Christensen Joins PVA Staff
Retired Coast Guard Captain Eric Christensen has joined the PVA Staff as the Director of Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management. In this position, he will be a resource for PVA members regarding safety, security and environmental protection compliance issues and the PVA staff liaison for the PVA Safety and Security Committee. Eric is a 1987 graduate of California Maritime Academy, with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and maintains his Third Assistant Engineer's license for steam or motor vessels of unlimited horsepower (5th issue).
Coast Guard Recognizes Industry's Environmental Excellence
The U.S. Coast Guard announced the award recipients for the 2012 Biennial Rear Admiral William M. Benkert, Marine Environmental Protection Award for Excellence at the American Petroleum Institute Tanker Conference in Orlando, Fla. The winner of the Osprey award went to APL Co. Pte. Ltd. based out of Singapore in the large vessel category. The winners for the Gold award went to AEP River Operations based out of St. Louis and Holland America based out of Seattle in the foreign vessel category. Ingram Marine Group based out of Nashville, Tenn., Matson Navigation based out of Oakland, Calif., and Marathon Petroleum Co. based out of Tampa, Fla., were winners in the large vessel category. Winners for the Silver award in the large vessel category went to Maersk Line Ltd. based out of Baltimore.
USCG Eases TWIC Requirements
The Coast Guard announced the publication of a policy letter that exempts a number of mariners from the requirement to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential when renewing or obtaining a Coast Guard-issued merchant mariner credential. The policy letter provides immediate relief for mariners who otherwise would need to obtain a TWIC to get or renew their Merchant Mariner Credential. The policy letter also provides the Coast Guard with an expedient means to comply with a portion of the requirements set forth in Section 809 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. “These changes eliminate the TWIC requirement for…
USCG Bans Norwegian-Flagged Wilmina from for Three Years
The Coast Guard announced it is restricting the Norwegian-flagged Wilmina from U.S. ports for three years due to several marine environment-related offenses. On May 4 the Wilmina was the subject of an examination conducted by officers from Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi. Subsequent to the initial examination, a seafarer provided Coast Guard officials information that the vessel was discharging oily water overboard in violation of the International Convention to Prevent Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Coast Guard officers returned to the ship to conduct a follow on examination. The examination revealed inconsistencies in the vessel's oil record book…
CG Mariner Medical Advisory Committee
The U.S. Coast Guard announced the establishment of the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee, which will be involved with matters relating to the medical evaluation process and evaluation criteria for medical certification of merchant mariners. The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee will be comprised of 10 health care professionals with certain expertise, knowledge or experience in occupational medicine or the medical examination of merchant mariners. Four more committee members will be professional mariners who possess knowledge and experience in the occupational requirements for mariners. The Merchant Mariner Medical…
