Fire Island Ferries crew recognized for July rescue
25 Aug

Fire Island Ferries crew recognized for July rescue

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
From the U.S. Coast Guard: (NEW HAVEN, Conn.) — The Coast Guard presented a Public Service Award to the crew of the Fireball, a Fire Island Ferries ferry, on Tuesday, August 25 in Bay Shore, New York. Capt. Eva Van Camp, Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound commanding officer, recognized the Fireball crew for their efforts resulting in the rescue of six people from a…
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Coast Guard icebreaker reports fire, engine failure while sailing to Arctic
25 Aug

Coast Guard icebreaker reports fire, engine failure while sailing to Arctic

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty News, Publication > Professional Mariner
From the U.S. Coast Guard: (ALAMEDA, Calif.) — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB-20) suffered a fire in one of the ship’s main propulsion motors Aug. 18 while underway for operations in the Arctic. No injuries were reported. The Healy was 60 nautical miles off of Seward, Alaska, en route to the Arctic when an electrical fire was reported…
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20 Aug

Brownwater News, August 2020

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Publication > Professional Mariner
Funding for port relief moves forward in House 
A bill aimed at helping America’s ports through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond was introduced in the U.S. House on July 30 to accompany the Maritime Transportation System Emergency Relief Act introduced earlier this summer. The bipartisan act would establish a maritime emergency relief authority to provide grants to allow the U.S.…
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Civilian mariners barred from leaving MSC ships during pandemic
04 Aug

Civilian mariners barred from leaving MSC ships during pandemic

Professional Mariner StaffPublication > Professional Mariner
While the world embraced social distancing and self-isolating amid the spread of the coronavirus, the Military Sealift Command (MSC) required thousands of civilian mariners, or “civmars,” to stay on U.S. Navy ships, sharing tight quarters and cramped workspaces. Many of the mariners complained of a lack of personal protective equipment, like masks and gloves, and feared that the Navy personnel…
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With ridership down 90 percent, US ferries endure pandemic pause
04 Aug

With ridership down 90 percent, US ferries endure pandemic pause

Professional Mariner StaffPublication > Professional Mariner
Most U.S. ferry operators saw ridership declines of more than 90 percent during certain weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Passenger Vessel Association. Going into the summer months, ferry systems from coast to coast are retaining as many crewmembers as they can while waiting for passengers to return. Compared to last year, NYC Ferry ridership was down 87…
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Philly Shipyard wins MarAd contract for academy training ships
04 Aug

Philly Shipyard wins MarAd contract for academy training ships

Professional Mariner StaffPublication > Professional Mariner
Philly Shipyard will build the first national security multi-mission vessels (NSMVs) to serve America’s state maritime academies and provide disaster and humanitarian response. TOTE Services, the vessel construction manager for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) NSMV program, awarded the $630 million contract for two lead ships in April. Options for three additional vessels would bring the total contract value to…
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High court’s safe-berth ruling favors shipowner over charterer
04 Aug

High court’s safe-berth ruling favors shipowner over charterer

Professional Mariner StaffPublication > Professional Mariner
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that charterer Citgo is liable, not the shipowner, for the cost of cleaning up the 15-year-old Athos I oil spill in the Delaware River, deciding that the safe-berth clause in the charter contract should be interpreted as a safety warranty. The tanker, chartered by Citgo Asphalt Refining Co. and other parties, hit an abandoned…
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Seaway’s delayed opening renews push for high-water solutions
04 Aug

Seaway’s delayed opening renews push for high-water solutions

Professional Mariner StaffPublication > Professional Mariner
After a nearly two-week delay, water levels normalized enough this spring along the Montreal to Lake Ontario (MLO) section of the St. Lawrence Seaway to allow the navigation season to open. Lost time and limitations imposed on transits, however, meant lost money for ship operators. Requiring tug assists, reduced speeds, less cargo and other restrictions meant millions of dollars in…
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Pandemic leads to remote inspections, extensions for Subchapter M
04 Aug

Pandemic leads to remote inspections, extensions for Subchapter M

Professional Mariner StaffPublication > Professional Mariner
There were numerous obstacles during the decade-long period in which Subchapter M, the new regulatory framework for the towing industry, was created. Now, in the second year of the rollout, there is another challenge: COVID-19. Social distancing requirements due to the coronavirus have made in-person inspections and audits of vessels extremely difficult. To help companies meet Subchapter M requirements, the…
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