U.S. Coast Guard – Professional Mariner

11 Aug

MSC, chief engineer guilty in runaway boxship incident

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

(WASHINGTON) — MSC Shipmanagement Ltd. (MSC) pleaded guilty Monday and the company’s chief engineer was sentenced to pay a fine following a June 2024 incident when the containership MSC Michigan VII caused the evacuation of a bridge in Charleston, S.C., and created a large wake that injured two people, damaged ships and piers, and led to the clearing of local…

10 Aug

Coast Guard coordinates rescue of 22 from burning car carrier

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsAMVER, U.S. Coast Guard

(SAN FRANCISCO) — The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of 22 crewmembers from the motor vessel Min Jiang Kou after the ship experienced a fire approximately 630 miles south of Costa Rica on Thursday. At 1:09 p.m., Coast Guard Southwest District watch standers received an Inmarsat distress alert for Min Jiang Kou, a Marshall Islands-flagged vehicle carrier, alerting them…

06 Aug

NTSB cites cellphone use by Houston pilot before fatal collision

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

(WASHINGTON) — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday that distraction and failure to maintain a proper lookout caused a 2024 fatal collision between a bulk carrier and towing vessel near Lynchburg, Texas. The bulk carrier Yangze 7 and the towing vessel Miss Peggy collided on July 19, 2024, while both were inbound in the Houston Ship Channel. Miss…

05 Aug

Salvors remove crane that collapsed into Cooper River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsSalvage, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) — U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston personnel, in coordination with port stakeholders and the contracted salvage company, completed salvage operations at Pier G following the crane collapse into the Cooper River on July 10. The incident occurred when a severe thunderstorm struck the former Charleston Naval Base last month. Following the successful removal of the crane, there is…

27 Jul

Miami tug captain pleads guilty to seaman’s manslaughter

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsTugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(MIAMI) — A tugboat captain has pleaded guilty to federal charges after operating a barge with obstructed visibility and without a proper lookout, causing a fatal Biscayne Bay collision that claimed the lives of three children participating in a sailing camp. “Three children lost their lives in a tragedy that never should have happened,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quinones…

27 Jul

Healy to undergo major repairs after ‘significant’ breakdown

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newscasualties, Icebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy experienced a significant engineering casualty while operating northwest of Port Angeles, Wash. There were no reported injuries. On July 13, tugboats safely towed Healy back to home port for an investigation into the incident and to undergo major repairs. “The crew of Coast Guard cutter Healy acted with speed and skill in responding…

21 Jul

NMC reports ‘substantial 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 outlined in the NMC announcement dated June 16. Effective immediately, complete applications are expected to be…

20 Jul

Long Island ferry operator promotes four senior managers

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsferries, Licensing and training, U.S. Coast Guard

(PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y.) — Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company President Brian Buckley McAllister recently announced senior management promotions at the ferry. Founded in 1883, the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company continues to build on its long history of service by advancing experienced maritime leadership for the future. The company transports approximately half a million cars between Connecticut and…

09 Jul

Historic Maine windjammer sinks at Brooklyn pier

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsU.S. Coast Guard

(NEW YORK) — A historic former Maine windjammer has sunk in New York City, CentralMaine.com reported. Victory Chimes, a 128-foot schooner featured on a 2003 commemorative Maine state quarter, was previously based out of Rockland, Maine. In 2023, it was sold to two brothers who have a history of converting ships into floating restaurants and moved to New York. The…

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…