Office Of Maritime News

Capt. Eric A. Helgen relieved Capt. Benjamin D. Berg as commander, Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Thursday, June 16.As the commander of the most extensive Coast Guard base outside of the United States, Berg served as the senior U.S. Coast Guard representative in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, providing support to maritime security operations in the north, central, and south Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

A new decision-support tool could become a game changer in the dredging of ship channels. Millions of dollars are at stake every time a major ship channel is cleaned up. Delays in dredging can cost even more by triggering increased risks, repeated maintenance and lost revenue. In either case, the task cannot be put off indefinitely.All ship channels must be regularly cleared of sand, debris settled on the bottom (called shoal) and miscellaneous trash. That means ship channel management regularly faces the mighty task of dredging.

Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) announced that two new deputy director generals joined its the Executive Board.The new deputy director generals are Rikke Wetter Olufsen and Niels Wammen-Jensen. They both come from director positions within DMA.For the past four years, Rikke has been director of Blue Growth and Maritime Policy at the Danish Maritime Authority. Rikke joined the DMA from the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, where she covered a broad portfolio of business policy areas.Niels has been director and served as the DMA's "ambassador" in the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs for the past two years.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack, officially opened AMSA’s new office in Coffs Harbour on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia.According to a government press notification, the new office will bring much needed access to AMSA’s services in the northern New South Wales region. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the Coffs Harbour office will serve as a suitable location for the commercial vessel industry in the region."It makes perfect sense for our national maritime safety agency to expand its footprint into regional areas such as Coffs Harbour…

This revised advisory cancels U.S. Maritime Advisories 2019-004 and 2019-008.1. References: U.S. Maritime Alerts 2019-004A, 2019-003A, 2019-002A, and 2019-001A.2. Issue: Heightened military activity and increased political tensions in this region continue to pose serious threats to commercial vessels. Associated with these threats is a potential for miscalculation or misidentification that could lead to aggressive actions. Vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman may also encounter GPS interference, bridge-to-bridge communications spoofing, and/or other communications jamming with little to no warning.Since May 2019, the following maritime incidents have occurred in this region:Six attacks against commercial vessels (see U.S.

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has welcomed the publication of the UK government’s ‘Maritime 2050’ strategy paper, which sets out the vision for the future of the UK maritime sector.The strategy, which has been developed in consultation with agencies including the UKHO and the wider public and private sectors, sets out a series of detailed recommendations to help the UK maintain its position as a leading global maritime nation. These recommendations span themes including the environment, international trade, security and resilience, infrastructure, people and technology.A focus on the positive impact that smart shipping and use of autonomous vessels could have on the environment…

Princess Cruise Lines Ltd. was sentenced to pay a $40 million penalty – the largest-ever for crimes involving deliberate vessel pollution – related to illegal dumping overboard of oil contaminated waste and falsification of official logs in order to conceal the discharges. The sentence was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg for the Southern District of Florida in Miami. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Patricia A.

Crowley Maritime Corp. has opened a new government services office in downtown Norfolk, Va. to help the company better serve government agencies such as the Military Sealift Command (MSC) and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). The new location will also help Crowley improve its service for the Norfolk Naval Base and several of Crowley managed ships located there, including three ROCON ships, five BOBO class ships and seven T-AGOS/T-AGM ships. The facility will staff government and technical management employees.

Foss Maritime has opened a new office and the formed a project management group aiming to support its customer base headquartered in Houston. John Tirpak of Foss has been appointed Vice President of Business Development & Contract Services and will be relocating to Houston to develop business in the region and lead the business development function of the entire Marine Transportation division from the new office. There he will oversee domestic and international business development, sales and marketing.

U.S. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles Michel formally assumed the role of vice commandant of the Coast Guard during a ceremony at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Monday. As vice commandant, Michel will oversee the Coast Guard’s operations, strategic development, organizational governance and management of the service’s more than 58,000 employees and 30,000 volunteers. "I am humbled and honored to be given this important opportunity to further serve the American people and the men and women of the United States Coast Guard,” said Michel. Michel became the 30th vice commandant of the Coast Guard after serving as the service's deputy commandant for operations…

OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) announced the official opening of its newest office, in Canberra, Australia. Located in the suburb of Fyshwick, the Canberra office will accommodate OSI’s business development, technical, service, and training staff that will be dedicated to the development of the company’s Asia Pacific business. The opening is part of OSI’s long-term commitment to its strategic focus on the Asia Pacific Region – aligning closely with the objectives of the Australian Defence White Paper. The company is mandating stronger regional presence while continuing to support existing customers and partners in Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asia.

Crowley Maritime Corp. says it has opened a full-service project management and logistics solutions office in Singapore under the leadership of industry veteran William Hill. William Hill, PMP, has relocated from Crowley’s Anchorage office to Singapore where he has assumed the position of director, business development, and will manage the project support office. Hill has been with Crowley for more than six years as director, projects and director, business development, in Alaska working numerous sealift and marine projects for major oil, gas and Engineering, Construction and Procurement Management (EPCM) customers. Crowley explains that this expansion allows it to better support customers in the oil and gas mining…

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) today announced an organizational realignment that it said will strengthen the Agency’s ability to ensure the nation has sufficient capability to meet sealift needs during conflicts or national emergencies. •    Federal Sealift continues to be responsible for Ready Reserve Force vessels, Emergency Preparedness and the National Defense Reserve Fleet. •    Commercial Sealift will coordinate both the Cargo Preference and Maritime Security Programs.

