DANGER
Dangers of Conflicting Actions in Collision Avoidance
The IMO issued Safety of Navigation Circular 226 entitled Dangers of Conflicting Actions in Collision Avoidance
Coast Guard Investigates Grounded Fishing Vessel
Photo Credit: USCG Coast Guard crews from Air Station Sitka and Marine Safety Detachment Sitka investigate the fishing vessel El Cazador that ran aground Monday afternoon near Dry Bay 30 miles southeast of Yakutat. Local Coast Guard personnel examined the grounded vessel to determine whether it was leaking fuel or presented a danger to navigation. The vessel's Master intends to salvage the fishing boat at the next high tide. photo by AMT1 Merkel
400 Jobs on the Line
According to a March 12 report from Inquirer.net, about 400 workers of a ship repair company in Lapu-Lapu City are in danger of losing their jobs as the management decides to focus resources on shipbuilding. According to Inquirer.net, Keppel Cebu Shipyard Inc. president David Loh said in a memorandum to the workers that the company has to reduce its workforce due to continuing market decline. (Source: Inquirer.net)
Norcontrol IT Launches New System for Training
Norcontrol IT has launched a new system designed for training new Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Operators and providing refresher training. Developed by the NCIT Academy the VTS Operator Console (VOC) eLearning course is an interactive, web-based eLearning system for training operators of the Norcontrol IT VTS Operator Workstation and next generation VTS Database application (VDB). With many VTS operations relying on relatively few workstations – that
Supertankers Pose No Danger to Bay of Fundy
Proponents of a controversial liquefied natural gas plant in Maine say a study ordered by the Canadian government has found there is no reason to ban supertankers from the Bay of Fundy, as Ottawa has threatened to do if the U.S. approves the project. Downeast LNG said the environmental study found there were no immediate risks of having LNG supertankers go through the Bay of Fundy, part of which is split by the New Brunswick-Maine border, to the proposed plant.
North Sea Ship Collision: 4 Dead 8 Missing
MOL's RoRo 'Baltic Ace' sinks in shallow water after colliding with container ship 'Corvus J' off the coast of Holland. The 148-metre (485-foot) car carrier Baltic Ace, sailing under the Bahamas flag, carrying cars from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Kotka in Finland, took water after the collision and the 24 crew took to the liferafts, reports BBC News. Several helicopters and two navy patrol ships continue searching for the missing sailors.
Swedish Coast Guard Orders Third Vessel
In December 2005 the Swedish Coast Guard awarded Damen the newbuilding contract for two state-of-the-art 81-metre Coast Guard Vessels. Construction of these vessels is currently taking place at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania and delivery for the first vessel is scheduled for the summer of 2008, the second vessel will follow towards the end of 2008. The contract included an option for a third vessel; this option has now been exercised
Turkish Shipping Panel Mulls Safe Sailing Through Bosphorus
Turkish shipping experts will reportedly meet soon to discuss how to safely sail a giant aircraft carrier without engines through the Bosphorus that bisects the country's biggest city. It was reported that the panel had already met once and denied passage through the straits to the 1,000-ft. Varyag, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, citing security concerns for the city of Istanbul. The Varyag has been idling in the Black Sea since July.
Ship Grounded off Norfolk Coast
A rescue operation has been launched after a large container ship ran aground off Haisboro Sands. The vessel, The City of Sunderland, is carrying a cargo of 642 Nissan cars and is currently lying on a sand bar eight miles off the north Norfolk coast. There are 13 crew members on board. The 9,576 ton ship became stuck at approximately 2.20am this morning while on a voyage from the port of Zeebrugge to Tees Port.
