U.S. Coast Guard – Professional Mariner

17 Jan

Final rule details Coast Guard cybersecurity requirements

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsCyberthreats, Security, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday published a final rule in the Federal Register concerning cybersecurity in the nation's marine transportation system. Here is a summary of the document: The maritime industry faces increasing cybersecurity threats as it increasingly relies on cyberconnected systems. The purpose of this final rule is to safeguard the marine transportation system (MTS) against…

17 Jan

Bollinger settles case with U.S. over ‘ineligible’ workers

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — Bollinger Shipyard, a Lockport, La.-based company, has agreed to pay $1,025,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing the U.S. Coast Guard for labor provided by workers who were not eligible to work in the United States. Bollinger manufactures ships for the United States, including the Coast Guard’s fast response cutter (FRC).…

15 Jan

Safety alert: Awareness and marking of onboard hazardous zones

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newscasualties, Safety alert, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — A recent marine incident involving a tri-fueled vessel (liquefied natural gas, diesel, battery) that resulted in a fire and severe injuries to crewmembers highlights the dangers of working in hazardous zones. Despite being aware of nearby crankcase and LNG purge vents in their work area, the crew did not know that the vessel was actively using methane as…

12 Jan

Bulker refloated with incoming tide on Delaware River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsSalvage, U.S. Coast Guard

(PHILADELPHIA) — The bulk carrier Algoma Verity was refloated Saturday and is moored at Tioga Marine Terminal approximately 2 miles north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge on the Delaware River. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay watch standers received a report from the pilot aboard Algoma Verity stating the vessel had run aground with no injuries. The…

09 Jan

Bulk carrier grounds outside channel near Philadelphia

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsshipping, U.S. Coast Guard

(PHILADELPHIA) — The U.S. Coast Guard and partners responded to the aground 623-foot motor vessel Algoma Verity approximately a mile north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in the Delaware River on Wednesday night. As of 8 a.m. Thursday, Algoma Verity is aground outside the main shipping channel. A team from Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay and the vessel’s representatives are…

08 Jan

Safety alert: Configuration of vessel control systems

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsSafety alert, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — A high-speed passenger ferry struck a pier in New York while docking. Numerous passengers sustained minor injuries, and the combined repairs to the vessel and pier exceeded $500,000. The U.S. Coast Guard’s subsequent investigation of the major marine casualty, which was conducted in parallel with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), revealed numerous safety issues, including concerns with…

03 Jan

Safety alert: Failure of pilothouse alerter systems

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

(WASHINGTON) — A towing vessel was pushing a barge loaded with aggregate when it struck a bulk liquid transfer terminal pier on the Columbia River. The U.S. Coast Guard’s marine casualty investigation determined that the operator fell asleep at the helm, resulting in more than $1.5 million in property damage to the barge, handling equipment and the facility. The incident…

02 Jan

Towboat sinks, five rescued after collision with bulker on Lower Mississippi

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

(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a collision between a bulk carrier and a towboat Sunday night that resulted in five mariners being rescued from the Mississippi River near Luling, La., NOLA.com reported. The towboat, the 87-foot Patrick J. Studdert, sank after the collision with the bulker Clara B., according to Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class…

02 Jan

NTSB renews call for passenger vessel SMS after Boston fire

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsNTSB, Passenger vessels, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — An improperly extinguished chafing fuel heating canister, canned heat used to keep food and beverages warm, led to a fire on the passenger vessel Spirit of Boston last year while moored at the Commonwealth Pier in Boston Harbor, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday. As a result of the investigation, the NTSB issued four new safety…

30 Dec

Safety alert: Identifying counterfeit pilot ladders

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPilots, Safety alert, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — Marine inspectors from Sector Maryland-National Capital Region (NCR) discovered counterfeit pilot ladders during a port state control examination at the Port of Baltimore. The identification plate on the ladder (Figure 1) contained several errors, including referencing ISO 779-1 instead of the correct standard, ISO 799-1, and lacked the ISO 799-1 designation type. Additionally, while the serial number on…