U.S. Coast Guard – Professional Mariner

14 Jan

NTSB cites compromised hatch in sinking of Lower Miss. towboat

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — On June 12, 2024, about 1530 local time, the towing vessel Cajole was upbound on the Lower Mississippi River near Waggaman, La., when the vessel began flooding. The two crewmembers aboard attempted to pump out the vessel but were unsuccessful. They tied off to a nearby barge and evacuated to a good Samaritan vessel. Cajole later sank. There…

13 Jan

Birdon to build small response boat prototype for Coast Guard

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(DENVER) — Birdon America has been awarded a firm fixed-price contract to build a response boat-small (RB-S) demonstrator for the U.S. Coast Guard. The program is a critical initiative by the service to evaluate advanced capabilities for key missions such as search and rescue; ports, waterways and coastal security; drug interdiction, and migrant interdiction. Birdon’s design was selected for its…

10 Jan

Coast Guard releases report on fatal ship fire at Port Newark

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsPorts, U.S. Coast Guard

(NEW YORK) — The U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis recently released a report of investigation (ROI) regarding the fire on the Italian-flagged cargo vessel Grande Costa D'Avorio and subsequent fatalities of two Newark Fire Department firefighters. The vessel was conducting cargo operations at Berth 18 at Port Newark, N.J., on July 5, 2023, at the time…

09 Jan

Operation RENEW keeps heating oil flowing to Northeast

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreaking, U.S. Coast Guard

(BOSTON) — In preparation for the winter season, the Coast Guard Northeast District has launched Operation Reliable Energy for Northeast Winters (RENEW) 2026, emphasizing the critical role of maintaining the flow of heating oil to the region. This operation is pivotal for the well-being of over 33 million residents, as the Northeast consumes 85 percent of the nation's heating oil,…

08 Jan

NMC to launch new application portal, redesigned website

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingNMC, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) will officially launch its new online Application Submission and Additional Information Portal (ASAP) and redesigned website on Monday, Jan. 26. The transition to the new website will begin Friday, Jan. 23, and users will experience a period of system unavailability during this transition. Please note this new functionality is not associated with…

07 Jan

Safety alert: Preventing water backflow into fuel tanks

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsSafety alert, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — This safety alert highlights the critical importance of preventing water intrusion into fuel tanks. The U.S. Coast Guard investigated a marine casualty that occurred in the Corpus Christi Shipping Channel involving a towing vessel constructed in 2011 with a low freeboard. While pushing a barge loaded with methanol, the vessel encountered sea state conditions with 4-foot wave heights…

06 Jan

MarAd takes over deepwater port licensing from Coast Guard

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Ports, shipping, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) announced on Monday that it will take on oversight of deepwater port licensing from the U.S. Coast Guard. This change will streamline environmental reviews, accelerate license approvals, and lower domestic energy costs. “The Deepwater Port Program is a key pillar of President Trump’s energy dominance strategy. With this change, we’ll soon accelerate project approvals…

05 Jan

Mare Island Dry Dock closes after losing Coast Guard contract

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(VALLEJO, Calif.) — Mare Island Dry Dock (MIDD) has informed the city of Vallejo that it has permanently closed its Mare Island facility, resulting in the loss of more than 80 full-time union and non-union jobs. The commercial dry-dock company, providing repair services to the maritime industry since 2013, has been a significant contributor to the local economy, supporting jobs…

30 Dec

Captain fell asleep before tugboat hit Cape Disappointment docks

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — On Sept. 11, 2024, the towing vessel Schweiger was transiting the Baker Bay West Channel near Ilwaco, Wash., when it struck the U.S. Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment docks at 12:36 p.m. after veering out of the channel. There were no injuries. About 20 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the waterway as a result of the contact.…

29 Dec

Bollinger gets contract for up to four Arctic security cutters

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, shipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday announced the award of two contracts to build up to six Arctic security cutters (ASCs), ships designed to break through and navigate ice-covered waters. Contracts were awarded to Rauma Marine Constructions of Rauma, Finland, and Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La. The Arctic security cutters will defend U.S. sovereignty, secure critical shipping lanes,…