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Department Of Natural Resources News

29 Nov 2023

US Coast Guard Awards Golden Ray Responders

Source: US Coast Guard

The US Coast Guard presented public service awards to maritime partners for their actions during the Golden Ray capsizing and subsequent response during a ceremony at the Southeast Georgia Conference Center.The public service awards recognized each individual’s commendable actions that resulted in the preservation of life and mitigation of environmental hazards and economic impacts during the Golden Ray capsizing and grounding in St. Simon's Sound, Georgia, on Sept. 8, 2019.Rear Adm. Douglas Schofield, commander, Coast Guard Seventh District, and U.S.

19 Oct 2023

Mississippi River Lowered Near Minneapolis for Dam Maintenance

(Photo: Patrick Loch / USACE)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, have lowered the Mississippi River water elevations between Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam 1, both in Minneapolis, from October 13.Corps officials plan to maintain the lower river elevations through October 30, to allow Twin Cities Hydro, LLC, to inspect and repair the rubber dam atop the spillway at Lock and Dam 1, also known as the Ford Dam.To access the rubber dam, the water levels need to be lowered approximately one foot below the spillway crest for approximately two weeks.

14 Aug 2023

Commercial Fishing on the Great Lakes is a Family Affair

© Hank Erdmann / Adobe Stock

Although the number of fishermen who make a living on the waters of the Great Lakes is much diminished from a half century ago, the region's commercial whitefish fishery continues to be viable and profitable.Henriksen Fisheries is one of about a dozen commercial entities in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan, focused on trap netting whitefish in Green Bay and the waters surrounding the Door Peninsula.Charlie Henriksen started his family-owned fishing business in Door County in 1987.Originally from Illinois…

21 Jun 2023

Water Levels to Be Lowered for Lock and Dam 1 Repairs

(Photo: USACE)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plan to slightly lower the Mississippi River between Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam 1, both in Minneapolis, starting June 24.Corps officials plan to maintain the lower river elevations through July 7, to inspect and repair the rubber dam on top of the spillway at Lock and Dam 1. To access the rubber dam, the water levels will be lowered approximately one foot below the spillway crest for approximately two weeks.

24 May 2023

Fire Breaks Out Aboard 80-year-old Great Lakes Freighter

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

A fire broke out aboard a Canadian-registered bulk carrier transiting on Lake Erie near Pelee Island in the overnight hours on Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The fire, which originated in the engine room of the 80-year-old laker Cuyahoga, is said to have been contained, with no injuries reported.U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, TowBoatUS and the Canadian Coast Guard responded the incident.The 664-foot-long self discharging bulk carrier is operated by Lower Lakes Towing…

03 Feb 2023

Wisconsin Awards $5.3 Million in Harbor Maintenance Grants

© Adrian Vargas / Adobe Stock

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, together with the state's Department of Transportation (WisDOT), announced grants totaling $5.3 million for seven harbor maintenance and improvement projects to promote waterborne freight and economic development.“From the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River, Wisconsin’s unique geography provides our state opportunities to grow our economy and help our businesses reach markets worldwide,” said Gov. Evers. “These grants will help maintain our harbors and ensure our ports are secure and reliable…

05 Jan 2023

ATB Tug Partially Sinks in Port Milwaukee

(Photo: U.S. Coast Gard)

Multiple agencies are responding to prevent any potential environmental damages after a tug partially sank at its moorings on the Kinnickinnic River in Port Milwaukee.The Coast Guard said its watchstanders at Sector Lake Michigan were notified by the National Response Center at 11:27 a.m. on Monday that the vessel Michigan, part of an articulated tug and barge (ATB) unit, began taking on water and partially sank in 26 feet of water.Photos shared by the Coast Guard earlier this week show the stern of the 115-foot-long tug submerged while its bow remains above the waterline…

28 Nov 2022

Marine News' Top Vessels of 2022

Mark W. Barker (Photo: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding)

The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted the most notable newbuilds delivered in 2022. From sturdy and nimble workboats, to the first new Jones Act laker in a generation, each vessel on display showcases the industry’s engineering prowess and technological ingenuity, with the focus on improving efficiency in operations. The maritime industry has no shortage of challenges to overcome, and each of Marine News’ top vessels will, in one way or another, aid efforts to tackle them.Mark W.

