Class B AIS is coming, growing pains included
"All AIS is good; and Class B is going to give people a better picture of what's going on out there, no question about it, but my problem with it is that update rate of just once every 30 seconds,"…
Pilot project to test retrofitting technology for reducing emissions from diesel engines
In an effort to find ways to reduce air pollution from existing marine engines, APL is retrofitting one of its containerships with three promising innovations. The pilot project involves APL's post-Panamax 64,502-gross-ton, 5,108-TEU containership APL Singapore. The ship's two stroke,…
Training programs launched to counter shortage of qualified mates on tugs
New training programs are being created to meet the chronic shortage of qualified individuals for the tug and towing industry and to help unlicensed mariners become officers. On the West Coast, Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI) has created a two-year, full-time…
Coast Guard attempts to convince the public and Congress that it can fix Deepwater
Mariners around Key West and South Florida have enough to worry about: storms, drug traffickers, illegal aliens, terrorist activity, cruise-ship emergencies and a potentially chaotic flotilla of Cuban refugees that may follow the death of Fidel Castro. Now they have…
Offshore LNG terminals approved by Massachusetts
The state of Massachusetts has approved construction of two offshore liquefied natural gas terminals. The facilities for unloading gas from LNG tankers are to be located at points seven and 13 miles off Gloucester, Mass. The projects were approved by…
Phased sign-up program for biometric ID cards begins
As of March 2007, mariners must begin complying with the requirement to travel to an enrollment center to get a biometric ID with digital photo and fingerprints, called a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Developed with the U.S. Coast…
Coast Guard monitoring damaged rig to prevent sinking
The Coast Guard is monitoring a jack-up rig that was run aground this morning to prevent it from sinking approximately one mile offshore and six miles south of the Port Aransas jetties. The crew of the tug Vinton Crosby radioed…
Boat U.S. Foundation awards boating safety grants
The Boat U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has awarded nearly $50,000 in grants to 23 nonprofit groups from Alaska to Florida to spread the message about safe boating practices. Since 1988, the foundation has awarded over three…
Terminal Island interchange project nearing completion
To complete a major interchange project, the Port of Long Beach will temporarily block access to Terminal Island via the Gerald Desmond Bridge, closing the westbound lanes of Ocean Boulevard between the Long Beach (I-710) Freeway and Navy Way from…
Study says LA.-Long Beach economic clout covers entire nation
When Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa heads to Washington D.C. with a delegation of city officials and business leaders, he will undoubtedly be taking a copy of the new BST Associates trade impact study for the San Pedro Bay Ports.…
Towing Safety Advisory Committee seeks new members
Washington - The U.S. Coast Guard is soliciting applications for seven positions to the Towing Safety Advisory Committee. Applications must be received on or before March 30, 2007. The TSAC advises the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters relating to…
CBP to assess fines for violation of the wood packaging import regulations
Effective Friday March 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection may issue claims for liquidated damages and/or penalties against importers, carriers or bonded custodians for importing wood packaging material (WPM) in violation of the regulations. Liquidated damages result from a breach…
