Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Port Captains News

27 Nov 2023

Swire Projects Launches Transpacific Semi Liner Service

Source: Swire Projects

Swire Projects, the projects and heavy lift shipping arm of Swire Shipping, has officially launched a dedicated semi liner service connecting East Asia with the West Coast of North America.Previously offered on an ad hoc basis, the service will provide enhanced cargo connectivity and support the growing demand for reliable breakbulk and project cargo transportation into the West Coast and a gateway to the interior of the Continent avoiding the need to route cargo via the Panama Canal.Swire Projects' semi liner service connects the base ports of Qingdao and Taicang in China and ports en route…

29 Jun 2023

After Years of Delay, Alaskan Ferry Hubbard Finally Christened

First Lady Rose Dunleavy christens MV Hubbard with Ethan Waldvogel, Hubbard Relief Captain. Photo by Dawn Millen, AMHS. (Photo: Alaska DOT)

Hubbard, a new ferry built in 2019 for Alaska's Marine Highway System (AMHS), was formally christened this week after a change of plans put the vessel's entry into service on hold.The vessel is the second of two Alaska class ferries designed by Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group and constructed at Vigor Shipyard in Ketchikan, Alaska. Construction of both vessels began in October 2014. The series' first ferry, Tazlina, was christened in 2018, and Hubbard was completed in 2019.Intended to operate as day boats to serve the AMHS Lynn Canal route between Juneau…

06 Apr 2020

Diego Aponte: MSC CEO Offers Insight on COVID-19 Impact

Photo: MSC

In an open letter posted on the MSC website, MSC Group President & CEO Diego Aponte offered public comment and perspective on the COVID-19 situation for MSC's cargo business. “The spread of COVID-19 has created a public health issue unprecedented in our lifetimes, triggering an unexpected shock for societies and economies,” said Aponte.Calling the industry “as an essential cog for global trade” Aponte’s recognizes his company’s role in helping to keep products moving while taking…

07 Aug 2019

New Heavy Weight Record for Jumbo

Photo: Jumbo

Jumbo Kinetic recently lifted a giant 1,929 tonne Wash Tower, the heaviest cargo ever lifted by Jumbo.Samsung Engineering booked Jumbo to transport an ultra-heavy Wash Tower and 4 columns, including transport saddles, for the JUPC project in Saudi Arabia. The specialized Jumbo team handled the safe loading, sea fastening, and transportation of the 4 columns from Zhangjiagang, China and the Wash tower from Pyeongtaek, Korea to Jubail in Saudi Arabia.The Wash Tower weighs 1,929…

10 Jan 2017

Seaspan Marine Names Hilder Marine Operations VP

Paul Hilder (Photo: Seaspan Marine)

Seaspan announced the appointment of Paul Hilder to Vice President, Marine Operations. As a member of Seaspan’s senior leadership team, Hilder will oversee the operational efficiency and safety of the company’s vessels and marine crews. Working in collaboration with Port Captains, Dispatch and the Regulatory & Compliance departments, Hilder will also oversee and monitor ongoing operational and training issues in order to reduce potential risks and liabilities to the company. Hilder has a long, storied past in the BC marine industry.

06 Sep 2016

New Deck Carrier Joins United Heavy Lift Fleet

Deck carrier MV Vir Varenya (Photo: United Heavy Lift)

J.M. J.M. Baxi Group, a 100-year-old group of companies specializing in maritime logistics and port infrastructure, has commissioned United Heavy Lift for the commercial management of its newly constructed deck carrier, the MV Vir Varenya. The heavy-lift module carrier has now been added to the charter fleet of United Heavy Lift, and is managed globally from the company's head office in Hamburg. United Heavy Lift, which specializes in project transportation and the commercial management of heavy cargo vessels…

24 Dec 2014

FMT Embraces Electronic Records Management

After Testing Records Technology Waters, Tug and Barge Company Jumps In. Shortly after Florida Marine Transporters CIO Don Carlton installed an electronic records management system for Kimberly Hidalgo, the tow service company’s head of Compliance, he suspected there might be other department heads interested in the new software. But, when Hidalgo’s department cut dozens of hours every week from staff time spent pulling paperwork from rooms full of filing cabinets while also automating complex administrative operations with the new system, Carlton knew all department heads would be interested.

