Pandemic clouds job outlook for new maritime academy grads
A degree from a maritime academy usually spares one from the pain of checking job websites throughout a day, hoping a suitable position has popped up since they last hit refresh.
Professional Mariner - September 2020
Another day in paradise for agile island tug
P&R Water Taxi is based in Kewalo Basin, where it builds its Tiger tugboats that work across Hawaii. The 4,400-hp Tiger 21 is one of more than a dozen Tiger tugs that P&R Water Taxi has built at its shipyard in Kewalo Basin, just west of Waikiki in downtown Honolulu. These nimble tugs, designed by P&R owner Charlie Pires with help from a Hawaiian naval architect, work in all of Hawaii’s commercial ports. P&R also has a contract to handle Navy ships in Pearl Harbor.
Coast Guard warns that inaccurate vessel data can undermine AIS
A spring collision on the Mississippi River that resulted in several fatalities has spurred the U.S. Coast Guard to ramp up efforts to get two points across about automatic identification systems: that it’s unsafe to rely solely on the communication tool to know what vessels are nearby, and that improper entry of AIS data can even be deadly.
GAO: Too soon to assess Coast Guard oversight changes after El Faro
In the wake of the El Faro disaster, a federal review of a U.S. Coast Guard initiative to ensure that domestic vessels meet safety management system (SMS) standards found that it is too early to evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts.
A century in its wake, Jones Act faces new era of challenges
One hundred years after being enacted, the Jones Act is still mired in controversy.
Congressional medal to honor sacrifice of WWII merchant mariners
Plans to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the American merchant mariners who sacrificed so much in World War II are moving ahead after President Trump signed an authorization bill.
Crowley crews finesse freighter stern-first down narrow Duwamish
Two Crowley Maritime tugboats guided the bulk carrier Forest Trader around the final turn in Seattle’s Duwamish Waterway, and with that the most difficult part of the job lay behind them.
Tending the Junipers: Upgrades inject new life into legacy cutters
At the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Md., workers have the laborious task of performing 12 months of maintenance on each of the service’s legacy 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders at an average cost of roughly $12 million per hull.
Bulk carrier damages pier at Soo Locks after losing propulsion
A Great Lakes bulk carrier lost propulsion while approaching the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and struck a pier separating two lock systems.
Bulkers hit nearly head-on in Welland Canal accident that goes viral
Two bulk carriers preparing to meet in Ontario’s Welland Canal collided nearly head-on after one ship crossed into the other’s path.
Apprentice steersman being trained when tow hit moored barges
A towboat pushing six barges down the Lower Mississippi River struck moored barges at a shipyard near Sunshine, La., causing 11 empty shipyard barges to break free.
Ship’s turn off dock, not upriver first, cited in Louisiana bridge strike
Dank Silver loaded clean product at a refinery near Donaldsonville, La., and prepared to sail down the Lower Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.
Barge loses 21 containers during transit to Hilo; 12 not recovered
Twenty-one shipping containers fell overboard from a cargo barge en route to Hilo, Hawaii, and 12 sank and were not recovered.
Cordage innovations continue to stretch capability, durability
Cordage, mainly towing and mooring lines, is being required to do more in a new maritime age as cargo vessels get larger and tugboats get more powerful. In response, manufacturers have continued to innovate.
Chafe guards: Protecting the investment
Marine environments are notoriously rough on cordage.
Why do containership stacks collapse, and who is liable when they do?
The collapse of on-deck container stacks represents a grave threat to crew, ship safety and the environment.
Sharpen your listening skills to avoid conflict and danger at sea
I had joined the 890-foot crude oil tanker at Swan Island, Ore., the week before, and since coming aboard had been busy as the ship neared the end of its scheduled yard period.
