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Cape Flattery News

06 May 2022

US Coast Guard Cutter Cuttyhunk Decommissioned

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter CuttyHunk (WPB 1322) (File photo: Eli J. Medellin / U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cuttyhunk (WPB 1322) was decommissioned Thursday during a ceremony held at Air Station Port Angeles that was presided over by Capt. Mark McDonnell, 13th Coast Guard District Chief of Response.Cuttyhunk was one of the Coast Guard's 37 remaining 110-foot Island-class patrol boats. The fleet of Island-class cutters is being replaced by 154-foot Sentinel-class cutters built by Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards.Built by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La.

25 Feb 2016

Safe Cruising Down Under with Australian Reef Pilots

Pilot launch “MALU MAI” with Carnival Australia cruise ship Pacific Dawn in the background. Photo credit: Australian Reef Pilots Pty Ltd.

According to the Australian Reef Pilots (ARP), Australia is now the fourth biggest cruise market in the world. Part of the boom in cruising has to do with more specialty cruise ships coming to the region. The smaller size cruise ship segment seems purpose-designed to transit the remote waters of the Kimberley coast. However, larger-vessel cruise companies are now expressing interest in touring this remote and rugged north-west region as well as the Great Barrier Reef. In fact, the number of cruise ships using ARP’s services has increased by more than 89 percent since 2010.

12 Mar 2015

Cyclone Warning for Australian Ports

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued and update on Tropical Cyclone Nathan, which has formed in the Coral Sea off the East coast of Australia. It appears that Cairns North may be affected, and Cape Flattery is currently closed awaiting the cyclone to pass. However, at this stage, it does not appear the Queensland Coal Ports will be affected though there is the possibility of heavy rainfall once the cyclone dissipates. The Port of Dampier is at Cyclone Response Stage 3 – Clear Port, and is commencing to clear the port and anchorages of all large vessels 12 hours ahead of the anticipated onset of gale force winds. to enable large vessels to put to sea at short notice or small vessels to move onto their designated cyclone moorings at short notice.

11 Apr 2014

Severe Cyclone Ita heads towards Queensland

per hour. communities along the far north Queensland coast. GALES extending out to 200km from the centre. tonight and maintain cyclone intensity for longer into Saturday. at Port Douglas and Cairns during Saturday. Blue Alert – no major shipping. Red Alert – port is closed. Red Alert – port is closed. Blue Alert – precautions in place. Normal operations. Normal operations. severe weather in the next few days. directed by the Regional Harbour Master.

10 Apr 2014

Cyclone Warning for North Queensland

Map update courtesy of Australian Bureau of Metrology

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is advising of the approach of Cyclone Ita towards the North Queensland coast of Australia. Forecast to develop into a severe category level 4 tropical cyclone, it is expected to make landfall late on Friday, April 11 between the Lockhart River and Cape Flattery. With gale force winds and high sea levels predicted, warnings of potential floods to low lying areas are being issued. ISS Australia has provided the latest port update from the region and will continue to monitor the impact of the storm on behalf of shipowners and operators.

07 Aug 2013

Recent Vessel Sales

Below is a list of recent vessel sales prepared by Shipping Intelligence, Inc. as of August 1, 2013. Sale prices are listed in millions USD. 7/29/13 - GREAT SUMMIT - 33,700 - 05/8 - $16.

28 Sep 2012

186' Research Vessel Sold For Conversion

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington reports the sale of the U.S. flag research vessel, "Cape Flattery" from Tanadgusix Corporation (TDX), an Alaska Native village corporation out of Anchorage. The vessel was sold to U.S. Seafoods, a fishing and marketing company based in Seattle, Washington and operating off the coast of Alaska, on private terms. The 186' x 40'x 16' vessel was originally built in 1990 by McDermott Shipyards in Morgan City, Louisiana for the U.S. Navy as the torpedo trials vessel "YTT-9" for reportedly around $38 million.

28 Dec 2010

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – December 28

1835-The "Dade Battle" occurred when Seminole Indians ambushed and killed Major Francis Langhorne Dade and his Army command while they were on the march on Fort King Road from Fort Brooke to reinforce the troops at Fort King (Ocala). This battle was the immediate cause of the Second Seminole War, a war in which the Revenue Cutter Service played an important role. 1857-The light was first illuminated in the Cape Flattery Lighthouse, located on Tatoosh Island at the entrance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, Washington. "Because of Indian trouble it was necessary to build a blockhouse on Tatoosh Island before even commencing the construction of the lighthouse. 1903-An Executive Order extended the jurisdiction of the Lighthouse Service to the non-contiguous territory of the Hawaiian Islands.

