Seaways & Waterways – Professional Mariner

15 Dec

US Great Lakes ports report cargo spikes in year-end rush

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Ports, Seaways & Waterways

(OTTAWA) — With just two weeks left of the season, U.S. Great Lakes ports and the St. Lawrence Seaway are reporting a rush of activity as manufacturers stockpile raw materials and businesses take advantage of the congestion-free waterway to export overseas. “U.S. Great Lakes ports have roared back this year – recovering from major 2020 declines in traditional cargoes like…

13 Dec

MarAd awards $12.6 million in grants for America’s marine highways 

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Ports, Seaways & Waterways

(WASHINGTON) – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MarAd) has awarded $12.6 million in grants to nine marine highway projects across the nation under the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP). The funding will help address supply chain disruptions, enhance the movement of goods along navigable waterways, and expand existing waterborne freight services in Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. “These investments through the America’s Marine Highway Program will…

10 Dec

Great Lakes task force highlights progress in 2021, rebound from COVID

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Ports, Seaways & Waterways

(CLEVELAND) — The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) has released its annual report for 2021. It details progress on the Great Lakes dredging crisis, efficient funding of the new large navigational lock in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and pending legislation to improve U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking performance measures, along with funding for a new heavy Great Lakes icebreaker. Other…

26 Nov

Great Lakes Dredge signs $92 million contract for Houston Ship Channel widening

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Maritime News, Ports, Seaways & Waterways

(HOUSTON) — Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. has signed a $92.5 million dredging contract for Houston Ship Channel Widening and Improvement Project 11. This is the first phase of the billion-dollar expansion and deepening program. Dredging is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2022, with estimated completion in the fourth quarter of 2022. Project 11 is an…

18 Nov

SAFETY BULLETIN: Comments sought on Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Ports, Seaways & Waterways

(WASHINGTON) — The Coast Guard is conducting a Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study (PAC-PARS). The PAC-PARS will consider whether existing or additional routing measures are necessary to improve navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, increased vessel traffic, existing and potential anchorage areas, changing vessel traffic patterns, effects…

18 Nov

Federal Maritime Commission rolls out new supply chain initiatives

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Ports, Seaways & Waterways

(WASHINGTON) — Six supply chain innovation teams are being convened by Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Commissioner Rebecca Dye to identify and implement improvements to the process and timing of return and delivery of containers to marine terminals. This announcement came at a Tuesday meeting of the FMC where briefings were provided on topics related to conditions in the marketplace for…

17 Nov

Great Lakes-Seaway traffic increases despite global supply chain disruptions

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Ports, Seaways & Waterways

(WASHINGTON) — The Great Lakes Seaway Partnership on Wednesday reported a 1.92 percent increase in traffic on the St. Lawrence Seaway from the opening of the waterway on March 22 through Oct. 31 (year to date or YTD). An overall total of 28.49 million metric tons of cargo shipped through the Seaway. Additionally, total transits YTD reached 2,976 vessels, a…

16 Nov

EPA fines owners of boxship, bulker for Vessel General Permit violations

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News, Ports, Seaways & Waterways

(SAN FRANCISCO) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has assessed penalties totaling $81,474 against two commercial ships over inspection, monitoring and reporting violations in California and Louisiana. The containership MSC Aurora and the bulk carrier Western Durban both violated EPA’s Vessel General Permit (VGP) issued under the Clean Water Act (CWA). “Vessels that do not comply with their CWA permits…

09 Nov

Maritime stakeholders await boost from infrastructure bill

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Maritime News, Seaways & Waterways

(WASHINGTON) — Late Friday, just before midnight, the House of Representatives approved the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The House effectively passed the same bill approved by the U.S. Senate on Aug. 10 unamended. Key to the bill's passage was the "de-linking" of the IIJA from a separate, $1.9 trillion social spending bill. Moderates prevailed as House…

03 Nov

Canadian shipping groups welcome federal COVID vaccine rules

Professional Mariner StaffBrownwater, Maritime News, Ports, Seaways & Waterways

(OTTAWA) — Canadian marine shipping organizations welcomed new federal mandatory COVID-19 vaccination rules released this week by Transport Canada, and said that marine company policies would be ready to protect the safety and welfare of both their employees and the public. The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC), which represents marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian ship operators, shippers, ports, terminals…