Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Emergency Rescue News

19 Oct 2023

US EPA Proposes Changes to Ballast Water Regs

© tempakul / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a supplemental proposed rule to reduce the spread of invasive species though ballast water that occurs with normal operation of large marine vessels.Following public input on EPA’s 2020 proposed rule—including meetings with states, tribes and other stakeholders—the agency is now issuing a Supplemental Notice to share new data and control options raised by stakeholders. This supplemental proposal will bolster the development…

12 May 2023

Containership Towed to New Zealand After Mayday Call

Shiling adrift off the coast of New Zealand (Photo: Carl Babe / Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust)

A Singapore-registered containership that lost power and steering in heavy seas off the west coast of New Zealand has been towed to safety.The 5,100 TEU capacity Shiling requested assistance from Maritime New Zealand at around 8:30 a.m. local time Friday, after losing main propulsion while en route from Auckland to Wellington.The 294-meter-long containership started rolling severely after drifting into heavy swells about 22 nautical miles northwest of Farewell Spit and issued a mayday call at 11 a.m.

08 Jul 2022

Multraship Supplies Emergency Tugs to Netherlands Coastguard

(Photo: Flying Focus courtesy Multraship)

Dutch towage and salvage provider Multraship said it has won the tender to supply two Emergency Rescue & Towing Vessels (ERTV) to the Netherlands Coastguard for monitoring shipping safety in the southern section of the North Sea.The contract for the deployment of the vessels came into effect on July 1, 2022 and it will be for 4.5 years, with options for extensions. Multraship Commander (formerly ALP Ace) will be stationed at the Borssele wind farm. From August 1, Multraship Protector (formerly ALP Ippon) will be on standby for the Hollandse Kust wind farms.ERTV Guardian…

03 Dec 2021

3i to Assume Full Control Over Danish Offshore Vessel Owner ESVAGT

Credit: ESVAGT

3i Infrastructure has agreed to acquire AMP Capital's stake in the Danish offshore vessel owner ESVAGT.The deal will result in 3i Infrastructure owning a 100% of the equity in ESVAGT. "This further investment is expected to be £268 million. Completion is subject to certain third  party consents and is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2022," 3i Infrastructure said.Peter Lytzen, CEO of ESVAGT said: "ESVAGT has for a  while been subject to a strategic sales process undertaken by our owners 3i and AMP.

11 Nov 2021

Construction Starts for First North Star Renewables' Offshore Wind Vessels

Credit: VARD

Construction has started for North Star Renewables' two vessels bound for work at what will be the world's largest offshore wind farm - the Dogger Bank in the UK.To mark the construction of the two vessels - a Service Operation Vessel and a daughter craft - two steel cutting ceremonies have taken place in Vietnam and the UK respectively.The whole newbuild program comprises three service operation vessels (SOVs) and three associated daughter crafts, with all six vessels bound for the first two phases of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, located off the East coast of Yorkshire (UK).

08 Dec 2020

Bulker Rescues Sailors Caught in Rough Seas

A sailboat became disabled after it was caught in rough weather 345 miles from North Carolina. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

A bulk carrier rescued two people from a sailboat disabled by rough weather approximately 345 miles east of Hatteras Inlet, N.C., Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Watchstanders at the Coast Guard’s 5th District Command Center received notification from the International Emergency Rescue Coordination Center at approximately 9:30 a.m. that a GPS alert had been received from a vessel in distress. The alert also stated that the vessel was experiencing severe weather and that both…

09 Sep 2020

ABB Equips China’s First Hybrid-electric Rescue Vessel

(Photo: ABB)

The first Chinese-built hybrid emergency rescue vessel is powered by ABB’s bridge-to-propeller technologies, including Azipod electric propulsion, energy storage system and state-of-the-art automation and control solutions.Delivered to Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, the 78-meter-long vessel Shenhai 01 will be deployed to provide emergency responses at sea and carry out rescue operations. It can be fully powered by batteries for up to three hours of operations.“As the first China-designed and built emergency rescue vessel…

13 Aug 2019

St. Croix Upgradess with New Lake Assault Boats Craft

Photo: Lake Assault Boats

The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office in Hudson, Wisconsin, earlier this summer took delivery of a Lake Assault Boats rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB). The new boat enhances the office’s patrol capabilities and water-based emergency rescue operations on a 27-mile stretch of the St. Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway.“Our stretch of the St. Croix River is a heavily used recreational area, with many cabin cruisers, houseboats, and all types of pleasure craft while, further north…

03 Jul 2019

Esvagt Eyes Offshore Wind with New Hire

Esvagt, provider of emergency rescue and response vessels and related services to the offshore energy industry, said it has appointed a new head of business development to lead a push into new services, including in offshore wind.The Danish vessel operator announced the appointment of Flemming Hjorth as Head of Business Development, New Services, the focus on business development will be even more concentrated. "When we develop the services that we can offer, we strengthen our relationships with our customers and help optimise the value chain for the benefit of both parties," says Søren Karas, CCO at Esvagt:"Over the last few years, we have successfully added to services – often in cooperation with customers or other parties.

