Marine Safety And Security News

Make a Profit with a Safety Management System (SMS).Organizations in the maritime industry act no differently than any other successful global business unit. Major decisions are made with a certain underlying commitment – a commitment to customers, stakeholders and employees. That commitment can be oversimplified by stating the obvious, to generate revenue, but more specifically generate profits. Without profits, the company will not only fail to thrive, but will fail to survive.

The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC), recently published two Mission Management System (MMS) Work Instructions (WI):1. CVC-WI-013(2), Initial Towing Vessel COI Inspections Under TSMS Option2. CVC-WI-010(1), OCMI Guidance on Special Consideration for 46 CFR Subchapter M VesselsThese instructions provide guidance to both Coast Guard field offices and the maritime industry on the Coast Guard’s interpretations regarding the application and implementation of regulations…

The Port of Prince Rupert, in collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), as well as input from the Pacific Pilotage Authority (PPA) and BC Coast Pilots (BCCP), has established another aid to navigation with advanced technology capabilities at the mouth of Prince Rupert’s Fairview Channel. Prince Rupert’s shore-based radar project also progressed toward completion with the arrival of several metric tons of technical equipment last week. Over the past five years the Port of Prince Rupert has invested millions of dollars in capital to assess risk, streamline practices and procedures, and create a marine safety regime rivaling the world’s largest ports.

Port Metro Vancouver today released its 2015 year-end statistics. Overall volume remained steady at 138 million tonnes of cargo as sectors experiencing declines were offset by others that hit new records. This is the port’s third consecutive year of strong cargo volumes, with new records set in the container, potash, and grain and agri-product sectors. Cargo shipped in containers continued to show substantial growth due to increased trade with Asia, with a five per cent jump in units (known as twenty-foot-equivalent units or TEUs) for a new record of 3.1 million TEUs. Grain and agri-product exports increased by eight per cent over 2014 to 25.1 million metric tonnes, and potash exports were 8.7 million metric tonnes, up 15.6 per cent from the prior year.

Korean Register (KR), an IACS member classification society, has been fully authorized by the Marine Safety and Security Division of Transport Canada to perform statutory services on behalf of the government of Canada. KR is now able to conduct relevant surveys, audits and issue certificates to Canadian flagged ships for SOLAS, MARPOL, ITC, ILL, and ISM Code. Because of Canada’s geography the administration is particularly active in the Polar Code discussions within IMO and KR believes that this authorization will assist other KR classed vessels operating in Arctic waters. KR opened an office in Vancouver in 2012 and underwent an audit by the Canadian government at its Busan headquarters in June 2014 and its Vancouver office in July 2014.

The 2014 Summary of Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Management activities was released by the Great Lakes Ballast Water Working Group (BWWG) Thursday. The BWWG aims to harmonize ballast water management efforts between the U.S. Coast Guard, Transport Canada – Marine Safety and Security, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. According to the report, 100 percent of ships bound for the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway from outside the Exclusive Economic Zone received a ballast tank exam in 2014.

The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2014 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) were presented to Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF); Joseph J. Cox, President/CEO, Chamber of Shipping of America; and Frederick J. Harris, President of General Dynamics NASSCO and Bath Iron Works, an American shipbuilder. The maritime industry's most prestigious awards were presented at a gala industry dinner and dance held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, New York City, on November 7, 2014.

Salvage teams and the Army Corps of Engineers have positively identified the location of the sunken Dredge Tender NICHOLAS on the western (greenside) toe of the Mobile Ship Channel just south of Light 69. According to the U.S. Coast, Sector Mobile, Marine Safety and Security Information Bulletin No.19-14, the Captain of the Port has lifted the previous vessel size restrictions imposed in the MSSB 18-14. The Mobile Ship Channel is still restricted to one-way traffic in the vicinity of the wrecked vessels and all vessel traffic is to keep well to the east (red side) of the channel in the vicinity of this location until further notice. All mariners are to use extreme caution and safe speed while transiting Light 69 and those vessels conducting salvage operations in that vicinity.