Y2K Clauses: Don't Promise Too Much
While charterparties are, to a large extent based on standard forms, they are also subject to the inclusion of many amendments and additional clauses. These clauses need to be scrutinized with care, as their implications may be more far reaching than initially envisaged. The additional clauses and their effect are also often less well known than the provisions in the standard forms. For some time clauses dealing with possible Y2K problems have been appearing in the market
U.K. Offshore Sector Welcomes EU Safety Initiative
Oil & Gas U.K. said it is pleased that a plenary vote in the European Parliament may see the introduction of a directive on offshore safety and environment. Robert Paterson, Oil & Gas U.K.’s health, safety and employment director, said: “Oil & Gas U.K
Second Consecutive Decline for Stifel Logistics Confidence Index
The Stifel Logistics Confidence Index continued its downward trend in May as it fell for the second consecutive month. Compiled by Transport Intelligence, the overall index, which combines the current situation with future expectations, was down 0.8 points from April to 50.7 in May and was 1
Metrol Boosts Efficiency with Miko Magnets
Metrol Technology disclosed that it developed a subsea tool from the technology of Miko pipe magnets. The company said it is currently gaining cost and time benefits through having perfected the use of powerful permanent magnets when positioning instrumentation on seabed structures.
Northrop Grumman Honors Employees Lost in 'USS Thresher'
Northrop Grumman Corporation has donated $5,000 toward construction of a memorial to the Navy submarine 'USS Thresher'. The company has made this donation in memory of two employees who perished when the Thresher sank in the Atlantic Ocean 50 years ago.
GeoVS Installs Vessel Management System in Poole Harbor
GeoVS was awarded a contract to supply and install its system in Poole Harbor, Dorset. The system brings a step change in monitoring and managing ship movements in ports and restricted waterways. Dr. Rafal Goralski, Technical Director of GeoVS, a University of Glamorgan spin off company
Editor's Note
Offshore energy is a unique animal. I say that because, increasingly, the vessels that provide offshore service are becoming the mainstream of our bluewater merchant marine. Smaller than their containership or tanker cousins – although getting bigger every day – these vessels pack
Crew Desert 'Arrested Ship,' Plead in India High Court
In a courtroom drama the captain of the Korean ship told the court the abandoned ship's engine room was flooded and there was danger of a capsize. MV OSM Arena had been anchored off the Port of Chennai since February 2010 following cases filed by different parties against the owners in the
Small Boat Counter-offensive Contract for QinetiQ
QinetiQ Maritime contracted by UK'sMinistry of Defence (MOD) to research co-ordinated defence against attacks on Royal Naval ships. The contract is to carry out research into the co-ordinated defence of the Royal Navy fleet against the emerging threat of attacks from small
Great Lakes Community Soon Treading on Thin Ice
US Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan advises of the dangers as increasingly warmer temperatures weaken ice. The Coast Guard warns that warmer temperatures present the possibility of extremely hazardous ice conditions throughout Lake Michigan, including Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, Lake Winnebago
Costa Concordia & Maritime Error Management
Costa Concordia: An opportunity for advancing human factor awareness? Will the casualty advance desirable critical thinking and cognitive awareness or merely trigger shortfall RRPP? A maritime casualty with everything a novelist could hope for – a huge state-of-the-art modern passenger
NOAA’s Coast Survey Plans for New Arctic Nautical Charts
Less sea ice and more ship traffic means new charts needed for safety. NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey has issued an updated Arctic Nautical Charting Plan, as a major effort to improve inadequate chart coverage for Arctic areas experiencing increasing vessel traffic due to ice diminishment
Damaged Container Ship on Tow to Europe
The disabled 'Emma Maersk' starts the long tow from Suez to Europe for repairs to hull damage in vicinity of a stern thruster unit. Palle Laursen, Maersk Line’s Head of Ship Management in Copenhagen, says, “We are delighted that Emma is on the route back towards full service
Caterpillar Sponsors Ocean Shark Research
Caterpillar agree multi-year partnership with OCEARCH to help global research on sharks, key members of the ocean's ecological system. "Most people think sharks are invincible," said OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer . "But they are in real danger*
Texas A&M Trains on Latest Technology
Maritime academy cadets at Texas A&M train on Rose Point ECS following a donation by Rose Point Navigation Systems. Maritime academy cadets at Texas A&M University at Galveston are now training on state-of-the-art electronic charting system software
Cruise Ship Lifeboat Fall Kills Five Crew
5 are killed & 3 injured during emergency drill on 'Thomson Majesty' while moored at Santa Cruz, La Palma, Canary Islands. The lifeboat fell from the vessel during an emergency training drill on the 20-year-old ship owned by Cyprus-based Louis Cruises and leased to Thomson