MILE MARK

Tanker Slams Light Tower off NYC

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Coast Guard said a light tower off New York City has been substantially damaged by a tanker ship that slammed into it. The agency is urging boaters to steer clear of the Ambrose Light until it can be fixed. The Coast Guard says the tanker Axel Spirit rammed into the 76-foot steel tower damaging its legs. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Annie Berlin says the light is on, but no longer rotating and not reliable. No injuries or pollution have been reported. The Ambrose Light is about 12 miles southeast of Staten Island and about four miles outside the shipping channel to New York City. The channel is marked with other navigation aids. A Coast Guard ship is being sent to set up temporary navigation aids until the light is fixed. [Source: AP]

Trials of Tanker Completed in Japan

The running trials of the tanker Prisco Alcor, built in the Republic of Korea for the Primorsky shipping company (PSC), have been completed in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, Itar-Tass reported. A ceremony marking an official handover of the newly built tanker is scheduled for this weekend. Dimensions of the Prisco Alcor are as follows: length – 935 ft., width – 164 ft., and total displacement -- 193,000 tons. The cruising capacity of the tanker is 20,000 miles.

Austal Patrol Boat Begins Operation in Bermuda

The sister ship to the recently delivered six New South Wales Water Police boats officially entered service on December 4 with the Bermuda Water Police. This follows a delivery trip from the West Australian shipyard that included shipping the 16 metre vessel to Savannah, Georgia before traveling under her own power on a 900 nautical mile final voyage to the island of Bermuda via Morehead City in North Carolina. Marking the occasion the Bermuda Police Service held a press conference outside

Warmer Temperatures, But Mississippi Traffic Still Slow

Warmer temperatures across the U.S. Midwest were seen easing navigation on the Mississippi River near St. Louis but barge traffic continued slow on the Illinois River due to ice buildup, river officials said. "Milder temperatures over the weekend cleared the navigational channel of ice in the St. Louis area and water levels are about foot higher than they were a week ago," said Charles Camillo, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman at St. Louis.

This Day in Coast Guard History – June 3

1882-At 8 in the morning the three-masted schooner, J.P. Decamdres, bound for Milwaukee with a cargo of cord-wood and railroad ties, stranded about one mile north of the life-saving station at the entrance to Milwaukee Harbor (No. 15, Eleventh District) and became a total wreck. Her crew of six men and a passenger were rescued by the lifesaving crew. 1941-President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order making 2,100 US Coast Guard officers and men available to man four transports

Matson Expands Savannah Operation

Part of regional boom in third-party logistics providers.  Matson Logistics, a leading provider of multimodal transportation, warehousing, and distribution services throughout North America, has established new distribution center space in Savannah.   “Our new operation expands on our ability to move retail goods in through the Port of Savannah,” said Mark Ferzacca, assistant vice president of sales for Matson Logistics Warehousing

British Warship Helps Commemorate 1812 War

HMS Montrose joined warships for bicentennial celebrations in New Orleans HMS Montrose has spent six days in New Orleans helping Americans begin bicentennial commemorations of the 1812 war. The Devonport-based frigate joined ships from the USA, France and Canada berthed on the famous Mississippi waterfront for the festivities. It's famously called 'The Big Easy', but the six days HMS Montrose spent in New Orleans were far from relaxing as she joined Americans commemorating the last time

New Generation Container Feeder Vessel Debuted

Knud E. Hansen, Copenhagen has developed the next generation of container feeder vessels. The new generation was inspired by inquiries from major clients for these size feeder vessels. The superior efficiencies of the KEH MARK 1200 and 1500 have been achieved by making extremely compact vessels by using the experience gained from the KEH Mark V, Mark VI S, Mark VI, Mark VII and Mark X all designed by KEH, numerous ships of these designs have been build over the years

Barges Start Moving South of Peoria

Barges were moving through the LaGrange Lock south of Peoria on the Illinois River on Tuesday after workers broke through a wall of ice near the lock late on Saturday, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman said. "LaGrange is open but traffic is moving slowly. Ice is still very intense but we're still locking boats with a width restriction of 95 feet," said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman Justine Barati. "There was up to eight barges waiting but we're down to three southbound tows

Christenings & Deliveries: Black Hawk Fleet Embarks on Repower Program

Blackhawk Fleet, Inc. operates towboats and barges along the Mississippi River out of Davenport Iowa. The city, on the Mississippi River 300-miles up river from St. Louis, has long been a maritime center. When 84-year old Capt. David Tipton died at the wheel of his snag-pulling steamboat in 1904 he was buried here. To honor the Mark Twain contemporary, his crew hauled an anchor from the river to mark his grave site. His vessel, the Col. A. Mackenzie was renamed the David Tipton.