Bulker Loses Propulsion off California
The U.S. Coast Guard is monitoring a 587-foot bulk carrier Ultra Lascar after the ship lost propulsion at 10:20 a.m., approximately five miles offshore from Daly City, Calif. The Singapore-flagged bulk carrier lost propulsion while operating offshore, inbound for the San Francisco Bay. The vessel was anchored approximately three miles offshore from Daly City on FRiday, awaiting the arrival of two assist tugs, which met a third tug prior to proceeding to an anchorage in San Francisco Bay. The vessel is carrying a cargo of salt, which is destined for delivery to the Port of Stockton. The vessel also has approximately 161,000 gallons of fuel oil onboard, which is used as fuel for the engine.
NPREP: Pre-Exercise Public Outreach Events
LOS ANGELES — The Coast Guard announces its National Preparedness Response Exercise Program (NPREP) pre-exercise Public Outreach events to be held Sept. 13, 2011 in Ventura, Calif., free of charge. Government and Industry experts will be facilitating seminars on three topics of interest: Deepwater Horizon Response, Oiled Wildlife Care Network, and Sensitive Sites Strategy, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Static displays such as communications trailers, a HASS-like boat, Patch technology for vessels, off-shore deployment of a Vessel of Opportunity Skimming System (VOSS) from Coast Guard Cutter George Cobb, and others, will be available for viewing from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. The seminars and displays will be held at Robert J.
CA Files Suit Against Cosco Busan
California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. filed a lawsuit today on behalf of the California Department of Fish and Game Office of Spill Prevention and Response, State Lands Commission and State Water Boards against the owners, operators and pilot of the M/V Cosco Busan, the shipping vessel that spilled more than 53,000 gallons of oil into San Francisco Bay. “This was a preventable accident that had tragic consequences,” Attorney General Brown said. On November 7, 2007, the Cosco Busan, piloted by John Cota, hit the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge’s Delta Tower. The crash caused approximately 53,569 of gallons of oil to spew into San Francisco Bay and spread to the Pacific Ocean and along Bay Area shorelines.
Sea Ranger II Debuts for National Parks Service
The National Park Service has taken delivery of its newest boat, Sea Ranger II, built by Modutech Marine Inc. of Tacoma, Wash. The boat is equipped to transport park personnel, supplies and construction materials to the five offshore islands that make up Channel Islands National Park, as well as to carry researchers on overnight driving trips. Accommodations include a full galley, sleeping space for up to 10 people, full head with shower, and diving support equipment, including a portable dive compressor. The Sea Ranger II joins an existing fleet of three boats, providing a vital link between the mainland-based park headquarters in Ventura, Calif., and the park's islands, located between 17 and 45 nautical miles away.
Port of San Francisco Hosts Christening
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, in conjunction with San Francisco Drydock, S.F. Maritime National Parks Service and the Port of San Francisco, held a renaming and christening ceremony in January for Eureka - the port's newest floating drydock at Pier 70. With Congresswoman Pelosi's assistance, the port was granted a surplus Navy drydock at a discounted rate of $95,000, which was named in honor of the S.F. Maritime National Parks' Service historic ferry vessel, Eureka. The new mid-sized drydock will be utilized by the San Francisco Drydock to repair various smaller vessels such as ferries, coast guard cutters and small- to-medium-size commercial ships.
