U.S. Coast Guard – Page 4 – Professional Mariner

08 Apr

NMC issues guidance on delivery, use of e-medical certificates

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

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) has released the following guidance on delivery, e-signing and troubleshooting common issues with e-medical certificates: What’s new • New medical certificates that do not include a medical waiver will now be delivered electronically via email. • Certificates are issued as standard 8.5-by-11-inch (letter size) PDF documents. • Certificates must be signed to…

03 Apr

Computer-based SASH training course now available

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

(NEW ORLEANS) — The Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) has released its maritime sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) prevention and response e-learning program, a comprehensive, SCORM-compliant training course developed to support the U.S. maritime industry’s commitment to a safe, respectful, and accountable workplace culture. Developed under a cooperative agreement with the Maritime Administration (MarAd), this interactive training fulfills the…

26 Mar

Ships entangled after collision on Mississippi River near New Orleans

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsSalvage, U.S. Coast Guard

(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard is responding after two vessels, the freighter Pac Dubhe and bulk carrier African Buzzard, collided and subsequently grounded near mile marker 124.5 on the Mississippi River on Monday. African Buzzard is currently aground. The two vessels are entangled, with African Buzzard's anchor lodged in the bow of Pac Dubhe. Both vessel operators are…

19 Mar

NMC updates guidance as government shutdown continues

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

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — Due to the government shutdown, the National Maritime Center (NMC) and all Regional Examination Centers (RECs) remain closed. 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: • The Application Submission Portal (ASAP) for submission…

18 Mar

Two mariners die in confined space on freight barge in Alaska

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

(JUNEAU, Alaska) — The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a fatal confined-space incident that occurred Sunday aboard the freight barge Waynehoe approximately 25 miles northwest of Ketchikan. Of the four crewmembers involved in the incident, two are deceased. The other two crewmembers are reported to be in stable condition. Deceased are Ben Fowler and Sidney Mohorovich. Watch standers at the…

12 Mar

Tanker pilot transposed tugboat positions, leading to pier strike

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

(WASHINGTON) — On Oct. 14, 2024, about 0412 local time, the crude oil tanker Platanos was undocking from the Martinez Refining Company wharf pier near Martinez, Calif., in the Carquinez Strait, when the vessel’s port quarter made contact with a concrete dolphin and a fender support panel of the pier. There were no injuries and no pollution was reported. Damage…

12 Mar

Polar Star completes ‘landmark’ mission to Antarctica

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(SOUTHERN OCEAN) — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) departed McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, on March 1 after operating for 55 days below the Antarctic Circle and traveling 14,000 miles in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2026. The cutter marked its 50th year of commissioned service on Jan. 17 while breaking free a cruise ship trapped in pack…

10 Mar

Fireboats respond to burning barge in Delaware Bay

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

(PHILADELPHIA) — The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to a barge fire Tuesday in Delaware Bay. Late Tuesday afternoon, the barge was currently being towed to approximately 2 miles off Maurice River Cove, N.J., to remove the threat from the main ship channel, where firefighting efforts will continue. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay has established a safety zone,…

10 Mar

Keels authenticated for first waterways commerce cutters

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard authenticated the keels for future waterways commerce cutters (WCCs) Allen Thiele, Fred Permenter and Samuel Wilson on Friday in Bayou La Batre, Ala. The three In a special proceeding, the keels for three cutters were authenticated simultaneously, a departure from the traditional single-vessel ceremony. Keel authentication is a time-honored maritime tradition in which the…

09 Mar

Coast Guardsman fatally injured in rescue of distressed mariner

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsSearch and rescue, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — A U.S. Coast Guard aviation survival technician died Thursday as a result of injuries suffered during the rescue of a distressed mariner from a commercial ship on Feb. 27. As part of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria, Ore., Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers was injured while responding to a medical emergency aboard the…