11 Nov 2010

Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010

On Friday, October 15, President Obama signed into law the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (H.R. 3619). This is the first such authorization act for the Coast Guard since 2006. The statute is lengthy (128 pages) and addresses a wide variety of maritime issues. This article will attempt to identify those provisions expected to have the most impact or of the most interest. I have grouped these provisions into broad categories, although there is some natural overlap. The Coast Guard is provided specific authority to enforce the U.S. coastwise trade laws and its personnel are to be trained with regard to these laws. This provision is somewhat redundant, in that the agency, since its founding as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790, has had this authority.

27 Dec 2009

This Day in Coast Guard History – Dec. 28

1835-The "Dade Battle" occurred when Seminole Indians ambushed and killed Major Francis Langhorne Dade and his Army command while they were on the march on Fort King Road from Fort Brooke to reinforce the troops at Fort King (Ocala). This battle was the immediate cause of the Second Seminole War, a war in which the Revenue Cutter Service played an important role. 1857-The light was first illuminated in the Cape Flattery Lighthouse, located on Tatoosh Island at the entrance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, Washington. "Because of Indian trouble it was necessary to build a blockhouse on Tatoosh Island before even commencing the construction of the lighthouse. 1903-An Executive Order extended the jurisdiction of the Lighthouse Service to the non-contiguous territory of the Hawaiian Islands.

26 Feb 2009

Port Royal Grounding, Follow-Up

Divers from the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Navy have been working cooperatively over the course of this week to assess the extent of the grounding scar from USS Port Royal (CG 73) and to undertake emergency restoration activities on the impacted reef. Meanwhile, the guided-missile cruiser entered drydock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Feb. 18 to repair damage sustained when it ran aground the night of Feb. 5 a half-mile off Honolulu Airport's Reef Runway. After three unsuccessful attempts, the Pearl Harbor ship was refloated early Feb.

19 Dec 2007

Tug Assists Vessel Towing Fuel

Crowley Maritime Corporation's tugboat Gladiator, the state-funded seasonal emergency response tug stationed at Neah Bay, Wash., was dispatched last week to assist a tug towing a loaded oil barge after the vessel temporarily lost its primary electrical power and steering. The Na Hoku was headed down Washington's outer coast when its primary electrical generator engine failed about 12.5 miles west of Cape Flattery. The 105-foot tug was towing a fuel barge containing more than two million gallons of diesel fuel and about a half million gallons of gasoline. Jensen noted the state has contracted to station a standby emergency response tug at Neah Bay since spring 1999.

29 Sep 2003

RRF Ship Completes Readiness Activation Exercise

MARAD announced that the SS Cape Flattery completed readiness activation exercises. The ship was berthed in the Beaumont Reserve Fleet. Schubert said, "Readiness exercises such as these keep our ships in shape to provide the support our Armed Forces need. Forty ships of the RRF provided sealift for the Iraqi conflict, and they had an operational reliability record of 98 percent. Turbo Activations, sponsored and monitored by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.S. Transportation Command, are made without notice. For these exercises, RRF ships are directed to shift from their assigned readiness status of 4, 5, 10 or 20 days to a fully crewed status, with the quarters made habitable and cargo gear ready. Activations are often followed immediately by a sea trial.

14 Jun 2002

Cascade General Completes Upgrades to M.V. Columbia

The 418 ft. ferry M.V. Columbia, owned by the State of Alaska, has returned to service on the Bellingham-Skagway run after a winter layover at Cascade General. The thirty-year old ship emerged from the Portland Shipyard with a re-designed restaurant and cafeteria, re-furbished car-deck doors, renovated solarium, and with a laundry conveyor/elevator installed above the car deck. Both food-service areas were re-built from the deck up, with new floors, carpets, booths, Gage ceilings, and designer lighting. The restaurant dining room features an 11 ft.-diameter dome light over a buffet counter, stainless steel case work, and an improved layout for the serving staff. The restaurant galley's cooking equipment was all upgraded, and now vents into a full-length Gaylord stainless steel hood.

