shipping – Professional Mariner

02 Jul

New report questions effectiveness of Jones Act waiver

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsJones Act, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — Navigistics Consulting, a maritime industry consulting and market analysis firm, examined the real-world effects of the current (150-day) blanket Jones Act waiver – put in place by the Trump administration – on the U.S. economy, energy security, and domestic maritime workforce. The findings add new weight to growing calls from American mariners, labor groups, and maritime industry advocates…

29 Jun

Facing ‘headwinds,’ Charleston pauses ops at new terminal

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPorts, shipping

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) — South Carolina Ports is consolidating container operations to its Wando and North Charleston terminals in the short term, while continuing to offer ample port capacity to customers needing access to the Southeast market. SC Ports plans to pause operations at Leatherman Terminal as of Aug. 1 as the industry faces numerous headwinds, an uncertain trade forecast and…

26 Jun

IMO pauses evacuation in Strait of Hormuz after attack

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Security, shipping

(LONDON) — Following an attack on a containership in the Gulf of Oman, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Thursday decided to temporarily pause its evacuation operation pending further clarity. The IMO began evacuating vessels from the region this week, in cooperation with member states and industry. "Following the launch of the IMO’s evacuation plan, through which several vessels have…

24 Jun

Port of Long Beach posts third-busiest May on record

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPorts, shipping

(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — The Port of Long Beach handled the most cargo in North America with double-digit growth in May, demonstrating resiliency in the face of tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty, Port CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba announced Tuesday during his monthly Supply Chain Insight media briefing. Last month, dockworkers and terminal operators handled 842,030 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 31.7…

24 Jun

IMO announces evacuation plan for Strait of Hormuz

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, shipping

(LONDON) — Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez issued this statement: “After months of hardship and distress for thousands of innocent seafarers, and negative impact for the whole world, I welcome with deep satisfaction the peace agreement concluded between the United States and Iran,…

23 Jun

AMP: Time to put Americans first and end Jones Act waiver

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsJones Act, MarAd, regulations, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — A 60-day Jones Act waiver was issued at the start of Operation Epic Fury under a statutory provision (46 USC 501(a)) designed to address military logistics needs. It was subsequently extended until Aug. 17. Now that President Trump has signed an agreement ending the conflict, the statutory basis for the waiver is null. It’s time to end the…

22 Jun

Norfolk marks completion of $450 million dredging project

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsdredging, Ports, shipping

(NORFOLK, Va.) — With an audience of more than 200 people gathered Thursday at Norfolk International Terminals, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger inaugurated the Port of Virginia’s newest asset: the deepest harbor and shipping channel on the U.S. East Coast. Though the $450 million effort to deepen the channel to 55 feet was complete in February, the governor introduced the project…

10 Jun

No safe passage: Strait of Hormuz remains ‘highly volatile’

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Security, shipping

(LONDON) — Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), issued the following statement Tuesday about the ongoing military conflict involving the United States and Iran, and its effect on commercial shipping: "I am increasingly concerned by reports that vessels continue to attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz without any credible security guarantees, despite well‑established risks and the…

27 May

Port of Long Beach offers $1 million for first methanol bunkering

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, Ports, propulsion, shipping

(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — The Port of Long Beach established an unprecedented $1 million award for the first oceangoing vessel to refill at its harbor with methanol on a commercial scale in an effort to jump-start the industry’s transition to cleaner, lower-carbon fuels like methanol. Approved Monday by the Long Beach Harbor Commission, the Clean Fuel Bunkering Challenge is expected…

27 May

MarAd honors Crowley tanker crew for allision response

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsLicensing and training, MarAd, safety, shipping

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) — Crowley mariners who served aboard the U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate were honored with the U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MarAd) Gallant Ship Award during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Maritime Day observance in Washington, D.C. The award, one of the maritime industry’s highest distinctions, recognizes the 23-member crew’s extraordinary professionalism, courage and commitment to safety. The award recognizes…