The U.S. Coast Guard 9th District informs it has jointly signed a Mutual Training Agreement, that further promotes cooperation and education opportunities between the Association’s seventeen member companies that operate cargo vessels on the Great Lakes and the Coast Guard as their primary regulatory agency. This agreement was reached under the Coast Guard’s Merchant Marine Indoctrination Ship Rider Program, which provides for valuable professional exchange opportunities for the mutual benefit of both the Coast Guard and the merchant marine industry. The MTA will allow Coast Guard marine inspectors to join a vessel’s crew while underway and act as a riding observer…

The Coast Guard 9th District honored 75 years of service from the Coast Guard Auxiliary in a ceremony at the Coast Guard Cleveland moorings today. What began as fishermen and private boaters reporting sightings of U-boats in American Coastal waters has evolved into the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary was established in 1939 to facilitate the operations of the Coast Guard. Starting out as the Coast Guard Reserve, it was split into a military reserve branch and auxiliary operation in February 1941. During WWII the volunteers provided search and rescue support, patrol and picket duties, port security, and limited aviation patrols. The 30,521 members of the modern day Auxiliary use 3,415 operational vessels, 236 aircraft, and 2,459 communication stations to patrol U.S.

The Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Working Group (BWWG) informs of the release of its 2013 Summary of Great Lakes Seaway ballast water management report. The mission of the BWWG is to harmonize ballast water management efforts between: the U. S. Coast Guard, Transport Canada – Marine Safety and Security, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. Since 2006, ballast water management requirements in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway System have been the most stringent in the world.

The Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Working Group announces the release of the 2013 Summary of Great Lakes Seaway ballast water management report. The mission of the BWWG is to harmonize ballast water management efforts between: the U. S. Coast Guard, Transport Canada – Marine Safety and Security, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. Since 2006, ballast water management requirements in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway System have been the most stringent in the world. As a result, independent research by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Science) has indicated that the risk of new aquatic invasive species being introduced into the Great Lakes via ballast water has been mitigated to extremely low levels.

As part of the ongoing National Distress and Response System (NDRS) Modernization Project (Rescue 21), the U.S. Coast Guard competitively awarded a contract August 5, 2013, to Eyak Technology LLC for design, delivery, installation and support of Rescue 21 capabilities in the Western Rivers. Rescue 21, the Coast Guard’s advanced command, control and communications system, was created to better locate mariners in distress and save lives and property at sea and on navigable waterways.

The 20th BC Tugboat Industry Conference was held May 23-25, 2013 in Victoria, BC. According to BC Shipping News, in addition to a retrospective of the industry – including presentations from Allan Fowlis (retired, Seaspan) who gave personal insights into the industry in its characters, and Leo Stradiotti (North Arm Transportation) who presented a pictoral of BC tugs from old to new – speakers such as Robert G.Allan (Robert Allan Ltd.), Fred Denning (BC Coast Pilots Ltd.), Malcolm McLaren (Allied Shipbuilders) and Frans Tjallingii (SMIT Marine Canada) each provided a unique perspective on aspects of the industry from technological developments to the relationship to pilots to towage and salvage in the international arena.

Amongst those receiving notices today are technical inspectors responsible for marine safety and security, as well as civil aviation airworthiness inspector. "We are deeply concerned for the safety of the travelling public. Once again, inspectors in marine safety and security as well as civil aviation are being chipped away at a time when we both know there are not enough inspectors to do the work," said Christine Collins, National President of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees. Included in this number is the elimination of communication specialists and various administrative functions and, most notably, all regional Health and Safety Advisors who were recently hired to help bring the department into compliance with federal Health and Safety legislation.

