26 Jul

Sunken barge refloated on intracoastal waterway

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Industry News, Maritime News

The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard: (HOUSTON) — The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is opened to all traffic near Galveston after a sunken barge east of the Galveston Causeway railroad bridge was refloated Tuesday evening. The tugboat Brown Water VIII towed the dredge barge to the Kodiak scrap yard in Dickinson for salvage…

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25 Jul

STCW gap closing boosts demand at SUNY Maritime

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News, Licensing & Training, Maritime News

The following is the text of a news release from the State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College: (THROGGS NECK, N.Y.) — More professional mariners than ever are coming to SUNY Maritime College for training and courses to maintain their credentials and endorsements. The increased enrollment is being seen across the industry as the Dec. 31 deadline approaches to…

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25 Jul

Maritime piracy drops to 21-year low

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News, Maritime News

The following is the text of a news release from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB): (LONDON and KUALA LUMPUR) — Piracy and armed robbery at sea has fallen to its lowest levels since 1995, despite a surge in kidnappings off West Africa, according to a new report from the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau. IMB's global piracy report…

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22 Jul

Chesapeake delivers 12th tugboat to Vane Brothers

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News, Maritime News, Tugboats & Towing

The following is the text of a news release from Chesapeake Shipbuilding: (SALISBURY, Md.) — Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp. has delivered another oceangoing tugboat to Vane Brothers of Baltimore, Md. The boat, named Fort McHenry, marks the 12th tugboat that Chesapeake Shipbuilding has built for the maritime transportation company. Chesapeake Shipbuilding has five additional tugboats under construction for Vane Brothers. Fort…

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21 Jul

Brownwater News, July 2016

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News, Maritime News

USMMA lifts Sea Year ‘stand down’ on federal vessels The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, N.Y., has ended the Sea Year “stand down” on federal vessels that was imposed in June and has started placing midshipmen back on federal assets such as Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships and Maritime Administration (MarAd) training vessels. The stand down was…

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21 Jul

CO2 emissions high on ICS conference agenda

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News, Maritime News

The following is the text of a news release from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): (LONDON) — The International Chamber of Shipping will focus clearly on its core agenda this year, with experts from key areas of industry across the board speaking at its 2016 International Shipping Conference, to be held at the British Library on Wednesday, Sept. 7.…

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20 Jul

US Customs creates Jones Act enforcement office

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News, Maritime News

The following is the text of a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): (WASHINGTON) — In order to present a uniformed approach on issues involving the Jones Act, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) has announced the creation of the National Jones Act Division of Enforcement (JADE). The Jones Act is the foundation of…

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20 Jul

SAFETY ALERT: Inspecting life jackets

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

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20 Jul

Marinette Marine lays keel for 17th littoral combat ship

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News, Maritime News

The following is the text of a news release from Lockheed Martin: (MARINETTE, Wis.) — The Lockheed Martin-led industry team officially laid the keel for the U.S. Navy’s 17th littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Indianapolis, in a ceremony held Monday at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wis. Ship sponsor Jill Donnelly, the wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly,…

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20 Jul

Judge awards Horizon Lines whistleblower more than $1 million

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News, Maritime News

(BOSTON) — A federal judge has awarded more than $1 million to a former Horizon Lines master who was relieved of his duties in 2013 after a whistleblowing incident, Splash 24/7 reported. John Loftus was removed from his post after he reported safety concerns on the containership Horizon Trader to the U.S. Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping. Loftus…

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