17 Jun 2014

VSM Expands Post Fixture Vessel Services

Capt Ranjan Mookherjee Vega Ships Management

Established in 2008 in Dubai, Vega Ships Management announces the global expansion of their all-encompassing vessel post fixture services into the world wide shipping market. Vega Ships Management offers Vessel Post Fixture Commercial Operation services, headquartered in Dubai, with Port Captains based in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. VSM is manned by Master Mariners and Professionals of the Shipping Industry with years of experience, and provides services which meet and exceeds the needs and requirements of charterers and ship owners alike.

10 Jun 2013

Metro Handles Wind Turbine Blades in Galveston

Metro Ports provides stevedore and terminal handling services for Siemens Energy Inc.’s export wind turbine blade projects through the Port of Galveston. Siemens plans to export 246 53-meter blades between May and July 2013. These wind turbine blades, manufactured by Siemens in Fort Madison, Iowa, and destined for three wind projects in Brazil, are being transported via the BNSF Railway. Inherent in the movement of these longer blades is a complex transportation and logistics process that takes team work and proper coordination across multiple organizations to assure damage free results. For example, the Port of Galveston rehabilitated and modified two existing rail track spurs and added two rail track spurs in order to accommodate oversized wind project cargo.

30 May 2013

Panama Canal Boarding Facility Inspections

The Panama Canal Authority will hold its annual "Safe Boarding Week" from 8 to 12 July 2013. During the week it will highlight and encourage safe boarding practices on all vessels arriving in the waterway. Activities will involved inspections of boarding facilities by teams representing groups who normally board vessels, such as Canal port captains, pilots, transit vessel inspectors, chemists, admeasurers, deckhands and ships' agents. Vessels at Cristobal and Balboa anchorages will be boarded to inspect their boarding facility arrangements, and Masters will be provided with the inspection results. Those vessels deserving special recognition for excellence will be presented with plaques that will be delivered immediately after inspection.

08 Dec 2011

Foss Tows Drilling Rig to AK Winter Harbor

Jackup drilling rig successfully navigated through Cook Inlet. Foss Maritime Co. tugs Justine Foss and Jeffrey Foss have completed a successful tow of a jackup drilling rig to its winter harbor in Port Graham, Alaska. The Spartan 151 jackup drilling rig was moved from its drill site at Nikiski, in the Cook Inlet, which becomes choked with ice during the winter. Gary Faber, president and COO of Foss Maritime, said the successful tow underscores the company's competence in navigating…

01 Jul 2010

ZF: Information for Vessels in Oil Affected Waters

ZF Marine, in recognition of the large number of vessels operating in support of the oil containment and clean up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, offers the following information to fleets operating ZF Marine transmissions with raw water cooling systems. ZF Marine understands that operation of the vessels in these waters cannot be avoided. As such, Chief Engineers, and Port Captains should consider taking the following actions to maximize transmission cooler life. 1.             Adhere to the cooler cleaning regimen outlined in the operator’s service manual. 2.             Transmissions not equipped with an oil temperature monitoring system should have it installed as soon as possible.

29 Jun 2010

Crowley Trains Kuwaiti Navy on the Z-Drive Technology

Photo courtesy Crowley Maritime

A Crowley Maritime Corporation team recently trained seven Kuwaiti Navy mariners in operations aboard the first of two newly built Z-Drive harbor tugs the navy will take delivery of this year. The 30-day training session was designed to help the mariners learn how to operate the new boat safely while maximizing its features and performance. The two 67-ft Z-Drive tugs were ordered by Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and are being built by Rozema Boat Works, Inc., of Mt. Vernon, Wash. The first tug, Warjiya, was completed in April and the second tug is scheduled for delivery in Sept.

28 May 2010

Training Bursaries for Harbour Master, Port Captains

IBC Global Academy has announced the availability of training bursaries for the international Diploma for Harbour Masters course. This unique course addresses the theoretical knowledge required by the profession and is popular with both Harbour Masters and Port Captains wishing to update their professional knowledge as well as wider marine department personnel who work in support of a Harbour Master. The course attracts students from around the world and is also popular with seagoing personnel looking to prepare for a move ashore into a port authority role or other maritime safety focus. The bursary application deadline is 11th June 2010.

12 Feb 2009

Viking Expands Facilities & Services

Viking Life-Saving Equipment West Coast Sales Manager, John Sanford

Viking Life-Saving Equipment announced its Seattle, Washington Service Station is moving to a larger, 6,000 sq ft facility on the Duwamish Waterway. The new location will open March 1st and ensure better access to the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle. Recently appointed, John Sanford will head the company's Seattle branch office and lead the West Coast sales division. Viking managing director of the Americas Al Osle made the announcement. The new station is equipped to service Viking's entire line of products, including the Marine Evacuation Systems currently installed on many major cruise ships.

