TOUR BOATS
Tour Boat Violated State Laws
The Ethan Allen was in violation of state law during its sightseeing cruise on Sunday, according to a report from ABC News. New York regulations say that any commercial boat carrying between 21 and 50 passengers must have one crew member, in addition to the boat's operator. According to officials, that applied to the Ethan Allen and its 47 passengers. The tour boat capsized on Lake George Sunday, killing 20 people. State regulators have suspended licenses for all five vessels belonging to Shoreline Cruises, the company that operated the tour, officials told The Associated Press. State officials said the boat's captain had a valid master's license issued by the state and that the boat was inspected in May and passed.
Coast Guard Determines Cause of Collision
The Coast Guard completed its preliminary investigation of the collision between the tour boat, Spirit of Charleston, and a sailboat July 22 in Charleston Harbor. The Coast Guard charged Captain O.C. Polk, the operator of the Spirit of Charleston, with negligence and misconduct for his role in the collision and for failing to report the incident to the Coast Guard. As part of the settlement agreement approved by an Administrative Law Judge
Blount Boats Delivers Sister Ship to Wendella
The 89-ft steel excursion boat, Linnea built by Blount Boats for Wendella Sightseeing Company was completed and accepted on July 20, 2010. The vessel was delivered to Chicago via Erie Canal and began service on July 30th. The delivery for the Linnea is especially timely on account of the fact that Wendella Sightseeing, Chicago’s original tour boat company is celebrating its 75th season as one of the city’s premier sightseeing and tourism venues.
Bay Ship & Yacht Launches Blue Thunder
Bay Ship & Yacht has launched the high-performance yacht, Blue Thunder, marking the shipyard’s entry into the custom-built sport-yachting market. With a service speed of 32 knots, a flank speed of 42 knots, and a draft of less than three ft, the Blue Thunder offers the speed and performance of a high-performance sport yacht. The custom interior is crafted with veneered, ultra-light honeycomb-cored panels, with a satin varnish finish
The Transit to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
Leading efforts to minimize the environmental impact of ships and boats at work, the Port of Los Angeles and the Jankovich Company – a supplier of fuel for cargo ships, tugs, barges and other marine vessels since 1933 – announced a new agreement to fuel its marine fleet with ultra low sulfur fuel. The fuel is from BP and sold under the brand name ECD. It is designed to be a technologically advanced, cleaner-burning fuel that is refined from select crudes
Galapagos’ Latest Natural Wonder … Jessica?
It seems that the stricken oil tanker that fouled Charles Darwin's Galapagos island paradise cannot be moved and is set to become an artificial reef, teeming with fish and home to seals and exotic birds, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Sunday. The Ecuadorean Navy had hoped to clear the semi-submerged "Jessica" from the tiny harbor of San Cristobal island where it ran aground last week, leaking the bulk of its 240,000 gallon fuel cargo into the archipelago's pristine waters
Galapagos Spill Poses New Problems
Ecuadorean naval officers struggled on Tuesday to right a wrecked ship half a mile (800 m) off the shore of Ecuador's famed Galapagos islands after nearly all the fuel it was carrying spilled into the ocean, threatening some of the world's rarest species. Ecuador's navy said officers were attempting to pull the "Jessica," an 835-ton ship that ran aground near the archipelago's capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, a week ago
Passenger Vessel Accident on China Coast Leaves 2 Dead, 2 Missing
Passenger vessel hit cable of a moored cargo ship off the East Coast of Jiangsu Province Two people were killed and another two missing when their power boat hit the cable of a cargo ship in east China's Jiangsu Province, local maritime officials said. Eight people, including six students of Shanghai Jiaotong University, a tour guide and a boat driver, were aboard when the accident happened in Taihu lake in the city of Suzhou, the municipal maritime officials said.
