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Alaska Waters News

25 Jan 2019

VIDA & BWMS Reform

De Nora is the latest to receive Type-Approval from the United States Coastguard for its BALPURE ballast water treatment system (BWTS).Photo: De Nora

On December 4, President Trump signed into law the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (S. 140). Title IX of the legislation is the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2018 (VIDA). VIDA will largely cut through a morass of conflicting and confusing requirements that have developed over a number of years relating to discharges into US waters. This purpose of this new legislation is to: (1) provide for the establishment of uniform and environmentally sound standards and requirements for the management of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel…

08 Jun 2015

NOAA Deploys Survey Ships for Arctic Charting Projects

NOAA ships spent the last several days preparing for their Arctic missions. Here, Chief Bosun Jim Kruger (front) works with Jason Kinyon and Lindsey Houska on NOAA Ship Rainier as they get ready to depart this week for the summer's first Arctic survey project, in Kotzebue Sound.(Credit: NOAA)

NOAA announced the official launch of its 2015 Arctic hydrographic survey season took place this morning, in Kodiak, Alaska, in a World Ocean Day ceremony which showcased the deployment of the NOAA ships Rainier and Fairweather. “Most Arctic waters that are charted were surveyed with obsolete technology, with some of the information dating back to Captain Cook's voyages, long before the region was part of the United States,” said NOAA deputy under secretary for operations Vice Admiral Michael S. Devany in remarks directed to the crews of NOAA ships.

07 Apr 2015

Greenpeace Boards Arctic Offshore Rig

Six Greenpeace activists boarded a Shell oil drilling ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and vowed to stay there to protest the company's plans to drill above the Arctic Circle, the environmental organization said. They boarded as the drill rig was transported across the Pacific Ocean toward Seattle, where it will be staged for drilling on Shell leases in Alaska waters. Royal Dutch Shell confirmed that the protesters "illegally boarded the Polar Pioneer" about 750 miles northwest of Hawaii on Monday morning. It called the protest a "stunt" that jeopardizes both the crew and the protesters themselves. The 400-foot Polar Pioneer, owned by Transocean Ltd.…

01 Dec 2014

Interview: Matthew Paxton, President, Shipbuilders Council Of America

Matthew Paxton

The U.S. commercial maritime industry is enjoying its most robust period in a generation, with a spate of newbuild activities spurred largely by a resurgent energy production market in the U.S. as well as new rules of vessel emissions which has forced owner to invest in new tonnage. For insight and perspective on the market Maritime Reporter & Engineering News visits with Matthew Paxton, who was selected to be the President of the Shipbuilders Council of America in 2007. In this capacity he advocates for a robust and expanding U.S. shipyard industrial base.

07 May 2014

Two Rescued from Vessel Taking on Water

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa rescued two men from a vessel taking on water approximately one mile southwest of Petersburg, Alaska, Tuesday. A smallboat crew from the Anacapa took the 24-foot pleasure craft Deborah K under tow and safely transported its passengers to the port in Petersburg. Coast Guard command center watchstanders at Sector Juneau received a call from passengers aboard the Deborah K reporting they had struck a rock and were taking on water near Wrangell Narrows. Watchstanders directed the crew of the Anacapa to respond and the crew of the Anacapa launched its smallboat crew to assist. "The men aboard the Debra K did the right thing by quickly contacting the Coast Guard," said Lt. Ryan Erickson, chief of incident management, Coast Guard Sector Juneau.

10 Sep 2012

Jensen Completes Major Refurbishment Work on Bering Defender

Jensen Completes Major Refurbishment Work on Fishing Vessel Bering Defender; Upgrades Make Vessel More Efficient, Optimize it for Work in the Bering Sea. Jensen Maritime, a Crowley Maritime Corp. company, recently completed a major redesign of the Global Sea-managed fishing vessel Bering Defender. The project, which improved the vessel’s efficiency and hold capacity, outfitted it for pollock fishing in the challenging waters of Alaska’s Bering Sea. The refurbished fishing boat…

07 Sep 2012

Fishing Vessel Major Refit Completed by Jensen

'Bering Defender': Photo credit Jensen Maritime

US-based Jensen Maritime, completes a major redesign of the Global Sea-managed fishing vessel 'Bering Defender'. The project, which improved the vessel’s efficiency and hold capacity, outfitted it for pollock fishing in the challenging waters of Alaska’s Bering Sea. The refurbished fishing boat, formerly named Dona Martita, recently arrived in Seattle after departing the East Coast and transiting the Panama Canal. Global Seas, based in Seattle, is an operator of a diverse fleet of research and fishing vessels.