Private Maritime Security Company (PMSC) Aspida Maritime Security said it has opened a new office in Copenhagen, adding to its locatons in London, Athens and Seoul. “Our presence in Denmark will improve the quality of service offered to our current Danish customers and ultimately serve better the entire Scandinavian region,” said Panos G. Moraitis, President and CEO of Aspida. With partners in more than 30 countries, Aspida is driven by 120 employees worldwide. Specialized European military personnel provides for an excellent record of over 1…

Two shipping firms based in Germany and Cyprus were sentenced today in federal court in Newark, N.J., to pay a $10.4 million penalty for felony obstruction of justice charges and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships related to the deliberate concealment of vessel pollution from four ships that visited ports in New Jersey, Delaware and Northern California, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in New Jersey and Delaware, the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and the U.S. Coast Guard announced. Columbia Shipmanagement (Deutschland) GmbH (CSM-D), a German corporation, and Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd.

International maritime, oil & gas and mining industry recruiter Faststream opened its new Australian office in Perth today. The office will focus on filling positions for shipping companies, oil majors and mining companies active in the region. Headed by Ozan Cabadag, an Australian national with an in-depth knowledge of the Australian shipping markets, the office will give local employers access to skilled foreign workers. The move comes after the recent announcement by the Australian government that it will be streamlining the visa process for U.S. citizens, cutting down the previous three-month-plus process. “Faststream has offices in the UK, U.S. and Singapore with access to a range of very specialized people,” said Ozan Cabadag.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced the appointment of 29 members to the new Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC), established to advise the Department on matters relating to marine transportation. “Shifting some of our freight from the highways to open inland waterways is a fuel-efficient, cost-effective way to move goods and reduce roadway congestion,” said Secretary LaHood. The Department will task the MTSNAC with developing recommendations on establishing new marine highway services and port infrastructure development, among other issues. “The experience brought to bear by this diverse panel is impressive,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “These maritime experts have a lot to contribute.

On September 14, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General posted its much anticipated report addressing the very serious allegations of misconduct made against the U.S. Coast Guard’s Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) system by former ALJ Jeffie J. Massey. In short, the Inspector General’s office concluded that it “was not able to substantiate” Judge Massey’s allegations against her former superior, Chief ALJ Joseph N. Ingolia, and numerous members of his staff, members of the ALJ Docketing staff, members of the Coast Guard Commandant’s staff and several USCG Investigating Officers who were involved in cases then pending before Judge Massey.

Irika Shipping S.A., a ship management corporation registered in Panama and doing business in Greece, pleaded guilty on July 8, 2010 before Maryland U.S. District Court Judge Frederick J. Motz, to felony obstruction of justice charges and violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships related to concealing deliberate vessel pollution from the M/V Iorana, a Greek flagged cargo ship that made port calls in Baltimore, Tacoma, Wash., and New Orleans. According to the multi-district plea agreement arising out of charges brought in the District of Maryland, Western District of Washington, and Eastern District of Louisiana, Irika Shipping has agreed to pay a $4m total penalty…

The Maritime Administration has named Randy Rogers to head its new Seattle Gateway Office. will be working with industry and government representatives in the to identify federal and state funding to work on reducing congestion, improve freight and passenger movement, and to meet environmental and community challenges in the ports and their intermodal connections.The Maritime Administration recently established Gateway Offices in 10 of the Nation's largest ports to have a team of intermodal maritime experts in place to work with headquarters staff, state and local authorities and a broad range of port, shipper and carrier stakeholders.

A Diplomatic Conference to adopt an international convention on the recycling of ships was opened in Hong Kong, China, by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, on Monday, 11 May 2009. The convention, the first ever to address ship recycling issues, is aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment. In his opening remarks, Mitropoulos paid tribute to the contribution to the work of IMO made by Asia - “a region the leadership role of which in shipbuilding, shipowning, ship manning and ship recycling is recognized and duly appreciated worldwide”.

The Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies (BCMS) hosted the first ever Great Lakes Region Primary and Secondary Maritime Education Conference. The conference was held at the BCMS waterfront campus on May 11th and 12th, 2009, in Erie, Pennsylvania. There has been a growing movement nationally to encourage the development of maritime career opportunity awareness and K-12 maritime education. BCMS specializes in creating hands-on programs that provide maritime access and training ranging…

Reflecting its dramatic growth and participation as an organization, the United States fielded the largest visiting national delegation attending last week’s Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Annual Conference. The US delegation was second only to the host country, the United Kingdom. The Conference was held at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, with a theme of “Direction:  Diversity…Route:  Corporate Social Responsibility.”  The Conference was attended by nearly 300 WISTA members from around the globe…