05 Apr 2004

Port Captains, Port Engineers Not Managerial Employees

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that port captains and port engineers are not managerial employees for purpose of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). In the instant case, a labor union filed a representation petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking an election to become the exclusive bargaining agent for the port captains and port engineers employed by the employer. The employer opposed the petition and, when the NLRB ordered an election and the union won, the employer refused to bargain. The employer sought judicial review of the NLRB order. After reviewing the duties of the port captains and port engineers…

31 Jul 2002

AWO and U.S. Coast Guard Introduce CEMS

The American Waterways Operators (AWO) and the U.S. (CEMS) to towing company personnel. The system, developed by the Coast Guard's Research and Development Center with cooperation from AWO member companies, is designed as a comprehensive approach to alertness in the industry. Alertness Campaign, which has been ongoing since 1999. Crew alertness is at the top of the Coast Guard's and AWO's priority list of safety initiatives. light management. The goal of the workshop was to facilitate the development of company-specific CEMS plans by participants. A guide on crew endurance is expected to be distributed in September. for the CEMS. One of those, American Commercial Barge Lines (ACBL), has already implemented the CEMS on several vessels in its fleet.

09 Sep 2002

AWO and U.S. Coast Guard Introduce CEMS

The American Waterways Operators (AWO) and the U.S. Coast Guard recently co-sponsored a workshop to introduce the Crew Endurance Management System (CEMS) to towing company personnel. The system, developed by the Coast Guard's Research and Development Center with cooperation from AWO member companies, is designed as a comprehensive approach to alertness in the industry. The workshop, held July 17-18 in Houston, complements the Coast Guard-AWO Safety Partnership's Crew Alertness Campaign, which has been ongoing since 1999. Crew alertness is at the top of the Coast Guard's and AWO's priority list of safety initiatives. The workshop aimed to increase the awareness of factors affecting alertness…

20 Nov 2002

Inland Maritime Must Prove Risk Management

Warning that improving safety trends were no cause for complacency, shoreside maritime leaders were told that the industry safety records were "totally unacceptable" by John Rose, General Manager Shipping Shell Trading (US). He expressed his opinion during a keynote address at the Professional Development Seminar for Port Captains, Marine Superintendents, Operations Managers, Safety & Training Specialists and Port Engineers sponsored by the Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) on October 22-23 at its Center in Paducah, Ky. "The number of fatalities in this industry is simply unforgivable," he said to an audience of 44 shoreside professionals from 22 different companies. "This is an industry with a safety record which indicates it is close to crisis.

02 Sep 1999

Regional Examination Centers on Borrowed Time

The USCG currently admits its Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are broken and don't provide the service needed to the maritime public. The USCG believes drastic measures are needed to change the system enough so they can repair it and make it more workable. Unfortunately, the drastic modifications proposed do not seem to address what are perceived as problems by maritime users of the RECs. While many in the USCG indicate no final decisions have been made, it certainly appears the USCG fully intends to privatize the license/Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD) examinations as a first step toward closing all RECs and centralizing all administrative processing at one location nationwide.

10 Jun 2003

Evergreen America Corporation Withdraws NLRB Suit

National Labor Relations Board. United States Court of Appeals by the company. port captains are managers ineligible for ILA representation. containerships calling at East Coast ports. shippers have been affected by this labor action. to company spokesperson Barbara Spector Yeninas. the bargaining table and an immediate resumption of service,² she said. York/New Jersey on May 14. Baltimore and sporadically in Charleston, Savannah and Port Everglades.

12 Jun 2003

Work Resumes after Evergreen and ILA Negotiations

Marine Corporation following a four-week work stoppage. pending before the National Labor Relations Board. The handling of cargo containers and ships coming in and out of the U.S. America’s port captains. issues² before them. understanding on a number if issues. other meetings will continue during the next several weeks. Bowers and the ILA,” said a company spokesperson, Barbara Yeninas. she said.

11 Jun 2003

ILA and Evergreen End Disputes with MOA

The International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO (ILA) and Evergreen America Corporation (EGA) ended a month long dispute with a memorandum of agreement signed this morning. The agreement contains essential terms demanded by the union on behalf of the Port Captains and Engineer whom it represents, pursuant to an NLRB certification. The striking Port Captains will promptly be returned to their jobs and to the work that they regularly performed will not be reduced, a charge that the ILA alleges had occurred. As a result of entering into this Memorandum of Agreement, the International is discontinuing its picketing of the employer's operation.