09 Sep 2022

Natgas Pipeline Explodes in Lake Lery, Louisiana

The U.S. Coast Guard said on Thursday that it was responding to a natural gas pipeline explosion at Lake Lery, La., and there have been no reports of injuries, casualties or pollution at this time.The Coast Guard received a report of a large fire at Lake Lery, it said in a release."The pipeline has been secured.

28 Jul 2022

Blount Delivers Buoy Tender/icebreaker to Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Eddie Somers (Photo: Blount Boats)

Warren, R.I. shipbuilder Blount Boats announced it has delivered a new buoy tender/ice breaker built for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.Eddie Somers was handed over on May 19 at Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, Md. The 94- by 227-foot shallow draft vessel will replace the J. Milliard Tawes, which has been in service for nearly 50 years.Designed by BMT Designers and Planners, the Eddie Somers is powered by Cummins QSK19, Tier III marine engines, each producing 750HP at 1,800RPM, Twin Disc MGX-5202SC marine generator sets and, two 42x27, 5 blade NIBRAL propellers.

27 Jul 2022

Emergency Dredging Planned for the Murderkill River

The Murderkill River, shown here where it meets the Delaware Bay at Bowers, will be dredged in August to improve navigation for commercial and recreational vessels. (Photo: DNREC)

An emergency dredging project is set to begin and be completed by the end of August to restore navigability in the Murderkill River, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced on Tuesday. Permitted by and with modification approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and DNREC regulators, the project calls for removing approximately 52,000 cubic yards of sediment from the river’s navigation channel. DNREC will then make beneficial reuse of the dredged sand to nourish up to 1…

19 Jul 2022

US Grain, Coke Exports Drive Great Lakes-Seaway Shipping Activity in June

(Photo: Nick Corbin / courtesy Chamber of Marine Commerce)

U.S. grain and coke exports boosted overall shipping volumes through the St. Lawrence Seaway in June.Total cargo tonnage shipments (from March 22 to June 30) via the St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 11.9 million metric tons, down 8.3% compared to 2021 but gaining ground in comparison to April, when it was down 18% at the start of the season. Other system-wide highlights include an increase in project cargo such as wind energy components and a 55% increase in coke shipments, including exports to Europe for cement production. U.S.

26 May 2022

Delaware Bay Barge Fire Extinguished

Thumbnail photo credit: Memorial Fire Company Sta 89/Facebook

The fire on board the barge in the Delaware Bay that started burning on Monday, has been extinguished Tuesday, and Northstar Environmental and Marine Services has been contracted to assess the integrity of the vessel and manage salvage operations, U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.A Unified Command consisting of representatives from Eastern Metal Recycling, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, Cumberland County Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard has been established to oversee salvage operations.According to the U.S.

02 May 2022

German Offshore Wind Firm RWE Eyes Business with Louisiana Companies

Credit: RWE

RWE Renewables, a German offshore wind giant is looking to build an offshore wind supply chain in Louisiana, one of the top U.S. oil and gas producing states. RWE said last week it would collaborate with Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.) and GNOwind Alliance to build a program that will accelerate the engagement of Louisiana's supply chain with offshore wind and benefit all Louisianians. Greater New Orleans, Inc. is the regional economic development nonprofit organization serving the 10-parish region of Southeast Louisiana.Over the next six months, GNO, Inc.

07 Feb 2022

Moose Boats Delivers Patrol Boat to Santa Cruz

(Photo: Moose Boats)

California shipbuilder Moose Boats said it has delivered a new patrol boat to the Santa Cruz Port District in Santa Cruz, Calif.Santa Cruz Port District is responsible for patrolling, maintaining, and managing the facilities for the Santa Cruz Harbor including law enforcement, search and rescue, maintenance and dredging. As the lifecycle of their previous vessel approached, the District was able to secure funding for a new Moose Boat.On January 24, representatives from the District collected their new boat from Moose Boats in Vallejo, Calif.

01 Jul 2021

Reefer Ship Catches Fire at Port of Wilmington

© Sundry Photography / Adobe Stock

A fire broke out on board a refrigerated cargo ship at the Port of Wilmington, in Delaware, late Monday evening.The crew aboard the Dole containerized fruit carrier contacted U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay at approximately midnight, reporting that an engine fire erupted shortly after leaving port.The vessel quickly activated its firefighting system, energizing a carbon dioxide system to flood the engine room and rob the fire of oxygen, and safely moored back to the pier.