16 Jul 2012

Krill VFMMS on Three Shell “Alaska Project” Vessels

Voyage Managment with Krill. (Source: Krill Systems)

Krill Systems, which provides Vessel Fuel Measurement and Monitoring Systems (VFMMS), reports success in the installation and sea trial of Krill VFMMS systems on-board three support vessels operating as part of the Shell Alaska Arctic offshore drilling project. The VFMMS systems were installed in Seattle at the beginning of July, after which the vessels immediately departed for Alaska waters. Two Shell-chartered drilling ships, Kulluk and Noble Discoverer, are heading to Dutch Harbor in Alaska’s Aleutian Island chain having departed Seattle on June 27…

22 Jun 2011

Crowley's DH Petroleum Barges Deployed to Western Alaska

Crowley Maritime Corp. is deploying two new double-hulled, combination deck cargo and tank barges this week in Western Alaska. The DBL 165-1 and DBL 165-2 barges left Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Wash., earlier this month and made a brief stop in Seward for final outfitting of equipment - including hoses, lines, pumps and other gear - necessary for operating in Western Alaska. The barges are expected to load their first cargoes of petroleum products in Bristol Bay this week and will begin making deliveries to customers along the Bering Sea coast soon afterward. Both vessels will be home ported in Nome and will be used for shallow draft operations and beach landings for the delivery of fuel and cargo to the remote communities of Western Alaska.

10 May 2011

Crowley Builds DH Petroleum Barges for Alaska

Photo courtesy Crowley

Preparing to take environmental protection of Western Alaska waters to a whole new level, Crowley Maritime Corporation christened two new double-hulled petroleum tank barges, the 165-1 and 165-2, May 7 during a small ceremony at Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Wash. The vessels, which are the first double-hulled, environmentally friendly barges of their kind to operate in Western Alaska waters, will join Crowley's 180-1, a double-hull barge that has serviced Alaska since 2005.

13 May 2009

Crowley Tug Nachik Christened in Alaska

Nome Mayor Denise Michels and a couple hundred guests gathered at the Small Boat Harbor in Seward, Alaska, on May 10 to celebrate the christening of Crowley's newest tug - the Nachik (NAH-chick). Later this month, the company will take delivery of its sister vessel, the Sesok (SEE-sock). Crowley has invested in these two IKKAT (Ick-cut) Class vessels specifically to support Alaska shallow draft challenges and to enhance environmental and safety presence in Alaska waters. The Nachik…

11 Nov 2008

12 of 20 Cruise Ships Cited for Pullution

According to a report from the Anchorage Daily News, an analysis by state regulators shows that more than half of the cruise ships that discharged wastewater regularly into Alaska waters received citations. The analysis shows 45 tests on wastewater violated permit levels for pollutants. The most common violation was for ammonia, found in urine. (Source: Anchorage Daily News)

27 Oct 2003

Coast Guard’s Largest Ice Breaker To Visit Juneau

The Coast Guard cutter Healy and crew is scheduled to stop in Juneau for a port call October 24-27. The ship departed Seattle June 13 to begin its Arctic cruise. The Healy crew circumnavigated the North American continent on its cruise. The crew and scientists on board conducted numerous science operations. Some of the science operations included studying the effects of the freshwater flux from the Arctic into the North-Atlantic. The crew also conducted 10 days of ocean bottom mapping and studied the impact of global change on the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea shelf.

23 Feb 2004

NVIC – Environmental Inspection of Foreign Vessels

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) providing an addendum to its Foreign Passenger Vessel Inspection Book consisting of an environmental inspection checklist. The checklist was developed with the participation of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and takes into consideration new regulations on cruise vessel operations in certain Alaska waters. The checklist does not change the regulations, but provides an extensive list of possible inspection items related to pollution prevention equipment, operation, plans, and records. (HK Law)

12 May 2004

Deck Machinery

Research Winches for R/V Maria S. Seven special winches were supplied by Hatlapa in December 2003 after being tested and demonstrated in the factory. These winches are intended for the new research vessel Maria S. Merian, which will support the vessel Polarstern during operations in the Arctic. Hatlapa has escorted this project for five years, during which time the design of the winches was formed in close cooperation with the order principal BAW (Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau) and the shipyard Krögerwerft in Rendsburg. One specialty is the combination of friction and storage winch for handling the very long and relatively thin measuring cables. The advantage is that the sensitive and expensive research ropes can be spooled on the storage winch free from load.

12 May 2000

Alaska DEC Addresses Cruise Ship Pollution Measures

Regulators seeking to prevent cruise-ship pollution should measure air quality this summer in Juneau, conduct random tests of waste discharges into Alaska's waters and complete a survey of ships' waste practices, said a draft report issued last Wednesday. The report, released by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), gave conclusions of work groups representing state and federal regulators, cruise companies and citizens concerned about the impacts of growing cruise crowds. The work groups have been meeting since December to address complaints about cruise pollution - and regulatory gaps in Juneau and other ports along southeast Alaska's Inside Passage.

