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Amo News

31 May 2023

Career Moves: US Offshore Wind Powering Up

(Photo: STAR Center)

In addition to wind, offshore wind demands human energy, individuals with knowledge and skills first to build and then operate and maintain the dozens of projects required to meet President Biden’s 2030 goal of 30 GW of offshore generation. In an October 2022 National Renewable Energy Laboratory report – “U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment” – the authors estimate that it will require, on average, between 15,000 and 58,000 employees annually, depending on domestic content scenarios, to build out a huge new wind machine.Mariners and mariner training are integral to offshore wind.

16 Jun 2022

Updates, Developments and Advances in Combat and Patrol Craft

SBI completed an order last December for 52 Coastal Interceptor Vessels for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (Photo: SAFE Boats)

My first visit in 2007 to the American Society of Naval Engineers’ (ASNE) Multi-Agency Craft Conference (MACC) was an eye-opener. Having built a naval architecture career with frigates, destroyers and other large naval and commercial ships, I was eager to learn of the smaller craft used by the U.S. Navy and other government and military bodies. As my flight into Norfolk, Va. descended over Chesapeake Bay, I gazed in amazement as a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) raced toward Virginia Beach, slowed, glided up the beach and into its shore base.

12 Apr 2022

Seafarers’ House to Honor Carnival's Arnold W. Donald

Arnold W. Donald (Photo: Carnival Corporation)

Arnold W. Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation & PLC, has been selected as the recipient of Seafarers’ House International Golden Compass Award for 2022. The award is given each year to those who have achieved distinction in the maritime world, those whose vocation or avocation has been the sea, or those who have ministered to or otherwise assisted seafarers.Donald grew up in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans with 27 foster brothers and sister. His parents’ generosity made a significant impact on his life.

04 Feb 2022

Tug and Barge Transporting Munitions Run Aground on Florida Beach

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

A tug and barge ran aground Thursday night near Deerfield Beach, Fla., while transporting munitions from Port Canaveral to a U.S. Naval facility in the Bahamas.The U.S.-flagged tug Sea Eagle had four people on board when it began taking on water and went aground at 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) said. No injuries or pollution have been reported, and both the tug and barge are said to be in stable condition.Three of the crew members were rescued from the attached barge by Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO) rescue crews.

23 Dec 2021

US CBP Takes Delivery of Final 41-foot Patrol Boat

(Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) said it has accepted delivery on the last of 52 new coastal interceptor vessels.The new boat was contractually accepted by the agency on December 15, and it will arrive at AMO’s San Diego Air and Marine Branch in early 2022.AMO, which set out to streamline its aircraft and vessel acquisition and installation of technology applications as part of its Vision and Strategy 2030, has been replacing and upgrading its fleet of Midnight Express vessels.The acquisition contract…

12 Oct 2021

Machine Odyssey: Autonomous Voyage Around Denmark Halfway Complete

 The shore-side commanders of Nellie Bly celebrate the milestone achievement from their posts in the company's Boston, Mass., USA, remote command station. (Photo: Sea Machines)

A high-tech workboat is more than halfway through its record-setting journey to autonomously circumnavigate Denmark.The Nellie Bly, equipped with Sea Machines autonomous command and control systems, arrived in Laeso, Denmark on Saturday, marking the halfway point of the 1,000-nautical-mile autonomous voyage.The journey, which Sea Machines is calling "The Machine Odyssey", officially commenced on September 30, when the Nellie Bly departed Cuxhaven, Germany, (near Hamburg) for Denmark. The vessel has a crew on board but is being controlled by U.S. Coast Guard licensed officers in Boston.

06 Oct 2021

Maritime Trade Union Signs on Sea Machines' Autonomous Voyage Project

Deck officers Bridget Quinn and Adam Szloch remotely command the autonomous NELLIE BLY in Denmark from Sea Machines’ Boston control room. The SM300 provides the remote commanders with full shore-to-vessel connectivity and control and includes an active chart environment with live augmented data overlays, state of vessel, situational awareness and environmental data, as well as real-time, vessel-born audio and video from many streaming cameras. (Photo: Sea Machines)

U.S. Coast Guard licensed officers in Boston are commanding an autonomous workboat on a voyage around Denmark.The American Maritime Officers (AMO) trade union has entered into a labor agreement with autonomous command and control systems developer Sea Machines Robotics for the project, which will see AMO-represented merchant mariners support Sea Machines’ first-of-its-kind 1,000 NM autonomous journey.The voyage, which Sea Machines is calling "The Machine Odyssey", aims to prove the world’s waterways are primed and ready for long-range autonomous vessel operations…

15 Sep 2021

House Transportation Committee Funds Key Great Lakes Projects

The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot heavy icebreaker, breaks ice near Marine City, Mich., along the St. Clair River (Photo: Daniel R. Michelson / U.S. Coast Guard)

