Living Aboard

Call for Changes to SOLAS to Combat Piracy

Prominent UK and US maritime lawyer and maritime author Dr John A.C. Cartner is calling on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to enact changes to the Safety at Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) to combat the continuing problem of piracy facing the global merchant fleet by allowing ships to carry armed guards. Piracy is a growing phenomenon with 1,181 seafarers captured and eight killed in 2010.    According to Dr Cartner, managing member of Washington-based law firm Cartner & Fiske LLC, under SOLAS and other laws it is a ship master’s doctrinal duty to protect the lives of those aboard his ship, but that he may not currently lawfully do this with private armed guards.  As pirates endanger the lives of persons aboard ships, SOLAS should be amended under the tacit acceptance procedure of the Convention to give limited transactional immunity to the shipowner and master placing armed guards aboard their vessels to protect the lives of those aboard. The tacit acceptance procedure facilitates a quick and simple modification to keep pace with rapidly-evolving technology in shipping, but can also be used to deal with pirates.    Dr Cartner, who is himself an unrestricted master mariner who has commanded tankers and container vessels, said: “A vote of IMO members can pass a change to SOLAS which would give limited transactional immunity to any person who in good faith injures a putative pirate to protect the lives aboard

MLL Welcomes Aboard 50 Cadets This Summer

Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) and Farrell Lines, a subsidiary of MLL, will provide sailing opportunities this summer to 50 Cadets of U.S. maritime academies. The Cadets will be able to apply classroom lessons at sea while aboard U.S. flag commercial container and roll-on/roll-off vessels. For more than a decade, MLL has contributed to the training of future U.S. Merchant Mariners through its summer sailing program. This program is similar to a traditional internship for college students who

Wegener Joins Austal USA

Austal USA has introduced a new member to its sales team: Carl F. Wegener is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Wegener has over 15 years of experience in the marine industry having worked with companies such as Newport News Shipbuilding and United Shipbuilders of America. His sales experience in both international and domestic marine markets will be essential in the ongoing development by the Austal Group of their new generation of specialty cruise

A New Standard of Quiet

Institutions through out North America are paying a lot of attention to the University of Delaware’s new research vessel the Hugh R. Sharpe recently delivered from Dakota Creek Industries of Anacortes Washington. (www.dakotacreek.com ) The vessel is fitted with retractable transducer pod, articulating stern gantry, wet lab, dry lab, forward gear deployment boom and CTD handling system. It incorporates in one vessel many of the most sought after features found on scientific research vessels

Austal Gets Contract For Passenger Catamarans

Austal Ships has received a contract for two 136 ft. passenger/cargo catamarans for ferry operator, Ofotens og Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskad ASA (OVDS) of Norway. Designed for difficult sea and harsh weather conditions, the two new aluminium catamarans are due for delivery at the end of April 2003 and will be built by Austal subsidiary, Image Marine. Capable of carrying 216 passengers and 30 Euro pallets (12 tons of refrigerated cargo)

Crowley Scholarships for Williams-Mystic Students

Four students from very diverse backgrounds each got a chance to attend the Maritime Studies Program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport, thanks in part to Thomas B. Crowley Sr.  scholarships. Crowley Maritime Corporation awarded scholarships to Virginia Steiner, Morgan Wilson, Hannah Holland and Caroline Crowell during the 2009-2010 academic year.   Steiner, a history major from Mount Saint Mary College, currently works at the Mystic Seaport Museum as a historical interpreter

True North Enters Service

Latest Austal Cruise Yacht for adventure tourism market Following successful sea trials, Austal’s latest cruise yacht, the 36 passenger “True North” has been handed over to its owner and operator, North Star Cruises Australia. Several high-profile promotional events for local media were held whilst the vessel was in Fremantle, including a visit from rock music legend, Sting. North Star Cruises Australia Director, Craig Howson commented “True North appears to have captured the imagination of

Transocean Sedco Forex Reports Rescue

Transocean Sedco Forex Inc. announced that its drillship, Peregrine III, has safely rescued the nine-member crew of the survey-and-recovery vessel ALOHA, which was lost at sea about 100 nautical miles northeast of Cozumel while under way to a historical and bullion wreck. The ALOHA reported that it had lost power and was taking on water on Thursday, February 7. Also responding were a German container vessel, MV Libra Houston, and a Norwegian cruise ship, Rhapsody At Sea

Crowley Helps Deliver Regis & Kathy

Crowley Maritime Corporation's 's liner services group recently transported a satellite uplink truck and four containers of equipment aboard the Crowley ship Wesertor to Nassau, Bahamas for the live production of the Regis & Kelly show, which has been broadcast from the island's Atlantis Resort this week. The satellite uplink truck is more than 15-feet tall, nearly 37-feet long and is eight-feet wide. Crowley will also handle the transportation of the truck and other gear back to the United

USS Augusta Inactivated

Sailors aboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Augusta (SSN 710) work together to moor their submarine to the pier. Augusta arrived home to Submarine Base New London, Conn., after a routine six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea supporting the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Mark Jones By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steven Myer, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs The Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine USS Augusta (SSN 710) conducted an