Bow Mariner

Bow Mariner Update: Oil Recovery Efforts Continue

A fire-damaged lifeboat from the Bow Mariner drifts Feb. 29, 2004, after the vessel sank the night before off Chincoteague, Va. (Side View) (Photo Credit: US Coast Guard) The U.S. Coast Guard flights continues off the coast of Virginia to search for survivors and to survey the state of the fuel oil spilled from the chemical tanker which exploded and sank Saturday evening. The vessel, T/V Bow Mariner, a Singapore-flagged chemical tanker, had left Linden, New Jersey for Texas City, Texas, carrying a partial cargo of 3.2 million gallons of ethanol. Northwest winds in the area are carrying the floating fuel oil farther out to sea, and the US Weather Service predicted those winds will continue. The ethanol is dissipating. The fuel oil clumping into solid balls and mats floating on or just beneath the surface in quantities too small to recover. The Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) oil recovery vessel, the “ Virginia Responder”, is on scene with support from a US Coast Guard C-130 fixed wing aircraft. The environmental clean-up operations are being managed from the USCG Marine Safety Office in Norfolk, Va., by an inter-agency Unified Command, which includes the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality, Maryland Dept. of Environment, and representatives from the vessel owners and vessel managers.

Mass Maritime’s Manned Model Shiphandling Program

Nothing Beats Reality   As advances in computing power have made marine training via simulator more mainstream, the majority would contend that the most effective training is on the water, at the helm. While training on real-world vessels can be tough due to time and safety constraints, Massachusetts Maritime Academy maintains its unique solutions: the Manned Model Shiphandling Program on the Great Herring Pond.  

USCG Assists Merchant Mariners Affected by Katrina

WASHINGTON -- The Coast Guard is moving quickly to restore vital services to merchant mariners in the New Orleans area. Regional Examination Center (REC) Houston, previously reported as havening incurred a loss of communications has been restored to full operating capability. Hurricane Katrina caused the Coast Guard’s REC in New Orleans to close its doors as employees evacuated the city. This REC is the largest in the country and regularly issues 20 percent of all mariners’ credentials

Noble Drilling Reaches Agreement

Noble Drilling Corporation has negotiated a resolution to the dispute with Mariner Energy, Inc. regarding the use by Mariner of Noble's newly converted semisubmersible, Noble Homer Ferrington. As announced on January 10, 2000, Noble had previously filed suit against Mariner and Samedan Oil Corporation for breach of contract regarding the use of the rig. As part of the settlement, Mariner and Noble have executed agreements covering use of Noble Homer Ferrington at variable dayrates for 660

U.S. Sec. of Labor Recognizes Merchant Mariners on Maritime Day

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao paid tribute to the Merchant Mariners at a National Maritime Day annual luncheon hosted by the Propeller Club today. She was the first Secretary of Labor to address the Propeller Club's National Maritime luncheon. National Maritime Day honors the contributions made by merchant mariners and the maritime industry. Secretary Chao also issued a statement recognizing the contributions of the U.S. Merchant Marine:

Bulbous Bow Fabricated and Installed on M/V Monte Carlo

In March 2006 Bay Ship & Yacht Co. installed two new series 60 Detroit Diesel engines, a new bulbous bow, bow thruster, and a new reinforced rub rail on the dinner boat Monte Carlo owned by Hornblower Yachts. The initial design for modification work was drawn up by Dejong & Lebet of Jacksonville, Florida. Bay Design and Engineering provided detail design for most of the modification items, including a new engine bed design for proper shaft alignment

AWO’s Best Practices on Mariner Credentialing

American Waterways Operators (AWO), a 350-member trade association tells members to foster a cooperative relationship with the Coast Guard and to support the mariners, wherever possible. The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the 350-member trade association representing the nation’s tugboat, towboat and barge industry recently released recommended best practices to assist both companies and mariners in navigating the U.S

USCG to Issue Tamper-Resistant Merchant Mariner Licenses

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a stating that the agency will immediately begin issuing new merchant mariner license certificates with anti-counterfeiting technology to provide for better security and centralized record keeping. The new licenses will be used to replace the old ones as they expire. At the same time, mariners who have not begun the process of requesting new or upgraded USCG licenses required by STCW may face delays.

CG Mariner Medical Advisory Committee

The U.S. Coast Guard announced the establishment of the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee, which will be involved with matters relating to the medical evaluation process and evaluation criteria for medical certification of merchant mariners. The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee will be comprised of 10 health care professionals with certain expertise, knowledge or experience in occupational medicine or the medical examination of merchant mariners

USCG Remote Customer Assistance Office in Denver

The US Coast Guard said that it opened a Remote Customer Assistance Office in Denver to reduce time and travel costs for mariners in the area. The office will be open on the second and fourth Thursday of each month to assist mariners with obtaining new or renewed merchant mariner credentials. Source: HK Law