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday approved $1 billion for U.S. Coast Guard shore side infrastructure nationwide and $350 million for a heavy Great Lakes icebreaker as part of its budget reconciliation bill, an action that the Great Lake Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) called “great news for the Great Lakes.”The GLMTF described the heavy Great Lakes icebreaker as desperately needed and expects that a portion of the infrastructure funds will go to good…

13 Aug 2021

Maritime NZ Files Charges for Auckland Port Worker Death

Š Robert CHG / Adobe Stock

Maritime NZ has filed charges against Ports of Auckland Ltd (POAL) and an individual in relation to the death of a port worker almost a year ago.Pala’amo (Amo) Kalati was killed on August 30, 2020 after being crushed when a container was dropped during a lifting operation.The following charges have been filed in the Auckland District Court:POAL has been charged under sections 47, 48 and 90 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.An individual has been charged under sections 48 and 49 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

15 Jun 2018

DNV GL First Type Approval for Aluminium Cables Onboard Ships

As the competitive and economic pressure on the shipping and offshore industries continues to grow, owners, operators and yards are searching for every efficiency. To support its customers, DNV GL has developed the first type approval scheme for the use of aluminium cables and connectors onboard vessels. “This type approval represents another first for the DNV GL rule set and demonstrates our commitment to moving classification forward to help our customers,” says Geir Dugstad, Senior Vice President, Director of Ship Classification & Technical Director at DNV GL - Maritime. DNV GL’s new type approvals for aluminum cables and connectors allow expensive copper to be replaced with aluminum.

15 Jun 2018

DNV GL Issues First Type Approval for Aluminum Cables On Ships

Photo: DNV GL

As the competitive and economic pressure on the shipping and offshore industries continues to grow, owners, operators and yards are searching for every efficiency. To support its customers, DNV GL has developed the first type approval scheme for the use of aluminum cables and connectors on board vessels.“This type approval represents another first for the DNV GL rule set and demonstrates our commitment to moving classification forward to help our customers,” said Geir Dugstad, Senior Vice President, Director of Ship Classification & Technical Director at DNV GL - Maritime.

24 Aug 2017

MEBA, Liberty Maritime Spat Heats Up

Liberty Maritime responds to MEBA’s ‘Informational Picket’ against the U.S. flag operator. Coinciding with Liberty Maritime’s reflagging ceremony in the Golden Triangle; The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) this week staged what they characterized as an ‘informational picket’ today against Liberty Maritime Corp., to include Liberty Global Logistics (Liberty). Not so, says Bob Wellner, President of Liberty Global Logistics LLC (LGL), who weighed in this morning on the matter. In his own prepared comments, Wellner told Marinelink, “The MEBA agreement with Liberty Maritime only covers dry cargo vessels which are enrolled in the Maritime Security Program.

13 Apr 2017

Digital Marine Comms: Helping to Protect Our Borders

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) is responsible for security and facilitation operations at 328 ports of entry throughout the United States. Missions include the pursuit, boarding and searching of suspect vessels, seizing vessels and contraband, and arresting violators. It is a difficult and dangerous job. To that end, CBP recently selected SAFE Boats International to design and build a 41-foot Coastal Interceptor Vessel (CIV) that is up to the task. “The patrol boat market is really a specialty market,” said Janice Willis, Vice President Program Management at SAFE Boats. Among its many innovative features…

29 May 2016

CBP, AMO Unveils New Interceptor Vessel

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and SAFE Boat International celebrated the unveiling of AMO’s newest coastal interceptor vessel (CIV) Thursday. In honor of AMO’s historical legacy, this first CIV will be named the Alexandria, after of one of the first maritime law enforcement “Collectorships” used by the Department of Treasury in 1789. AMO marine interdiction agents will operate the CIV in offshore coastal waters to combat maritime smuggling and protect U.S. ports from acts of terrorism. The vessel will provide agents with requisite speed, maneuverability, and improved safety and comfort. It is equipped with a state-of-the-art marine navigational suite.

27 May 2016

SAFE Boats Delivers First CIV for Air and Marine Operations

Photo: SAFE Boats International

SAFE Boats International (SBI), a manufacturer of aluminum boats located in Bremerton, Wash., has completed the first Coastal Interceptor Vessel (CIV) on contract from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO). A naming ceremony was held at SAFE Boats International facilities on Thursday, May 26, 2016 to name the vessel the Alexandria as well as celebrate the first CIV as SBI’s 2,000 delivered craft. Invitees to the event included CBP Officials, Congressional staff members, local government officials and business people, equipment suppliers and media.

10 Jan 2016

CBP Air, Marine Operations Aircrews Detect 56 Migrants near Florida

So far in 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Air and Marine Operations (AMO) aircrews have detected six rustics (homemade boats) on the Florida Straits transporting 56 undocumented migrants from Cuba. On New Year’s Day, an Air and Marine Operations aircrew aboard a DHC-8 aircraft spotted the first two in a series of homemade boats. The aircrew alerted interagency partners to the vessels transporting four and two undocumented migrants, respectively, off the Florida coastline. On January 2, the DHC-8 crew detected and reported three additional rustic vessels, which prompted the subsequent interdiction by the U.S. Coast Guard. The three groups had 19, 12, and 8 migrants aboard each vessel, respectively, sailing in tandem a few nautical miles south of the Florida Keys.