11 May 2000

Alaska DEC Addresses Possible Cruise Ship Pollution Measures

Regulators seeking to prevent cruise-ship pollution should measure air quality this summer in Juneau, conduct random tests of waste discharges into Alaska's waters and complete a survey of ships' waste practices, said a draft report issued Wednesday. The report, released by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), gave conclusions of work groups representing state and federal regulators, cruise companies and citizens concerned about the impacts of growing cruise crowds. The work groups have been meeting since December to address complaints about cruise pollution - and regulatory gaps in Juneau and other ports along southeast Alaska's Inside Passage.

21 Dec 2004

Alaskan Ferry Sustains Damage

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is cooperating with U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Juneau to investigate and evaluate structural damage sustained to the ferry Fairweather Thursday (December 16) in Southeast Alaska waters. Fairweather sustained damage by waves during a regularly scheduled voyage from Haines to Juneau late Thursday afternoon. The vessel carried 101 passengers at the time, including the commanding officer of Marine Safety Office Juneau. At no time during the voyage were the passengers in any danger.

23 Mar 2005

NASSCO Delivers BP Oil Tanker

National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has delivered the Alaskan Explorer, the second of four Alaska-class double-hull oil tankers being built for BP Oil Shipping Company, USA, a subsidiary of BP p.l.c. "We had very successful sea trials with the Alaskan Explorer," said Richard Vortmann, NASSCO president. The Alaskan Explorer will join her sister ship, the Alaskan Frontier, which was delivered in August 2004 and is delivering oil from Alaska to West Coast ports, including BP refineries in Los Angeles, Calif., and Cherry Point, Wash. The third ship will be delivered in late 2005 and the fourth ship in 2006. These state-of-the-art ships are the most environmentally friendly oil tankers ever built.

12 Feb 2007

Oldest Coast Guard Vessel Decommissioned

The U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned its oldest vessel, retiring the cutter Storis with eight rings of a bell and the playing of taps in a gymnasium at the Kodiak Coast Guard Base. About 70 Storis crew members wearing dress blues stood at attention during the ceremony to retire the 64-year-old icebreaker. About 200 invited guests also attended. Storis crews have boarded 7,500 vessels, saved 250 lives, kept 25 vessels from sinking, assisted 100,000 people and traveled 1.5 million miles. The Storis has been patrolling Alaska waters since the late 1950s. Capt. James M. McCauley, commander of the Storis, thanked Kodiak for the town's hospitality as homeport. McCauley's last outing with Storis was a 54-day patrol in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea.

29 Nov 2005

NASSCO Delivers the Double-Hull Oil Tanker

National Steel and Shipbuilding Company delivered the Alaskan Navigator, the third of four Alaska-class double-hull crude oil tankers being built for BP Oil Shipping Company, USA, a subsidiary of BP p.l.c. (ADR: BP). “We are now focused on completion of the fourth ship in the class, which is progressing well in the shipyard as we have ramped up production on both the BP tankers and Navy new construction work,” said Richard Vortmann, NASSCO president. The Alaskan Navigator will join her sister ships, the Alaskan Frontier and the Alaskan Explorer, which were delivered in August 2004 and March 2005, delivering crude oil from Alaska to BP’s refineries in Los Angeles and Cherry Point, Wash. The fourth ship will be delivered in late 2006.

14 Nov 2005

NASSCO, BP Hold Naming Ceremony

Caroline Shorten Conn, spouse of Iain Conn, BP Group Executive Officer, smashes ceremonial bottle of champagne on the hull of the Alaskan Navigator, the third Alaska-Class double-hull oil tanker being built for BP Oil Shipping Company, USA. On Saturday, November 12, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO. www.nassco.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, joined BP p.l.c. in naming the Alaskan Navigator, the third of four Alaska-class double-hull oil tankers being built for BP Oil Shipping Company, USA. The ship is scheduled to be delivered to BP later this month for service delivering oil from Alaska to West Coast ports, including BP refineries in Los Angeles, Calif., and Cherry Point, Wash.

23 Aug 2002

Execs Charged and Corporations Plead Guilty to Pollution

A federal grand jury in Anchorage indicted a corporate director, two corporate managers, a ship's captain and a first engineer for their roles in an ocean pollution conspiracy involving the direct discharges of oil from a fleet of large, refrigerated cargo ships that regularly travel through Alaska waters, the Justice Department announced. The indictment charges the individuals of conspiracy to lie to the U.S. Coast Guard in order to conceal the dumping of waste oil from the ships and to obstruct the investigation of the agency and the grand jury. The charges against In Seok Yang, a member of the Board of Directors of Boyang Maritime Kyeong Shin Deep Sea Fisheries Company of Pusan…

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