, crews honored for environmental achievement

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) ­– Sixty-one Crowley vessels and their crews were recently honored by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) for a cumulative 602 years of safe environmental achievement and operations. The annual Environmental Achievement Awards are given to vessels that have no reportable spills, U.S. Coast Guard citations or other pollution incidents. Aligned with its current sustainability strategy, Crowley…
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NOAA’s Backyard Buoys to improve ocean data access

NOAA’s Backyard Buoys to improve ocean data access

(WASHINGTON) — A new ocean science effort to improve equity and inclusion is underway, thanks to a $4.98 million cooperative agreement involving three regional associations of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, which is led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The National Science Foundation (NSF) provided the funds through a cooperative agreement for Backyard Buoys, a project…
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Cook Inlet Tug & Barge team recognized for safety innovation

Cook Inlet Tug & Barge team recognized for safety innovation

(SEATTLE) — Saltchuk announced Monday that Mark Theriault, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge director of operations, will accept the 2021–2022 President’s Award for Innovation in Safety on behalf of his team. Theriault was nominated by Cook Inlet Tug & Barge President Jeff Johnson for his team’s man overboard recovery winch design and installation, as well as for new safety railings…
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