20 Nov 2015

Chiarello, Cox and McKenna Named AOTOS Award Winners

The United Seamen's Service (USS) honored Anthony Chiarello, President and CEO of TOTE Inc.; Matthew J. Cox, President and CEO of Matson; and James C. McKenna, President and CEO of Pacific Maritime Association with the 2015 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Award. The maritime industry's most prestigious award was presented at the 46th annual gala held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, New York City, on November 13, 2015. At this gala, the recipients shared the evening with a group of American seafarers who were recognized by the USS for specific acts of bravery at sea. All three recipients shared a history of early family ties to the maritime industry. Mr. McKenna spoke of his father-in-law introducing him to the waterfront nearly 45 years ago. Mr.

31 Aug 2015

TOTE’s 2nd LNG Containership Launched

Perla del Caribe, the second of two LNG-fueled Marlin Class ships built by General Dynamics NASSCO for Tote, was launched at NASSCO’s yard in San Diego. (Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)

Shipping company TOTE and shipbuilder NASSCO on Saturday launched Perla del Caribe, the second of two Marlin Class ships – the first containerships in the world to be powered by natural gas. The christening and launch ceremony took place at General Dynamics NASSCO’s shipyard in San Diego. The 764-foot-long Perla del Caribe and sister ship, christened Isla Bella, are Jones Act vessels built for the Puerto Rican trade for TOTE Shipholdings and will be operated by TOTE subsidiary Sea Star Line out of Jacksonville, Fla.

26 Mar 2015

Kondracki Joins TOTE Services Leadership Team

TOTE Services has promoted Michael J. (Mick) Kondracki to director of labor relations and risk management effective March 16, 2015, as announced by the company’s president, Phil Greene, Jr.   In his new role, Kondracki will oversee risk management, human resources and promote the continued business relations with the Seafarers International Union (SIU) and the American Maritime Officers (AMO).   Kondracki joins the TOTE Services executive team with more than 26 years in the maritime industry in numerous executive roles.    He earned a BS in marine engineering from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, an MBA from the University of New Orleans, a Masters Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and a Diploma from the U.S. Naval War College, Staff & Command.

19 Mar 2014

C-Bird Provides VSAT Communications at Sea

Maritime Broadband’s C-Bird, a VSAT communications solution available for continuous connectivity at sea, is gaining wide acceptance among major companies in the shipping industry, the manufacturer said. The company recently added Enterprises (Greece), Hellespont (Germany) and Sobelmar (Belgium) to their growing list of key clients. Drynet (Hamburg), Dutch Marine (Rotterdam), Elektro Deniz (Istanbul), Telopsys (Athens) and Zener OneNet (Dubai) have joined as key distribution partners. Offering reliable service via the C-band satellite network available at affordable rates, Maritime Broadband’s C-Bird system enhances the operation and safety of ships…

24 Apr 2013

AMO Responds to Cruise Line Industry Criticisms

American Maritime Officers Association (AMO) president follows up on his recent appearance on FOX News Channel. The AMO president says his April 15 live appearance on FOX News Channel's segment, "Remembering Titanic 101 years Ago Today," which highlighted concerns about the rising tide of marine mishaps, has drawn undue criticism from the cruise ship industry's lobbying group, yet, has ignited overwhelming positive public and professional support of putting highly-trained AMO-member U.S. merchant mariners in command of more passenger vacation vessels. A few days after American Maritime Officers President Tom Bethel appeared on "FOX & Friends," the Cruise Lines International Association issued a news release in the form of an open letter from CEO Christine Duffy to Mr. Bethel.

08 May 2013

AMO Support Senator's Quest for Cruise Ship Information

The American Maritime Officers Association (AMO) supports Senator Rockefeller's approach to the Cruise Lines International Association. The American Maritime Officers Association, the nation's largest professional merchant marine organization, says the widely publicised letter by U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, demanding the cruise line industry answer questions and provide details about safety procedures, mechanical problems and the number of U.S. residents employed by each shipping company is a substantial step in generating public awareness and political support of AMO's efforts to put Americans in command of American-owned passenger vessels – vessels that are mostly commanded and crewed by foreigners. "Although the best-known cruise lines are publicly-traded U.S.

10 Jun 2013

Getting Real: Star Center Upgrades Bridge Simulator

Maritime training specialists, STAR Center, upgrades its bridge simulator for an unparalleled 360 degree training experience. Digital Projection International (DPI), an Emmy® Award-winning manufacturer of high-performance projection systems, Scalable Display Technologies, a leading provider of software for automatic edge-blending, and Electric Picture, a leading systems integrator recently collaborated on a significant system upgrade to STAR Center’s maritime training simulator in Dania Beach, FL. This upgrade resulted in increased imagery resolution and vertical coverage, improved color management and made overall system maintenance more efficient.