Safety Team News

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, won the 2023 International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) Award for Innovation and Technology in Maritime Search and Rescue after a highly respected judging panel led by former IMRF Chair Michael Vlasto selected its entry from a shortlist of 10 individuals and organisations.Acknowledging “volunteer and professional search-and-rescue (SAR) personnel from around the world”, the prestigious award highlights “those who have shown excellence in their field…

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has announced the winners of this year’s IMRF Awards, which recognize all those involved in global maritime search and rescue (SAR) efforts.The IMRF Awards acknowledge those that have shown excellence in their field, developed innovative technology and equipment, or acted as a role model to inspire others. The awards also shine a light on those colleagues who offer the tireless support, training, and planning that enables SAR crews to do what they do…

In research prompted by the incident in the Dutch North Sea in January when a drifting bulk carrier hit offshore wind facilities, Dutch maritime research institute MARIN this week, with industry partners, tested three innovative barriers aimed at averting collisions between ships and wind turbines.The drifting bulk carrier Julietta D initially collided with a tanker before hitting a transformer platform and a turbine foundation for the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm currently under…

On January 14, 2022 the European Parliament’s Rapporteur, MEP Peter Liese, published his draft report on a proposal to revise the Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive¹ which forms part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package of climate and energy reforms published on July 14, 2021. The draft report includes a number of ambitious amendments to emissions trading for the maritime sector – the Maritime ETS – which, if agreed, will put more pressure on the maritime industry to switch to cleaner fuels sooner than originally planned.

No, using augmented reality to train workers is not a science fiction! The HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) team at APM Terminals Brazil developed an augmented reality (AR) app for employees, contractors and visitors to download on their phones which provided video and 3D information about risks and safety operations in the terminal and office buildings.For Global Safety Day this year, employees and contractors took part in an experiment to see if the new and developing technology could be used to teach safety measures across the operation in a campaign titled "Stronger & Safer Together".After opening the app, users pointed their phone at stickers placed on a piece of equipment or on the floor or wall of an office building.

The Project SEAHORSE consortium, led by the University of Strathclyde, brought together experts from across the maritime world to research and implement safety considerations pioneered by the aviation industry – the first project of its kind in the world. It has been recognized with the Maritime Safety Award from the Royal Institution of Naval Architects in association with Lloyd’s Register. Headed up by Professor Osman Turan from the University of Strathclyde’s Department of Naval Architecture…

Inmarsat will commemorate the untimely passing earlier this year of one of the architects of its Maritime Safety Operations network by sponsoring the first International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) H.E.R.O. Award for outstanding service to maritime search and rescue, 'The Vladimir Maksimov Award'. The sponsorship is seen as a fitting tribute to Vladimir Maksimov, Inmarsat Director of SOLAS Services, who died on 4th May 2016 after a short illness, following 25 years with Inmarsat. Mr Maksimov played a central role in the Inmarsat safety team. The H.E.R.O. (Honouring Excellence in Rescue Operations) Awards, launched by the IMRF in April this year, have been developed to draw attention to the extraordinary work done to save lives in maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) across the world.

Admiral Paul Zukunft, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, visited the Port of San Diego’s administrative offices on February 12. The Commandant was in town to participate in the 2015 Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association /U.S. Naval Institute Conference held at the San Diego Convention Center. During his visit to the port, the Commandant participated in a briefing that included Dan Malcolm, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners; Acting President and CEO John Bolduc; Acting Chief of Harbor Police Mark Stainbrook and other senior Port staff members.

The disabled mixed-products tanker Pine Galaxy arrived in San Francisco for repairs Wednesday. Commercial tugs towed the ship safety into the Port of San Francisco with an escort by the Coast Guard Cutter Pike and the crew of a Coast Guard Station San Francisco 45-foot Response Boat — Medium. The Pine Galaxy will undergo repairs and inspection at a shipyard in San Francisco. The ship experienced a fire in the machinery shop, located in the engine room, in the North Pacific while traveling from Los Angeles to South Korea. The fire occurred earlier this month.

