U.S. Coast Guard – Professional Mariner

03 Nov

NMC extends mitigation efforts as shutdown continues

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsLicensing and training, NMC, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) and all Regional Examination Centers (RECs) remain closed due to the federal government shutdown. Customer walk-in service at the RECs is suspended. Examinations and other REC appointments are canceled. To mitigate the impact caused by the government shutdown, the NMC has implemented the following measures: • Email submission of applications and supporting…

03 Nov

Healy monitors foreign research vessels on Arctic voyage

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsSecurity, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy (WAGB 20) returned to its Seattle home port Sunday following a 129-day patrol that concluded its annual Arctic deployment. Healy, one of three Coast Guard polar icebreakers, steamed over 20,000 miles this deployment, supporting Operation Arctic West Summer and Operation Frontier Sentinel, protecting U.S. sovereign rights and territory, and promoting national security…

30 Oct

Coast Guard refers case involving fatal barge collision to DOJ

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

(MIAMI) — The U.S. Coast Guard has referred a case to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for possible criminal prosecution following the fatal collision in July involving a barge and a sailing vessel, the Coast Guard and NBC6 South Florida reported. Three people on the sailboat were killed. The collision near Hibiscus Island on July 28 involved a construction barge…

29 Oct

Cargo ship spills fuel after striking pier at Port of Galveston

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsU.S. Coast Guard

(HOUSTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard and the Texas General Land Office are responding to an oil spill that occurred after a vessel struck a pier Tuesday near Galveston, Texas. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watch standers received a call at approximately 9:50 p.m. reporting a discharge of fuel oil spilled by the cargo ship FWN Merchant near Pier 32 at…

23 Oct

Bollinger’s 61st FRC to be home-ported in St. Petersburg

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(LOCKPORT, La.) — Bollinger Shipyards on Thursday announced the recent delivery of USCGC Olivia Hooker at Coast Guard Sector Key West. This is the 61st fast response cutter (FRC) delivered under the U.S. Coast Guard’s current program and the 187th vessel built by Bollinger for the Coast Guard over a 40-year partnership. Olivia Hooker will be home-ported in St. Petersburg,…

17 Oct

Smoke from engine compartment prompts rescue of 45 off Guam

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsPassenger vessels, U.S. Coast Guard

(SANTA RITA, Guam) — Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and Guam Fire Department rescued 45 people from a disabled passenger vessel off Agat, Guam, on Oct. 10. At 9:30 a.m., Coast Guard watch standers received a notification on VHF-FM Channel 16 from Princess Guam, a 45-foot catamaran, reporting smoke coming from the engine compartment. Watch standers notified Guam Fire…

10 Oct

Bollinger, Finnish yard to build first Arctic security cutters

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

(WASHINGTON) — President Trump on Thursday announced that Bollinger Shipyards, in conjunction with Rauma Marine Constructions, Seaspan Shipyards and Aker Arctic Technology Inc., will lead an effort to supply six Arctic security cutters under an initiative to deliver next-generation icebreakers to the U.S. Coast Guard by 2028, USNI News reported. “We sort of have almost a monopoly on icebreakers if…

01 Oct

NMC, exam centers closed due to government shutdown

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsLicensing and training, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — Due to the government shutdown, the National Maritime Center (NMC) and all Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are closed until further notice. Customer walk-in service at the RECs is suspended. Examinations and other REC appointments are canceled. The following limited operations will be maintained in support of national defense requirements: • The NMC Customer Service Center will be…

01 Oct

Coast Guard orders more waterways commerce cutters

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard is moving forward with the acquisition of the new Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) class, designed to replace the legacy fleet of inland tenders and facilitate commerce vital to the nation’s economic security and strategic mobility. The service has ordered production of the first river buoy tender (WLR) and long lead time material (LLTM) for…

30 Sep

Rozema to build heavy weather surf boats for Coast Guard

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — The U.S. Coast Guard awarded an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract on Monday to Rozema Boat Works of Mount Vernon, Wash., to acquire up to six second-generation special-purpose craft – heavy weather (SPC-HWX II) boats. The total potential value of the contract is $70.9 million and the first SPC-HWX II is anticipated to be completed in fiscal…