In this photo by the U.S. Coast Guard, a boat crew from Coast Guard Marine Safety and Security Team Boston escorts the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) New York as the ship sails into New York Harbor Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. The amphibious transport dock (LPD 21), laid with seven and a half tons of steel from the World Trade Center in its bow, will be comissioned in a ceremony at the Intrepid Air, Sea and Space Museum Nov. 7th. It is the sixth Navy ship to bear the name New York. The…

The US Coast Guard issued an ALCOAST (All Coast Guard Message) designating 18 Sectors and Marine Safety Units as “Feeder Ports” to be utilized for training of new marine safety and security personnel.  The designation recognizes that these units have a sufficiently diverse workload and volume to allow for training in at least four of the 17 marine inspection and port state control examination competencies, as well as sufficient experienced staff to provide mentoring. (2/11/09). (Source: Holland & Knight)

U.S. Coast Guard units operating in the Houston - Galveston area of responsibility have as of 4 p.m. Tuesday processed 51 reports of pollution and repaired or replaced 40 percent of critical aids to navigation damaged or missing in the wake of Hurricane Ike.Of the 51 pollution reports, 15 incidents require active cleanup, 14 require passive action and 22 require no further action by the Coast Guard. The reports cover a range of incidents including the discharge of petroleum products from storage tanks that have been damaged and/or are submerged in flood waters, the discharge of fuel from submerged machinery and sunken or damaged vessels in marinas, and natural gas leaks. A pipeline in , leaking natural gas from a valve currently under six feet of water.

By Thomas H. Collins, Admiral, U.S. By any measure, 2003 was a turning point in the 213-year history of the U.S. Coast Guard. Beginning with the introduction of a new Maritime Strategy for Homeland Security early in the new year and continuing with its realignment under the Department of Homeland Security in March as part of the largest reorganization of the federal government since the post-World War II era, the scope and scale of the Coast Guard's maritime, multi-mission, and military operations during the past year were nothing short of extraordinary. Coast Guard men and women rose to the challenge, bolstered by the largest mobilization of reservists in our history. Collectively, they fought the Global War on Terrorism at home as well as overseas.

At the Airport, Port & Terminal Security (APTS) Exhibition in London on December 3-5, Transas (Stand No. D110 ) will showcase its latest IT solutions in the field of marine safety and security. Transas will its new development for port and coastal security - Transas Port Security System, which offers protection of large scale waterside perimeter infrastructure assets such as transportation centers, power plants, water resources, hazardous waste facilities, above ground storage facilities, territorial borders, defense facilities, and any other potential targets of hostile actions from terrorists or other acts of violence. The new Transas waterside security system incorporates the following modules: Radar Site(s)…

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Coast Guard and Department of Transportation announced an interagency agreement to provide for the comprehensive and coordinated review of land and marine safety and security issues at the nation’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals. The agreement was signed by FERC Chairman Pat Wood III, Samuel Bonasso, Deputy Administrator of the Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), and Admiral Thomas Collins, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

UNITECH (Universal Systems & Technology, Inc.) has appointed Rear Adm. Paul J. Pluta, USCG (retired), to the position of senior vice president for homeland security. Adm. Pluta, who served as the assistant commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection was instrumental in pulling together the new port security requirements for U.S. waterways in the days following the terrorist attacks. He brings to UNITECH more than 36 years of distinguished Coast Guard experience…

The Coast Guard is searching for the captain of the 52-foot towing vessel, Gate-Way, that sunk with two people onboard near Norco, La., on the Mississippi River. At approximately 12:30 a.m on January 2, 2008, Sector New Orleans received a call from the towing vessel Secretariat as well as from the dispatch operartor of the Saint Rose Fleet facility reporting that the Gate-Way sank while working with the Secretariat. One crewmember was rescued by the Secretariat and transported by Upper Saint Rose Fleet to a relative's home. Air Station New Orleans launched an HH-65C rescue helicopter and the New Orleans Marine Safety and Security Team has searched with two 25-foot vessels. Coast Guard Station New Orleans is currently on scene with a 41-foot boat. St.