Connaughton to Visit Port of VA
The nation’s new top maritime official, Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton, will make his first trip outside Washington to the Port of Virginia on Friday, September 15. Administrator Connaughton will inspect the port and receive a briefing on how the facility is expanding to deal with growing demand for cargo shipments and how this growth is creating new local jobs and investment. Administrator Connaughton will take a boat tour of the port to view existing facilities and learn
Bertram Relocates to Florida
Bertram Yacht relocates its productiion facility from Miami to Merritt Island. Florida Bertram's announced the move to 160 people at its press conference, who toured the facility. “We searched over 30 locations and Merritt Island proved to be the best of the best”, said President of Bertram Yacht, Alton Herndon. We specifically chose Merritt Island because of the state-of-the art boat manufacturing facility and marina which is situated on a 37-acre site and provides
All-Solar Vessel: "Ambassador for Clean Energy"
The world’s largest all-solar ship has been circumnavigating the globe since 2010. In May 2012, the vessel completed a 584-day, 37,000-mile global journey through three oceans and 11 seas with 52 stopovers in 28 countries. But most impressively
2013 ICOMIA/IFBSO Congress News
The 2013 ICOMIA/IFBSO Congress was held in London, United Kingdom from June 11-14, 2013 and was hosted and organized by the British Marine Federation (BMF) at Devonport House, located in London’s exclusive Royal Greenwich, a World Heritage Site.
Boatbuilding Booms as More Americans Take to the Water:
New data from The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) show 88 million Americans expected to take to U.S. waterways this summer. NMMA add that recreational boating in the U.S. has an annual economic value of $121-billion. The industry’s rising tide supports 964
Why TWIC?
GAO finds it is broken, and now the question is; can it be fixed? Recently, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a scathing report on the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) electronic reader pilot test and on the TWIC program in general
AMCS Wins Pacific Patrol Boat Training Contract
The Australian Minister for Defense Materiel Mike Kelly announced the signing of a $21 million four-year contract with AMC Search Ltd to provide Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB) training services. Dr. Kelly said AMC Search Ltd (AMCS) is the commercial arm of the Australian Maritime College
Recreational Boating: a $121-billion Economic Driver for U.S.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), announced that recreational boating in the U.S. has an annual economic value of $121 billion. The industry’s rising tide supports 964,000 American jobs and 34,833 businesses, generates $40 billion in annual labor income and drives $83
Covered Landings Bid Welcome to Cruise Customers
Located about 400 miles northeast of Quebec City, the Gaspesie peninsula and les Iles-de-la-Madeleine presents some of the most picturesque scenery in maritime Canada. Beckoning passengers aboard ships cruising the St. Lawrence River, both ports boast covered landing facilities as elegant as
MARAD Unveils Virtual Tour of USNS Comet
The Maritime Administration has launched a virtual tour on its website of the USNS Comet, a non-retention vessel currently located at its Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, California. This 360 degree photographic tour provides the experience of walking onboard the ship
Tall Ships to Sail into Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce announces 11 sailing schooners will visit the harbor for 'Windjammer Days'. The 2013 Windjammer Days are scheduled to take place June 25 and 26, 2013, with the schooners appearing in Linekin Bay on Tuesday the 25th and in the harbor on Wednesday the 26th
PVA Make Alaskan Harbor Seal Protest
The Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) says existing voluntary Code of Conduct sufficient to protect Alaskan Harbor Seals. PVA has submitted written comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) urging that the agency defer implementing broader restrictions on vessels
World's Largest Tugboat Race Highlights Seattle Maritime Festival
On Saturday, May 11, more than 30 boats will participate in the 28th Annual U.S. Oil and Refining Seattle Tugboat Race Championships, the largest tugboat race in the world. The race will run from noon to 3 p.m. as part of family fun day at the 2013 Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival
Survivor’s Mom Sends Cookies to USCG
Jordan Hanssen, recently rescued OAR Northwest transatlantic rower, sponsored by the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) made great efforts to visit his rescuers at two USCG stations for Military Appreciation Month last week. Both the Clearwater and Miami Coast Guard Air Stations involved in the
104,800 Attendees at OTC 2013
Experts from the offshore energy industry around the world came together May 6-9 for the 2013 Offshore Technology Conference at Reliant Park in Houston. Attendance at the conference reached a 30-year high of 104,800, the second highest in show history and up 17% from last year.
Seaspan Mark NAOSH Week with Walter Gretzky
During North American Occupational Health and Safety (NAOSH) week Seaspan welcomed Walter Gretzky on a tour of its Vancouver Shipyards. For those not in the know, Walter Gretzky, is a Canadian who is best known as the father of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky
China Delegation Visits UK P&I Club
A delegation from Xiamen, China accompanied by the CEO of COSCO UK visit the London offices of Thomas Miller. The purpose of the visit by the delegation was to understand more of the shipping/insurance sectors in London and to foster good relations.