31 Jul

Barge dents foundation for R.I. offshore wind farm

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Industry News
(BLOCK ISLAND, Rhode Island) — A barge struck and dented a steel foundation for North America's first offshore wind farm this week, The Providence Journal reported. Deepwater Wind said the incident damaged one of the structure's four hollow, tubular legs. It’s unclear how the company will repair the foundation, which was scheduled to be secured to the ocean floor with…
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29 Jul

Security guard presumed dead after fall into river from moored tow

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
A night security guard was believed to have drowned after falling off a towing vessel or barge along the Mississippi River. The April 7 accident occurred just south of Osceola, Ark. Responders said the man fell from either the moored towboat Joe Ellis or an adjacent barge, at the Mississippi River’s mile marker 782. The incident was reported at about…
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29 Jul

U.S. Coast Guard cites loose bolts, escape-route issues in fatal fire

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
Unfamiliarity with escape routes was a contributing factor in the death of one crewmember and two contractors in an engine-room fire aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean. The engine-room fire occurred when a bolted flange parted, resulting in a fuel oil spray from an operating engine’s fuel supply line, according to a U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Alert about…
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Bulk carrier loses steering, runs aground in St. Lawrence River
29 Jul

Bulk carrier loses steering, runs aground in St. Lawrence River

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
A steering failure caused a bulk carrier loaded with sugar to run aground under the Thousand Islands Bridge. Juno, a 621-foot Bahamian-flagged ship en route to Toronto, ran hard aground April 20 in the St. Lawrence River in the vicinity of Wellesley Island on the New York side. A steering loss, attributed to a failed PLC contact block, caused the…
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NTSB: Laker crew missed radio warning before hitting icebreaker it was following
29 Jul

NTSB: Laker crew missed radio warning before hitting icebreaker it was following

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
The lack of effective communication between the bridge teams on a Coast Guard cutter and bulk carrier led to a collision during icebreaking operations on Lake Michigan, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined. Both vessels sustained significant damage but were able to continue to port. The 225-foot Hollyhock was leading Mesabi Miner and five other merchant ships west…
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29 Jul

Findings in Fennica grounding sent to Coast Guard expertise center

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Industry News, Maritime News
The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard: (JUNEAU, Alaska) — Coast Guard Sector Anchorage marine casualty investigators have sent their initial findings about what caused a 3-foot crack in the motor vessel Fennica’s hull to the Coast Guard Investigations National Center of Expertise (NCOE) for analysis. After completing their review, the NCOE will…
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27 Jul

New NVIC clarifies casualty reporting procedures

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Industry News, Maritime News
The following is text from a Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (WASHINGTON) — Historically, marine industry stakeholders have complied with the marine casualty reporting laws and regulations in references (a) and (b) and the Coast Guard has relied on reference (c) to interpret, carry out, and enforce those marine casualty reporting laws and…
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23 Jul

Maritime Casualty News, July 2015

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Industry News
Towboats collide, barge overturns near New Orleans Two towing vessels collided in the Mississippi River west of New Orleans, causing several barges to break free and one to overturn. The tugs American Heritage and David G. Schert collided near Vacherie, La., in the early afternoon on July 2, according to a Coast Guard news release. A barge carrying caustic soda flipped…
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