Coastal Voyages News

Efforts to get fuel supplies to areas in the United States facing shortages have been slowed because shipowners have mothballed U.S.-flagged oil tankers that can make coastal voyages, shipping sources said on Wednesday.The shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline network to thwart a cyber attack has disrupted nearly half the East Coast's fuel supply and left parts of the southeast facing a severe shortage of gasoline and diesel. Colonial said it began to restart on Wednesday but warned it would take several days for fuel supply chain to return to normal.Pump prices have risen to a seven-year high as motorists rush to fill their tanks.One way…

Wage theft aboard a BlueScope chartered foreign-flagged ship in Port Kembla has been exposed after intervention from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).Inspections by ITF inspectors in Western Port and Port Kembla of the Panamanian registered vessel KEN EI, in January, led to $38,384 in coastal wages being paid immediately in cash to the 20 Filipino seafarers crewing the ship.“Upon arriving in Western Port, the crew on the KEN EI immediately asked our inspector about claims for payment for two coastal voyages and requested that the ITF contact the shipowner as they had no correspondence or indication that they would be paid by either the shipowner or charterers BlueScope and Rio Tinto…

It is not business as usual in the world where we do business. Things are changing. Even regulations themselves are changing from less prescriptive in nature to more performance-based. As Chairman, President and CEO of a global classification and technology-centric company that operates in 70 countries with 5,000 employees, I am continually assessing the impact of these changes on the capabilities ABS needs to fulfill its mission and maintain its leadership position in the maritime, offshore and government industries it serves. To know where we are heading, we have to know where we began.

In the future, autonomous ships may have a central role to play in Denmark. A pre-analysis made by the Danish Technological University (DTU) and the Danish Maritime Authority points to the need to develop technological solutions. As the entire transport sector vigorously strives to develop autonomous solutions, many developments have come a long way, especially for cars and trucks. The shipping industry too will see more new autonomous technology solutions, just as drone technology will become more widespread. The Danish Maritime Authority has therefore cooperated with the DTU to consider the development potential of autonomous ships in more detail. “Blue Denmark must – just as the rest of the Danish business sector – be frontrunners within technological developments.

To protect the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia’s north-west region, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to establish an area ships should avoid. A new AMSA Marine Notice will recommend ships keep at least two nautical miles from the edge of Ningaloo Reef at its narrowest part, and between eight and 12 nautical miles from the reef along the remainder of the Ningaloo Coast section to reduce the risk of shipping accidents and help protect the World Heritage listed region from ship-sourced pollution.

Regulatory burdens, those here and now coming, translate into a tale of many acronyms. By Matthew Valcourt (taken from our September 2011 MarineNews print edition). The latest trend to further regulate vessel emissions and discharges will continue to give vessel owners and operators – already burdened with numerous regulations when plying international and inland waters – more sleepless nights. These include the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), the Clean Water Act (CWA)…

In late November 2003, ABD Enterprises of North Vancouver, BC, delivered the 69 ft. (21 m) aluminum crewboat/passenger ferry Tsimshian Storm to North-Co-Corp. Ferry Services Ltd. of Prince Rupert, BC. The vessel was designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, BC to serve the Northern BC Coast First Nations communities of Kitkatla, Metlakatla, and Hartley bay, out of a base at Prince Rupert. Of all aluminum construction, the Tsimshian Storm is configured to carry 45 persons with generous seating space, and two tons of deck cargo. It is operated on coastal voyages with a crew of two persons. The aft deck and main cabin are at the same level to enable use of wheelchairs, and to serve for MedEvac purposes as required.

In the fall of 1999, American Classic Voyages (AMCV) announced plans to almost singlehandedly revive the business of building cruise ships in the United States. Critics claimed it couldn’t be done, but the ships steadily took shape on the building ways in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Two years, a sour economy and horrific terrorist attacks later, the dream of building cruise ships in the U.S. is seemingly dead, as AMCV filed for Chapter 11 and the Maritime Administration is unwilling, at press time, to fund the ships further. While the cruise industry was hurting prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, the industry has been put into a seemingly perpetual tailspin as economic woes and fear of travel have conspired to leave ships far from full capacity.