28 May 2019

BP Hires Vroon for Trinidad and Tobago

BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC has awarded Vroon Offshore Services Aberdeen a multiple year, multi-million pound contract.Vroon said on Monday that BP had hired three emergency rescue and response vessels (ERRVs) from its subsidiary, Vroon Offshore Services Aberdeen.The North Sea’s largest operator of ERRVs said that it will provide three specialist vessels to support BP’s operations in the Caribbean: the VOS Gorgeous, the VOS Fabulous and the VOS Grace.Dedicated to supporting offshore operations 24/7 365 days a year, ERRVs are fully equipped to recover and rescue people from the water, provide a place of safety and medical aid. They also monitor the safety zone…

15 Jan 2019

Equinor Extends Esvagt Contract

Norwegian multinational energy company Equinor ASA and the provider of emergency rescue and response vessels Esvagt have extended their cooperation in the southern part of the Norwegian sector.The vessel provider said on Tuesday that the cooperation with Equinor was extended by a minimum of three years."Over the next three years, the Esvagt Bergen and the Esvagt Stavanger will be servicing Equinor in the southern part of the Norwegian sector," it said.Eight years of mutual trust and cooperation are about to be extended, as Equinor and Esvagt add a minimum of three years to their cooperation in the southern part of the Norwegian sector.Here…

19 Dec 2018

MHI Vestas Orders Esvagt SOV

Danish shipping company Esvagt is to provide MHI Vestas with a new service operation vessel for work on Moray East offshore wind farm off the coast of Scotland."Another Esvagt Service Operation Vessel (SOV) for offshore wind farms is on its way to MHI Vestas. The vessel will service the offshore wind farm, the Moray East, in the UK from 2021," the  provider of emergency rescue and response vessels said.The partnership between MHI Vestas and Esvagt continues with another new build SOV for delivery at the start of 2021, bringing the number of wind vessels on contract to MHI Vestas to five in 2021.Esvagt and MHI Vestas have been working together since 2008.

22 Aug 2017

Crowley Swaps US West Coast Tugs

Veteran (Photo: Crowley)

Crowley Marine Services said it will relocate the tugboat Veteran to the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach to service all vessels, including large petroleum tank vessels with deep drafts greater than 65 feet calling on Long Beach Berth 121. With a bollard pull rating of over 90 short tons, the powerful Veteran is better suited to serve the very large crude carriers (VLCCs) that are calling more regularly in Long Beach. Tesoro and the Long Beach Pilots are now requiring a tug with…

06 Feb 2017

Cruise Ship Comes to Rescue of Sinking Boat

MS Albatros (Photo: Phoenix Reisen)

A cruise ship crew came to the rescue of six men from a leaky Tongan fishing boat, who had not had water for three days. The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand organized for the German cruise ship Albatros to change course at 5 a.m. Saturday, after the fishing vessel crew set off an emergency rescue beacon 400 kilometers west south west of Tonga. The ship diverted 300 kilometers to help the distressed 11.5 meter fishing vessel. RCCNZ also requested an RNZAF P3 Orion to fly from Whenuapai to the position that the beacon was transmitting from.

27 Nov 2015

Henriksen Unveils Strongest SOLAS Boat Lifting Hook

H Henriksen of Norway has received SOLAS certification for a new off-load single-point boat lifting hook capable of holding up to 22.5-tonnes. The quick release hook has been developed principally for use with heavy workboats while a smaller hook has received SOLAS certification for 8-tonnes, making it ideal for the deployment of emergency rescue boats and heavy duty rigid inflatable boats. The new Henriksen hooks have been developed to include a pivot mechanism so that they can perform to their full load capacity even when the boat is at an angle to the lifting cable. It has been recognised that in rough sea conditions lateral loads can impose significant strains upon a hook so the specially designed swivel featured in the new models enables them to accept a load from any direction.

06 Oct 2015

MacGregor's Deck Machinery for Sentinel Marine ERRV

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, will supply deck machinery for a new 65m emergency rescue & response vessel (ERRV) for Sentinel Marine. The ship has been designed by Focal Marine & Offshore Pte Ltd and will have a bollard pull of 100 tonnes of FOCAL 552. The order for the complete MacGregor anchor handling solution was booked into the third quarter 2015 order intake. MacGregor will supply a complete deck machinery package including a 200-tonne line pull / 300-tonne brake holding anchor handling towing winch, complete with a hydraulic spooling device, as well as Triplex shark jaws and guide pins. "MacGregor products were chosen because of their high quality and the company's worldwide service capabilities," notes Mr. Yaw Chee Keat, Shiptype Sales Manager, MacGregor Offshore Deck Machinery.

