Captains License

Coast Guard Disrupts Illegal Vessel Operator

The U.S. Coast Guard disrupted an illegal river tour business operating on the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon, Fla., Feb. 4. A Coast Guard investigation determined that Singing River Tours, who conducts boat tours of the Rainbow and Withlacoochee Rivers, operated their 24-foot pontoon vessel on two different tours while carrying ten passengers in excess allowed by law. Although the vessel was operated by Captain Jon Semmes, 39, a resident of Dunnellon, the vessel was not certificated for passenger service. The Coast Guard is issuing Singing River Tours a citation and is seeking to suspend Semmes' U.S. Coast Guard Captain's license for operating a passenger vessel without a valid Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection (COI). Coast Guard regulations require each vessel carrying more than six passengers to have a valid COI onboard. The COI is a document issued to owners and operators of vessels following a satisfactory safety inspection by a Coast Guard marine inspector. The COI documents the vessel's compliance with established structural standards, stability, lifesaving, firefighting and navigation equipment, as well as conditions of operating and demonstrated crew competency procedures. The Coast Guard, in concert with state and local partners, actively investigates all reports of illegal passenger vessel operations, imposing civil or criminal penalties when required

North American Marine, R. E. Perry Alliance

It is a well-known fact that marine assets are unique, whether they are inland and ocean-going vessels or waterfront properties, shipyards and barge fleeting operations. Making business decisions pertaining to them, especially in today’s market, can be difficult. Consequently, North American Marine Consultants, LLC, and R.E. Perry Company have formed a strategic alliance to better assist their customers in managing their marine assets by providing knowledge-based marine surveying

Ferry Captain Sentenced for Fraudulent License

The US Coast Guard said that a man formerly employed as a ferry captain was sentenced to five months of confinement, followed by three years of supervised release, after he pled guilty to utilizing a fraudulent USCG master’s license and to making false statements to the federal government. Source: HK Law

Swedish Club Extends BRM Training to Pakistan

The Swedish Club has licensed the Wallem Maritime Training Center Karachi (WMTC Karachi) for Bridge Resource Management (BRM) training. It is the seventh BRM training center to be licensed by the Club. Wallem Shipmanagement now operates three BRM training facilities licensed by the Club, the others being WMTC Moscow and WMTC Mumbai. The licensing of the training center in Karachi will enable Wallem to extend BRM training to its officers and engineers in Pakistan

This Day in Coast Guard History – August 30

1852- Congress passed the Steamboat Act which established the Steamboat Inspection Service under the control of the Treasury Department (10 Stat. L., 1852).  The Act provided for the appointment, by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, of nine supervising  inspectors.  These men, experts in the construction and operation of commercial craft, were paid by the Government.  They were to meet once a year for the purpose of consultation and the promulgation

Sea Tow Announces New Delaware Bay Franchise

Sea Tow Services International Inc., announces the opening of Sea Tow Delmarva, owned and operated by Capt. Hank Fulmer.   Sea Tow Delmarva serves boaters along the coasts of Delaware and Maryland on Delaware Bay, from Slaughter Beach Inlet south to and including Lewes and Rehoboth, Del., and Indian River Inlet and Ocean City, Md. Capt. Fulmer and his staff of U.S. Coast Guard-licensed Sea Tow Captains operate three boats out of Slaughter Beach Inlet, Ocean City, and Indian River Inlet

Captain Becker Joins MITAGS

Glen Paine, Executive Director of the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and the Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI), has announced that Captain Robert J. Becker has joined MITAGS as the Academic Business Development Manager. Captain Becker is responsible for establishing market strategies, enhancing the client base, developing and managing proposals and contracts, evaluating client requirements to improve quality of service

Coast Guard Yard Under New Command

Captain John Kaplan recently assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in .  He is the 39 Commanding Officer in the 109-year history of the Yard, the only shipbuilding and ship repair facility of the United States Coast Guard. Captain Kaplan took charge of the Coast Guard Yard from Captain Stephen Duca who had served as the shipyard’s Commanding Officer, May 2005 - May 2008.  Captain Duca retired from the U.S. Coast Guard with 27 years active duty service

Herschler Joins North American Marine Consultants

Captain Casey M. Herschler Joins North American Marine Consultants.   Captain Casey M. Herschler has been named Director of New Business Development for North American Marine Consultants. Capt. Herschler will be responsible for developing new business ventures including new vessel and barge construction as well as conducting vessel, structure, facility and cargo surveys, insurance assessments and monitoring new construction, conversion and repair processes for clients.

Sulzer Joins SLSDC Advisory Board

Dr. Arthur H. Sulzer, Captain USN (Ret), Sworn in as Member, Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.     Dr. Sulzer Background Dr. Arthur H. Sulzer, Captain USN (ret), is President of Arthur H. Sulzer Associates, Inc., a position he has held since 2001.  From 1974 to 2005, Captain Sulzer served in the United States Navy. His active duty assignments included Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, where he commanded the U.S