U.S. Coast Guard – Page 44 – Professional Mariner

02 Mar

New Bollinger FRC bound for Coast Guard Sector Boston

Rich MillerMaritime Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(LOCKPORT, La.) – Bollinger Shipyards has delivered USCGC Maurice Jester to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. This is the 178th vessel Bollinger has delivered to the Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 52nd fast response cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program. “We’re incredibly proud to deliver another fast response cutter to be home-ported in…

02 Mar

Safety alert: Properly configuring DSC-equipped radios

Rich MillerMaritime Newssafety, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — This safety alert is to remind mariners of the importance and value of properly configuring their very high frequency (VHF) radios equipped with digital selective calling (DSC) to enable proper function during an emergency. When properly installed, DSC allows the mariner to simply hit the red DSC button in an emergency, resulting in the vessel’s geographic coordinates and…

01 Mar

Salvage crews recover submerged tugboat in Juneau

Rich MillerCasualty NewsSalvage, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(JUNEAU, Alaska) – Recovery of the tugboat Tagish was completed Sunday and the vessel was secured on the beach at the National Guard Dock in Gastineau Channel. Contractors dewatered and defueled the 107-foot tugboat prior to dismantling and placing it on a barge, in pieces, for its final disposal out of state. The Coast Guard’s mission during this recovery was…

01 Mar

Coast Guard Foundation launches new logo, brand

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

(STONINGTON, Conn.) — The Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the U.S. Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families, has launched a new logo and brand to better reflect the organization’s mission and future vision. The new look is on display across Coast Guard Foundation digital properties and will be featured at events throughout…

28 Feb

U.S. Great Lakes pilotage costs to rise 16 percent in 2023

Rich MillerMaritime News, UncategorizedPilots, shipping, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard has published a final rule in the Federal Register outlining U.S. Great Lakes pilotage rates for the 2023 shipping season. The service proposes to increase the overall cost by $5.17 million or 16 percent compared to 2022. In 2023, the Coast Guard is proposing a total workforce of 56 fully registered pilots and six…

28 Feb

Towboat pilot never reported hitting Louisiana bridge, NTSB says

Rich MillerCasualty Newsbrownwater, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — A Louisiana barge tow struck and damaged a bridge in 2021 but the towboat’s pilot never reported the incident to authorities, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday. In the early morning hours of Dec. 23, 2021, the towboat Miss Mollye D was pushing six hopper barges on the Intracoastal Waterway to New Orleans when the pilot…

24 Feb

Coast Guard seeks mariners’ input about Seattle bridge project

Rich MillerMaritime NewsNavigation, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a public notice (PN 2-23) regarding the Washington Department of Transportation’s request to replace the Portage Bay Bridge, Bridge No. 520/3, near Lake Union. Commentary from the public related to maritime navigation is now being accepted for record. Maritime stakeholders, such as owners and operators of proximate vessels and facilities, are highly…

20 Feb

New guidance issued for reporting sex misconduct on U.S. vessels

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

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard has released Marine Safety Information Bulletin 01-23, “Reporting Sexual Misconduct on U.S. Vessels,” to emphasize the service's commitment to investigating and pursuing appropriate enforcement actions for all reports of sexual misconduct on U.S.-flagged vessels. Sexual misconduct that occurs on board U.S.-flagged vessels harms mariners, interrupts safe operations and often leads to accidents, lost careers…

20 Feb

Cutter commander relieved of duties after fatal collision off Puerto Rico

Rich MillerMaritime Newscasualties, U.S. Coast Guard

(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Williamsz was relieved of duties as the commanding officer of USCGC Winslow Griesser (WPC 1116) on Friday. Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District, effected the relief due to a loss of confidence in Williamsz’s ability to effectively command the cutter. Williamsz was administratively reassigned to shore duty…

13 Feb

Coast Guard Foundation names 12 new trustees

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

(STONINGTON, Conn.) — Twelve new trustees have joined the board of the Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the U.S. Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families. The additions bring the total number of active trustees and directors to 80. Jeremiah “Jay” Ana, Charles “Skip” Bowen, Christopher Chandor, Naresh Copeland, Steven Jowett, Christian Lee,…