17 May 2021

Fire Put Out at Golden Ray Wreck Site

Multiple vessels cool the Golden Ray wreck using sea water on Saturday following a fire inside the wreck on Friday. (Photo: St. Simons Sound Incident response)

Engineers are assessing the condition of the Golden Ray wreck and salvage equipment after a fire ripped through the overturned and partially dismantled car carrier outside the Port of Brunswick, Ga. on Friday.The fire broke out on Friday afternoon aboard the Korean-owned Golden Ray, which has been aground on its side in the St. Simons Sound outside the nation's second largest car carrier port since it capsized shortly after departing the Port of Brunswick in September 2019.Firefighting…

12 Apr 2021

Boater Missing After Striking a Dredge on the Savannah River

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

A multi-agency search was called off on Monday after responders failed to locate a man that went missing in the Savannah River after his vessel collided with a dredge on Saturday.A good Samaritan contacted U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders on VHF Ch. 16 stating three people were in the water in the vicinity of Hutchinson Island after a recreational vessel allided with dredging equipment on Saturday at approximately 5 p.m.Local partner agencies and good Samaritans arrived on scene and rescued two of the people in the water and brought them to awaiting emergency medical responders.

01 Apr 2021

Cocaine Seized From Bulker Anchored Near Annapolis

(Photo: CBP)

More than 44 pounds of cocaine was seized from a Marshall Islands-flagged bull carrier anchored in the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, Md., on Wednesday.The drugs were discovered during an early morning examination by officers and agents from the DEA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Coast Guard, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police aboard the 958-foot Samjohn Solidarity. The 20 bricks of cocaine found concealed inside the vessel’s anchor locker has a street value of more than $1 million.No arrests were made…

28 Oct 2020

Search Called Off for Overboard Mariner in the Port of Savannah

(File photo: Anthony L. Soto / U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard said it has suspended its search Tuesday evening for a containership crewmember who went missing after he fell while transiting the gangway to the motor vessel Maersk Tukang in the Port of Savannah.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received the initial notification from the Georgia Port Authority at approximately 3 a.m., Tuesday, stating a man had fallen into the water and had not resurfaced.The man has been identified as Joe Williams, 70, who is from the greater Savannah area."Our thoughts are with the loved ones of Mr.

30 Nov 2020

Golden Ray Salvage: Cutting Operations Resume

(Photo: St. Simons Sound Incident Unified Command)

The crew working to cut and lift sections of the capsized car carrier Golden Ray in Georgia's St. Simons Sound has resumed salvage efforts after suspending operations ahead of a tropical storm that traveled up the southern U.S. East Coast late last week.The team resumed operations to cut the first vessel section using the specialized heavy lift crane vessel VB 10,000 on Monday after the storm had passed and responders redeployed protective boom at the environmental protection barrier (EPB) surrounding the wreck site and at sensitive areas around St.

26 Mar 2021

Coast Guard Investigating Mysterious Sheen in Brunswick, Ga.

Authorities are working to track down the source of a recurring mystery sheen emanating from the bank of the East River in Brunswick, Ga.The U.S. Coast Guard said Friday its Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Savannah personnel have been conducting an investigation since February 2019 to identify the source of the sheen across multiple waterfront properties.Hard boom and absorbent materials have been placed around the discharge sites to recover any product that enters the water as the source of the sheen remains unknown at this time. MSU Savannah personnel are coordinating the investigation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia…

05 Jan 2021

RIBs: Turn Up the Power

MetalCraft Marine recently delivered to Department of Natural Resources Police (Photo: Metal Craft Marine)

However readers might define “normal”, 2020 was anything but. But the business of rigid inflatable boats (RIB) has been going at full throttle.Matthew Velluto, Director of Business Development and Marketing at RIBCRAFT USA, based in Marblehead, Mass., described a business moving steadily ahead, though it’s had to weave and bob at times during 2020. “We’ve been able to stay open throughout 2020, with no disruptions on our side,” though he acknowledged hiccups further down in the company’s supply chain. He explains that the business was deemed to be “essential”.