13 Dec 2004

Statement from IMC on Selendang Ayu Incident

With deep regret, by late Friday night, IMC had formally accepted that the six seafarers who remain missing following the crash of a United States Coast Guard’s rescue helicopter must now be presumed dead. Peter Chew, Group Managing Director of IMC made a statement through the Joint Command Information Centre following the Coast Guard’s announcement that the Search and Rescue operation was halted by nightfall on Friday. IMC continues to mourn its missing men and is doing all it can for their families and loved ones. Frederick Chavalit Tsao, the IMC Chairman, arrived in Alaska on Saturday morning to see the crew of the Selendang Ayu and meet all involved in the emergency operations. On Sunday he was in Juneau to meet Admiral James C.

04 Feb 2005

Bulk Carrier Grounds Off Hawaii

HONOLULU - The Coast Guard continues to monitor a grounded ship at the entrance to Barbers Point Harbor. The Cape Flattery and crew were inbound to Barbers Point Harbor at about 7 a.m. to offload cement when it ran aground about 400 yards from the entrance. The current plan is for the ship's owner to complete a salvage plan and have all necessary tugs in place before a high tide at about 8 p.m. The four tugs are on scene to assist in refloating the Cape Flattery. At this point there is no apparent pollution or hull damage. Coast Guard inspectors are currently interviewing the captain and crew and investigating the cause of the accident. The Coast Guard Cutter Washington remains on scene with the Cape Flattery as a communications platform and to monitor any developments.

08 Feb 2005

Cape Flattery Still Aground, Cargo Removal Suspended

(Honolulu) Operations to remove portions of the cement cargo from the Cape Flattery, which is aground near the entrance of Barbers Point Harbor, were suspended Sunday afternoon because of unsafe sea conditions. The Unified Command continues to monitor the efforts to safely remove the Cape Flattery. Prior to suspending operations, salvage crews were able to remove approximately 30 percent of the granular cement necessary to refloat the vessel. Offloading operations will continue when weather conditions permit. The local crane and barge companies assisting with offloading operations are currently moored at Barbers Point Harbor. During routine soundings Sunday, the ship's crew discovered sea water in one of the empty fuel tanks.

06 Jun 2006

Coast Guard: Captain Negligent in 2005 Ship Run Aground

According to reports, an investigation by the Coast Guard says negligence by the captain caused a cargo ship to run aground near Barbers Point Harbor, Hawaii last year. The 555-ft. Cape Flattery hit a reef. The ship was moved eight days later after the removal of 128,000 gallons of fuel and about 9,000 tons of granulated cement. The Coast Guard's report listed the captain's mistakes, including failing to wait for a local harbor pilot to guide the ship into port and not responding to the pilot's radioed commands to change course.

02 Jan 2007

New Tug Put to Work on First Day of Job

It didn't take long for the state to make use of a new rescue tug stationed at the northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula. Just before midnight on New Year's Eve, a wooden fishing vessel with two men and hundreds of gallons of fuel on board was reported drifting near Cape Alava, the scenic beach in Olympic National Park about 10 miles south of Cape Flattery. The new tug, owned by Crowley Marine Services and named Gladiator, was not scheduled to take over from a Foss Maritime tug until midnight. But it had arrived at its new station by 11 p.m. and responded when the call came in. The Gladiator towed the disabled vessel into Neah Bay and turned it over to the Coast Guard, the state Ecology Department said Monday in a statement.

11 Apr 2007

Study on Cruise Ships' Waste Will Continue

According to the PI Reporter, work will continue on a study of whether it is feasible and desirable for the 150 Alaska-bound cruise ships that visit Seattle's waterfront every summer to pump their wastewater ashore rather than dumping it in the ocean. The study is being undertaken by the county's wastewater division and the Port of Seattle in light of the new $60 million cruise terminal being developed by the port at Terminal 91 in Interbay. The new terminal is set to debut in April 2008. A separate project to expand its capacity for handling storm water and sewage at Interbay could be outfitted to transmit the summer cruise waste to Magnolia's West Point Treatment Plant.

14 Feb 2005

Capre Flattery Rrefloated

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Press Release stating that the bulk carrier CAPE FLATTERY has been refloated off the reef near Barbers Point, Hawaii. The salvage effort required removal of most of the fuel oil and about 9,000 metric tons of the granular cement cargo. No pollution was reported. The investigation into the casualty continues. Source: HK Law