According to the US Coast Guard, the disabled mixed-products tanker 'Pine Galaxy' has arrived in San Francisco for repairs. Commercial tugs towed the ship safety into the Port of San Francisco with an escort by the Coast Guard Cutter Pike and the crew of a Coast Guard Station San Francisco 45-foot Response Boat — Medium. The Pine Galaxy will undergo repairs and inspection at a shipyard in San Francisco. There are no reports of damage to the ship’s cargo tanks, fuel tanks or hull. The Coast Guard, along with several federal, state and local partners formed a safety team with the ship’s owners to coordinate the safe arrival of the ship.

The Coast Guard has since Sunday taken action in three unrelated marine safety cases, which has protected the environment, protected mariners and protected the maritime transportation system in the port of Portland, Oregon. Sector Columbia River’s recent activity began around 11 a.m. Sunday with notification from the 648-foot car carrier Morning Spruce of the vessel’s loss of engine power while 12 miles southwest of the Columbia River bar, leaving the vessel adrift in 12-foot seas. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port issued an order directing the owner of the Morning Spruce to immediately contract for tow vessels to hold the ship offshore. In addition to its cargo, the Morning Spruce was reportedly carrying a combined 543,000 gallons of heavy oil, diesel and lube oil.

Freighter captain taken into custody by Coast Guard in Astoria, Ore. The captain of a Maltese freighter was taken into custody by Coast Guard officials in Astoria, Tuesday. The captain of the 738-foot motor vessel Laconia was taken into custody after his blood-alcohol level was found to be in excess of the legal limit for commercial vessel operators. A Coast Guard Vessel Boarding and Safety Team from Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Ore., boarded the vessel and immediately received a report from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents already aboard the vessel for a Customs inspection. The CBP members suspected the man was intoxicated based on their observations while aboard, including open containers of alcohol in the Captain's stateroom.

A Coast Guard investigator from Marine Safety Team Maui is continuing an investigation of a passenger vessel whose crew had run aground in the vicinity of Lahaina Harbor, Maui. The Spirit of Lahaina, a 65-ft catamaran, was re-floated and pulled from its grounding by Capt. Dave Jung of the vessel Kaulana. The crew was able to navigate the vessel back to its slip under its own power and moored up at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday. The investigator, Lt. Cmdr. James Stellflug, reports there is no risk of pollution as a result of this grounding and reported no flooding aboard the vessel. “There was no breach in the hull,” said Stellflug. The crew aboard the Spirit of Lahaina was navigating the vessel out from its harbor for a dinner cruise when it ran aground at approximately 5:30 p.m.

A new Coast Guard marine safety unit has been put into place to more quickly respond to a myriad of marine safety missions, such as response to oil spills and commercial vessel incidents in northeast North Carolina. Marine Safety Team Elizabeth City, N.C., a field unit for Marine Safety Office Wilmington, N.C., has been stood-up at the Coast Guard Support Center, Elizabeth City and will be responsible for port safety and security, inspections of U.S. flagged vessels, including passenger ferries, marine environmental protection, commercial fishing vessel safety program, and investigations of marine casualties and accidents. “By having a marine safety team at this location, we are able to more adequately and more rapidly respond to many types of marine safety incidents,” said Coast Guard Lt.

Northrop Grumman Corporation announced today that its Newport News sector received two awards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Newport News sector was recognized as the largest Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) STAR site. The VPP, administered by OSHA and the Department of Energy, is a cooperative effort among labor, management and government. OSHA awards the STAR only to those companies with comprehensive, successful safety and health programs that are in the forefront of employee protection and demonstrate continuous improvement. Newport News first became a STAR site in 1995, and was re-certified at the prestigious STAR level in 2000. Participants' Association (VPPPA) for his outstanding health and safety activities.