Since beginning his cruise industry career as Royal Caribbean's first ever marketing director — Roderick K. (Rod) McLeod has been an instrumental force in the cruise industry. He now heads up what is arguably the world’s most watched cruise ship newbuild program. Having a discussion with Rod McLeod is like talking to an old friend that you haven't been in touch with for awhile. Even though you may have not spoken for months — or even years — you always manage to find enough to talk about. That was the case when McLeod recently spoke with MR/EN regarding his current endeavors as president and COO of AMCV, as well as his past experiences — both professionally and personally.

American Classic Voyages (AMCV) has issued $76.4 million of bonds guaranteed by the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation (MarAd). The financing will be utilized for the construction of two coastal cruise vessels that will be built at Atlantic Marine, Jacksonville, Fla., for Delta Queen Coastal Voyages - a subsidiary of AMCV. MarAd's guarantee is made possible under the authority of Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 - it represents approximately 87.5 percent of the total anticipated cost of the two coastal vessels - which includes shipyard and design costs, vessel furniture and fixtures, and interest during construction and guarantee fees. The vessels covered under the funding are known as Cape May Light and Cape Cod Light.

American Classic Voyages (AMCV) has issued $76.4 million of bonds guaranteed by the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation (MarAd). The financing will be utilized for the construction of two coastal cruise vessels that will be built at Atlantic Marine, Jacksonville, Fla., for Delta Queen Coastal Voyages - a subsidiary of AMCV. MarAd's guarantee is made possible under the authority of Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 - it represents approximately 87.5 percent of the total anticipated cost of the two coastal vessels - which includes shipyard and design costs, vessel furniture and fixtures, and interest during construction and guarantee fees. The vessels covered under the funding are known as Cape May Light and Cape Cod Light.

Just five months after the shipyard launch of Delta Queen Coastal Voyages' first vessel, the second ship in the new fleet was christened at Atlantic Marine, Inc., in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, November 17, 2000. The 226-passenger coastal vessel will inaugurate nine cruise itineraries featuring the Great Lakes, Canadian Maritime Provinces and U.S. eastern seaboard in 2001. The ship launched Friday, the CV Cape Cod Light, will debut Aug. 4, 2001; its sister ship, CV Cape May Light, will enter service on May 5, 2001.

American Classic Voyages Co. subsidiaries Delta Queen will trim its upcoming cruise schedule by a combined total of 27 cruises. Delta Queen Coastal Voyages will eliminate three cruises in 2001. Also, the 2002 summer and fall schedule of the 174-passenger Delta Queen will be enhanced to meet passenger demand for more variety. Moody's Investors Service confirmed the A2 senior ratings of Carnival Corporation, but changed the rating outlook to negative reflecting the uncertain economic and industry conditions that the company faces in the wake of the attacks on the U.S. Moody's believes the events of September 11 will further stress industry conditions that were already suffering from price weakness.

(This is Part II of a two-part series on the Articulated Tug Barge from Robert P. Hill. Why The ATB? The ATB, or "Articulated Tug/Barge" unit is designed to combine the economics of tugboat and barge operation with the speed and weather-reliability of a ship. A hallmark of this concept that makes it different from the ITB or "Integrated Tug/Barge" is the fact that both the tug and the barge are truly independent vessels able to operate successfully even if not together. The tug is a full ABS or internationally-classed ocean tug, capable of meeting all SOLAS regulations where required. It can be made capable of towing and other traditional tug missions.

American Classic Voyages Co. has appointed Scott G. McGinnis vice president of marketing for its Delta Queen product group, which includes Delta Queen Steamboat Company and Delta Queen Coastal Voyages. McGinnis is responsible for all marketing activity on behalf of Delta Queen Steamboat Company's four riverboats, which cruise throughout the U.S. Heartland, South and Pacific Northwest, and Delta Queen Coastal Voyages' two ships, inaugurating 12 coastal vacation itineraries throughout the Americas this year. McGinnis joins AMCV after six years with the travel agency consortium Virtuoso, where he most recently served as the managing director for member relations.