French Fishermen Block British boat off St Malo Amid Fishing Licenses Row
French fishermen blocked a British cargo vessel from docking in a Brittany port on Friday, in protest at what they say are moves by authorities in London and Jersey to withhold licenses to fish in British waters under a post-Brexit deal.The fishermen held aloft red flares as they circled their boats outside Saint-Malo to block the Normandy Trader's path - a prelude to a planned blockade later on Friday of Calais and the Channel Tunnel, both major transport hubs for trade between Britain and continental Europe.The one-hour Saint-Malo protest and the larger action further east along France's coast risk reigniting a dispute between the…
UK Sends Navy Boats to Jersey After France Threatens Blockade
Britain is sending two navy patrol boats to the British Channel Island of Jersey after France suggested it could cut power supplies to the island if its fishermen are not granted full access to U.K. fishing waters under post-Brexit trading terms.Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged his "unwavering support" for the island after he spoke with Jersey officials about the prospect of the French blockade.Johnson "stressed the urgent need for a de-escalation in tensions," a spokesperson for Johnson said. "As a precautionary measure the U.K.
Condor Ferries Sells 2 Vessels to Greek Firm
Condor Ferries has confirmed it is selling two ferries - Condor Vitesse and Condor Express - to make way for the new super ferry. The vessels, built in Tasmania in 1997 and 1998, have been sold to Greek firm Seajets for an undisclosed sum. The two ferries currently operate between Guernsey, Jersey and the U.K. They will be replaced on the service by a GBP50mln Austal-class vessel, which was bought earlier this year, and has yet to be given a name. Due to the size of the vessel, known as Condor 102, the company will no longer sail to Weymouth and will only go to Poole. The company said that Vitesse is no longer required on the U.K. to Channel Island routes and will be delivered to a new owner at the end of February.
Port Hosts 2nd Annual Career Day
The Port of Hueneme held a Maritime Career Exploration Day at the Port on Wednesday. Attendees came to meet and talk with representatives of a half dozen companies doing business at the Port, groups that represented everything from a major shipping line to GAPS, an automobile processors. The event was held at the Port’s newly renovated Joint Operations and Security Center just outside the Port’s main entrance. In addition to the table displays, presentations were made by representatives of Del Monte, which imports fresh fruit through the Port, the Port administration and a recruiter for the National Maritime Academy at Kingspoint New York. The Career Exploration Day was the brainchild of Commissioner Jason Hodge.
This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – January 31
1942- HMS Culver (ex-CGC Mendota--she was one of the "Lake" Class cutters transferred to the Royal Navy in 1941 under the Lend-Lease program) was torpedoed and sunk with 13 survivors. 1948- Mrs. Fannie M. Salter, keeper of the Turkey Point Lighthouse in upper Chesapeake Bay since 1925 and the last woman keeper of a lighthouse in the United States, retired from active service. The first woman had been hired as a lighthouse keeper 150 years before. Salter's retirement temporarily closed the tradition of women serving as keepers at lighthouses. 1975-CGC Vigorous (WMEC-627) became the first cutter to make a seizure of a foreign-flag fishing vessel in the high seas when she seized the Italian fishing vessel Tontini Pesca Cuarto for illegally taking lobster.
Antifouling Paint Helps USCG Sink Maintenance Costs
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has reduced maintenance costs by minimizing the time spent on ship bottom refurbishing, with the help of E Paint Company of East Falmouth, Mass. E Paint SN-1 coating provides USCG vessels with well-balanced control over a wide array of common soft and hard fouling species. Vessels coated with E Paint SN-1 solventborne antifouling paint can operate for up to two years before they must be hauled, pressure-washed and repainted. This is longer than is possible with virtually all approved non-metallic biocide antifouling paint. Extending the interval between maintenance significantly reduces vessel downtime.
Tongass Narrows and Ketchikan: Safety Zone and Anchorage Ground
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a final rule amending its prior interim rule regarding waters in the vicinity of Tongass Narrows and Ketchikan. The area impacted by the seven-knot speed limit has been extended northward to Channel Island, but seaplanes and small boats have been exempted. Certain waters in Ketchikan Harbor have been designated an anchorage ground. The final rule comes into effect on May 20. 70 Fed. Reg. 20471 (HK Law)
Channel Island Cruises Choose Teknicraft Catamaran Design
Brodie’s company, which has a transportation concession for the Channel Islands National Park, currently operates four single-hull 49-passenger boats. The new 149-passenger 65- x 24-ft. Cummins-powered catamaran Islander, delivered in mid March, will replace two of the smaller vessels. The new vessel features a range of environmentally friendly features such as high boxes around the fuel filler fittings to catch overspill. It also has non-toxic high polish bottom paint. Aluminum boat builder All American Marine, of Bellingham, Wash., has a partnership with Auckland, New Zealand’s naval architect Nic de Waal for the exclusive building rights to his unique Teknicraft catamaran designs on the U.S. west coast.
