safety – Page 3 – Professional Mariner

27 Jun

Reflections on the loss of the submersible Titan

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newscasualties, safety

In every issue of Professional Mariner, we have a casualties section that highlights maritime incidents. The purpose of this section is so that we can learn from the challenges and mistakes that others had to deal with in hopes of either not making those same mistakes or knowing how to deal with similar events. As the timeless adage goes, “Those…

15 May

Safety alert: Dangers of avoiding load line requirements

Rich MillerMaritime Newscasualty news, safety, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — A recent marine casualty resulting in the total loss of a crane barge, estimated at over $6 million, is a stark warning of the risks involved with failing to adhere to load line regulations. The incident occurred approximately 18 miles offshore of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico while the crane barge was being towed in calm weather…

21 Apr

Annual PSC report shows slight rise in vessel detentions

Rich MillerMaritime NewsPorts, Regulation, safety, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has released the U.S. Port State Control (PSC) Annual Report for 2022, with the vessel detention rate increasing slightly from the previous year. This marks another year of PSC activities with the annual report aimed at providing the global maritime industry with key statistics and trends in relation to…

03 Apr

Safety blog: Lessons from the sinking of Marine Electric

Rich MillerMaritime Newscasualties, NTSB, safety

By James Scheffer, strategic adviser, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Office of Marine Safety It’s been 40 years since the large bulk carrier SS Marine Electric tragically sank on Feb. 12, 1983, off the Virginia coast. Nearly all aboard — 31 of 34 souls — were lost. But I remember the events of that tragic day as if they happened…

30 Mar

IMO panel weighs new proposals on ship systems, gear

Rich MillerMaritime NewsIMO, safety

(WASHINGTON) — The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Subcommittee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE) held its ninth session Feb. 27- March 3 in London. Brandi Baldwin, chief of the Coast Guard’s Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division in the Office of Design and Engineering Standards, led the U.S. delegation, comprised of members from the Coast Guard and technical advisers from government…

24 Mar

Bay Area storms hinder navigation, leave vessels adrift

Rich MillerMaritime Newssafety, U.S. Coast Guard

(ALAMEDA, Calif.) – The U.S. Coast Guard responded to multiple maritime-related incidents this week after storms crossed the San Francisco Bay Area and left vessels, docks and barges adrift, causing navigational safety issues. All potential navigational hazards were mitigated through federal, state, local and commercial partnerships. Three 60-foot deck barges went adrift, causing an allision with the Third Street Bridge…

22 Mar

PMA honors Foss Line Service for safety, zero injuries

Rich MillerTugboats & Towingsafety

(SEATTLE) — Last week, the Pacific Maritime Association honored Foss Line Service for a zero injury rate and first place in safety at the 75th annual PMA safety awards. Accepting the awards were Zach Vetter, Foss Line Service manager, and Casey Johnson, line superintendent for Foss Maritime. In 2022, Foss Line Service ensured everyone stayed safe on every single job.…

17 Mar

Safety alert: Overpressurizing inflatable boats

Rich MillerMaritime Newssafety, U.S. Coast Guard

(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…

03 Mar

Coast Guard, Port of Virginia host weeklong SAR forum

Rich MillerLicensing & Trainingsafety, U.S. Coast Guard

(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…

02 Mar

Safety alert: Properly configuring DSC-equipped radios

Rich MillerMaritime Newssafety, U.S. Coast Guard

(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…