U.S. Coast Guard – Professional Mariner

02 Jul

Safety alert: Lack of notice for unmanned vessel operations

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsAutonomous vessels, Safety alert, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard recently identified multiple unmanned maritime system (UMS) operations occurring within and near major West Coast port approaches without prior coordination with cognizant captains of the port (COTP). The lack of advance notification reduces maritime domain awareness and limits the Coast Guard’s ability to effectively assess operational risk, support safe vessel movement, and protect the…

26 Jun

Bordelon to provide logistics support vessel for Coast Guard

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipyards, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a contract to Bordelon Marine to provide a commercial support vessel that will transport supplies, equipment and personnel to Coast Guard cutters operating in the Caribbean, gulf and other maritime areas in the Western Hemisphere. The contract supports the Coast Guard’s Homeland Security Cutter-Ocean (HSC-Ocean) initiative, a new effort to strengthen fleet…

22 Jun

NMC reports progress in reducing application backlog

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

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) has made substantial progress in reducing the backlog of applications resulting from the 2026 lapse in appropriations. As a result of sustained recovery efforts and increased production capacity, the NMC is updating its published processing timeline. Effective immediately, complete applications are expected to be processed within eight months from the date received,…

14 Jun

New FRC in Guam is second to honor a fallen 9/11 hero

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(KEY WEST, Fla.) — The U.S. Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 63rd fast response cutter (FRC), Jeffrey Palazzo (WPC 1163), on Thursday in Key West. The vessel from Bollinger Shipyards is the fifth FRC to be home-ported in Guam, joining the recently commissioned Vincent Danz (WPC 1162). The Sentinel-class FRCs replaced the 1980s Island-class 110-foot patrol boats and possess…

12 Jun

Kodiak, Seward to home-port first Arctic security cutters

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard announced it will home-port its first two Arctic security cutters (ASCs) in Kodiak, Alaska, with a third ASC home-ported in Seward when the infrastructure is ready. This follows April’s announcement that the service would home-port its first two ASCs in Alaska. With the first delivery expected in 2028, the Coast Guard is accelerating preparations…

10 Jun

Bridge tender’s miscalculation cited in Louisiana barge strike

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

(WASHINGTON) — On June 6, 2024, about 0512 local time, the towing vessel Josset was transiting the Morgan City-Port Allen Route of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, about 2.7 miles from Crescent, La., pushing three barges, when the lead barge struck the Bayou Grosse Tete Bridge. There were no injuries and no pollution was reported. Damage to the bridge was estimated…

09 Jun

Safety alert: Failure of prototype shaft-seal material

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard identified a safety concern after a prototype component used in a mechanical shaft-seal system failed onboard a Coast Guard-inspected deep draft vessel. On Feb. 19, 2025, a U.S. flagged crude-oil tanker transiting near Delaware Bay experienced simultaneous failures of its port and starboard shaft seals, resulting in substantial seawater ingress. The crew subsequently deployed…

04 Jun

Coast Guard offers reward for stolen navigational beacon

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Navigation, U.S. Coast Guard

(SUPERIOR, Wis.) — The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for the recent break-in and theft of the Superior Entry South Breakwater Light. The theft is believed to have occurred on or about May 13 at the privately owned Superior Entry Lighthouse…

03 Jun

Coast Guard updates guidelines for approved training

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training, UncategorizedNMC, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing has published Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-26, "Guidelines for Coast Guard Approved Training." This NVIC will streamline the process of obtaining Coast Guard approval of required training for a merchant mariner credential and will reduce the administrative burden on maritime training providers. This NVIC makes several changes to the…

03 Jun

Safety alert: Responding to an engine high temperature alarm

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

(WASHINGTON) — A fire aboard a small passenger vessel resulted in the death of one passenger, injuries to multiple passengers, and the total loss of the vessel. The investigation into the cause of the fire yielded several findings that warrant immediate review by all vessel operators. While underway, in response to a high jacket water-temperature alarm, the master shifted the…