11 Sep 2015

NASBLA Expands Patrol Edition Vessel Offering

Press Release -- The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Enforcement & Training Committee voted to expand its Patrol Edition Boat Program to include additional models by Brunswick Commercial and Government Products (BCGP). Designed by law enforcement for law enforcement, the NASBLA Patrol Edition vessels are selected by the committee to meet the demands of maritime first responders and boating safety officers. Originally launched at last year's annual NASBLA conference in Bar Harbor, Maine, the first vessel in the program was a 21-foot Boston Whaler Guardian model, which was delivered to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, Bureau of Marine Patrol.

18 Jun 2015

Henriksen Debuts First Norsok Compliant Lifting Hook

A new quick release off-load lifting hook is being introduced at Seawork by H Henriksen of Norway for use principally with emergency rescue boats (Stand  A237). The new hook is the first in the world to be compliant with the newly introduced NORSOK R-002 lifting equipment regulations. These have been formulated by the Norwegian petroleum industry and are intended to increase the levels of safety principally within Norwegian waters and for Norwegian-based vessels. They are most likely to be applied in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea but they are also expected to set a new benchmark for safety standards in the offshore industry globally.

29 May 2015

New Ship Continues Atlantic Offshore's Fleet Modernization

Ocean Falcon, the latest vessel to be launched as part of Atlantic Offshore Rescue’s fleet modernization program (Photo: Atlantic Offshore)

Atlantic Offshore Rescue will unveil the third new vessel in the past 12 months as part of its fleet modernization program, representing an investment totaling $458 million. Ocean Falcon, a new Class A Multi Role and Emergency Response and Rescue (MRV/ERRV) vessel, is to be christened at a ceremony at Aberdeen harbor before commencing a contract with a major U.K. operator. Atlantic Offshore Rescue will provide emergency recovery, rescue cover, tanker assistance and general field support for offshore operations at the Curlew Field, in the North Sea.

19 May 2015

U.S. Coast Guard Holds Carrier for Violations

The U.S. Coast Guard detained the Ikan Sudip, a Panamanian-flagged 600-foot bulk carrier, after discovering significant environmental and safety violations during an inspection in Astoria. The violations included a failure to use engineering procedures required by U.S. and international law, a lack of crew familiarity with emergency rescue drills, deficient structural fire boundary doors, and inoperable lifesaving equipment, according to the Coast Guard. Vessel inspectors from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) in Portland discovered the discrepancies during an inspection of the motor vessel, which was built in 2004. “The Ikan Sudip’s safety and environmental conditions posed an unacceptable threat to our waterways,” Capt.

22 Apr 2015

Tug Crew Commended for Emergency Rescue Tow

Crew members of Crowley's tugboat Alert receiving USCG commendation (Photo: Crowley)

Crowley crews commended by U.S. Captain Rodney Layton and his crew aboard Crowley’s Prevention and Response tugboat (PRT) Alert were recently recognized by U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Capt. Paul Mehler III, sector commander captain of the port, for their “professionalism, courage and flawless performance in extreme conditions” during the emergency rescue tow of the drill barge Kulluk off the southern point of Kodiak Island. Capt. Mehler was joined by other USCG members including Sector Chief Gustin…

18 May 2015

Bulk Carrier Detained in Oregon

The U.S. Coast Guard detained the 600-foot bulk carrier vessel Ikan Sudip, after discovering significant environmental and safety violations during an inspection in Astoria, Ore. Saturday. Vessel inspectors from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Portland discovered the discrepancies during an inspection of the Panamanian-flagged motor vessel, which was built in 2004. “The Ikan Sudip’s safety and environmental conditions posed an unacceptable threat to our waterways," said Capt. Dan Travers, Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Commanding Officer and captain of the port for Oregon and Southern Washington. While inbound to U.S. waters, Monday, the vessel experienced two separate fuel related propulsion losses within 24 hours, which completely disabled the vessel at sea.

19 Nov 2014

New Agency to Replace S. Korea Coast Guard after Ferry Disaster

Photo: South Korea Coast Guard

South Korea launches a massive new government agency this week to handle emergency rescue and safety management seven months after a ferry disaster killed 304 people and was blamed by President Park Geun-hye on a failed response by the coast guard. The coast guard is being broken up and its search and rescue duties are being moved to the new National Safety Agency that will have more than 10,000 staff and incorporate fire and emergency response teams, the government said on Tuesday.