U.S. Coast Guard – Page 43 – Professional Mariner

24 Mar

Bay Area storms hinder navigation, leave vessels adrift

Rich MillerMaritime Newssafety, U.S. Coast Guard

(ALAMEDA, Calif.) – The U.S. Coast Guard responded to multiple maritime-related incidents this week after storms crossed the San Francisco Bay Area and left vessels, docks and barges adrift, causing navigational safety issues. All potential navigational hazards were mitigated through federal, state, local and commercial partnerships. Three 60-foot deck barges went adrift, causing an allision with the Third Street Bridge…

20 Mar

Deteriorated bollard led to breakaway and allision, NTSB says

Rich MillerCasualty NewsU.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — A deteriorated bollard led to a mobile offshore drilling unit breaking away and striking a cargo vessel in Pascagoula, Miss., last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined. The breakaway resulted in nearly $5 million in damage. On March 12, 2022, the mobile offshore drilling unit Valardis DS-16 was at the ST Engineering Halter Marine and…

20 Mar

Credentials lost in the mail? NMC provides guidance for mariners

Rich MillerLicensing & Trainingmaritime news, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) mails completed credentials via standard U.S. Postal Service mail, which does not include a means of tracking, and delivery can take up to 21 days. In some cases, the credential may be returned or irreparably lost in the mail for a variety of reasons. Below are some important things you can do…

17 Mar

Safety alert: Overpressurizing inflatable boats

Rich MillerMaritime Newssafety, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — This U.S. Coast Guard safety alert addresses the importance of proper maintenance and adherence to manufacturer’s recommendations for filling/inflating buoyancy chambers on some models of inflatable boats. During a recent investigation of an incident that occurred involving foreign cruise vessel operations in the Antarctic, a U.S. passenger was severely injured due to a Zodiac Milpro model FC 580/MK5…

16 Mar

Polar Star handles heavy ice, completes Antarctic mission

Rich MillerMaritime NewsU.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew departed the Antarctic region March 2 after 67 days below the Antarctic Circle in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2023. Polar Star and crew broke a 17-mile channel through fast ice and conducted over 1,600 hours of icebreaking operations to create a navigable route for cargo vessels…

12 Mar

Crews, agencies honored for response to NYC ferry fire

Rich MillerMaritime Newscasualties, ferries, U.S. Coast Guard

(NEW YORK) – The U.S. Coast Guard presented public service commendations and certificates of merit Thursday at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan to the New York City Police and Fire Departments, and to the ferry and tug operators and crew who helped evacuate hundreds of passengers off Sandy Ground, a Staten Island ferry, due to a fire aboard the…

09 Mar

Coast Guard to host career day event in Morgan City

Rich MillerLicensing & TrainingU.S. Coast Guard

(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to host a career day event in Morgan City, La., on Saturday. The event is open to the public and provides an opportunity for attendees to learn more about Coast Guard missions, explore the service's many career paths, meet with local Coast Guard personnel, and learn about the updated requirements and…

09 Mar

Fagan: Recruiting, icebreakers among USCG priorities

Rich MillerMaritime NewsLicensing and training, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — Adm. Linda Fagan, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), delivered her first State of the Coast Guard Address on Tuesday at the Reserve Organization of America. During the address, the commandant thanked Congress and the American public for investments in operational assets and resilient shore infrastructure, as well as housing, health care and child care for the…

07 Mar

Grounded yacht pulled from Maui rocks after two weeks

Rich MillerCasualty NewsSalvage, U.S. Coast Guard

(HONOLUA BAY, MAUI) – A yacht, fast aground just outside the Honolua-Mokule’ia Marine Life Conservation District since Feb. 20, was pulled off the nearshore rocks on Sunday. The salvage ship Kahi, operated by Visionary Marine LLC, and the tractor tug Mary Catherine, operated by Sause Brothers Inc., both based in Honolulu, worked in tandem. A crew from the salvage ship…

03 Mar

Coast Guard, Port of Virginia host weeklong SAR forum

Rich MillerLicensing & Trainingsafety, U.S. Coast Guard

(HAMPTON, Va.) — Coast Guard Sector Virginia and the Port of Virginia hosted the 17th annual Steven Todd Dooley Search and Rescue (SAR) Forum on Monday near Hampton Roads. The forum is an annual event that continues to strengthen regional interagency partnerships and communication, as well as improve the life-saving processes and skills required of search and rescue agencies. Courses…