McManus Named T/S Empire State VI Master
SUNY Maritime College has appointed Captain Morgan McManus as the Master of the T/S Empire State VI. An alumnus of SUNY Maritime College, Captain McManus graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in Marine Transportation.Captain McManus has over 12 years’ experience sailing as Master including on the SS Cape Jacob, the sister ship to T/S Empire State VI. His sailing career has taken him on various types of commercial ships including steam, motor, breakbulk, container, car carriers, tankers, and cutting-edge dynamic positioned drill ships.
US$2-Million Jones Act Settlement for Seaman
Houston-based maritime law firm Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris recently obtained what is believed to be one of the largest settlements paid by the United States to a Jones Act seaman. According to court documents, their client, a 58-year-old seaman was working aboard the S.S. Cape Jacob, a military supply ship owned by the United States and operated by private contractor Matson Navigation, Inc.The vessel was docking in the port of Jangu, South Korea, on Aug. 2, 2010, when the man alleged that he was ordered to secure mooring lines to the dock.
MARAD Marks Opening of First West Coast Ship Recycling Facility
On Friday, Feb. 18, at 10:00 a.m. PST, U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda will join Congressman George Miller and state and local officials in a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the first ship recycling facility on the West Coast. Allied Defense Recycling is expecting to bring more than 100 jobs to the community. The new facility will increase overall domestic capacity for ship recycling and help expedite the cleanup of the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Administrator Matsuda will travel to Alameda where, at 4:00 p.m., he will present the Administrator’s Professional Ship Award to the captain and crew of the Cape Jacob for supporting sealift operations in the Far East and Middle East. When: Friday, Feb. 10:00 a.m.
Civilian Ship Supports Operation Enduring Freedom
SS Cornhusker State arrived May 1 at Newport News, Va., after six months deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The civilian-crewed crane ship was the only ship of the Navy and Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force activated specifically to support the war in Afghanistan. The Ready Reserve Force is a fleet of 76 militarily useful ships maintained in reduced operating status by the Maritime Administration near potential load ports around the country. When activated, these civilian-crewed ships come under the operational control of the Navy's Military Sealift Command. Cornhusker State was activated last November to transport and provide floating storage for ammunition to sustain the war effort.
Matson Awarded MARAD Ship Management Contracts for Three Ready Reserve Vessels
Matson Navigation Company has been awarded ship management contracts by the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) for three ships in its Ready Reserve Fleet. Two of the vessels, SSs Comet and Meteor, are ro-ro ships that are currently in reduced operating status (ROS) in Alameda, California and the third, SS Cape Jacob, is a break bulk vessel in full operating status (FOS) on duty with the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command's Pre-Position Program. The contract for the ROS vessels is for four years, with two three-year extensions possible, and the FOS vessel contract is for one year, with potential for two one-year extensions.
