Us Coast Guard Marine Safety Office News

The Coast Guard is in investigating what may have caused a grain barge to sink approximately four miles off the shores of Waukegan earlier today. A team from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Chicago will determine if last night’s weather played a factor. The 200 foot barge carrying 64,000 bushels of wheat was being towed in four to six foot seas last night when it began taking on water. At last report, the barge was floating in the water at a 90 degree angle. There were no injuries during the mishap

The U.S. Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO) for the purpose of inspecting the transportation of intermodal containers to ensure compliance with various federal, state, and local regulations. “The Coast Guard is primarily checking containers for proper blocking and bracing of hazardous materials,” said Coast Guard Ensign Tony Migliorini, Director of Compliance and Security. Local police departments check drivers for proper driving credentials, search for contraband, and inspect trucks for safety regulations. Canines from both the Coast Guard and police departments will be used. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration…

Shashank Pendse, a citizen of India and Chief Engineer on the ship M/V Spring Drake; MMS Co., Ltd, a Japanese company that manages the ship; and Grus Line Shipping S.A., the Panamanian company that owns the ship; were all indicted on Feb. 6 in on charges that allege they dumped oil at sea, obstructed justice and made false statements. In Aug. 2003, the Spring Drake was docked in Portland to pick up a load of grain when it was inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard. The indictment alleges that the ship dumped oil and oily sludge at sea through a pipe that bypassed the ship's pollution control equipment, the defendants attempted to conceal evidence of the illegal oil discharges, and they made false entries in the ship's Oil Record Book. The release of oil at sea can harm fish and wildlife.

The U.S. Coast Guard is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ship Rude and will use Side Scan Sonar technology to check the condition of the T/V Bow Mariner that exploded and sank Saturday night. The 90-foot Norfolk, Va., based NOAA Ship Rude is equipped with side scan sonar technology and will sweep the area where the T/V Bow Mariner sank to acquire imagery of the condition of the vessel. This is not the first time the Rude has been used for missions like this. Previously, the RUDE assisted with the search and recovery of TWA flight 800 in 1996 and the search and recovery operations of John F. Kennedy Jr’s aircraft and Egypt Air flight 990 off the Massachusetts coast in 1999.

According to the Coast Guard, the Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) oil recovery vessel VIRGINIA RESPONDER began skimming operations, however, recoverable oil is widely dispersed and the amount recovered has been minimal to date. A helicopter has been flying throughout the day to locate patches of oil and direct the skimming vessel. The oil spill recovery vessel has been on-scene since Monday prepared to recover oil. Previous flights of the area located oil that was too spotty, patchy and widely dispersed to efficiently pick-up. On-scene conditions are favorable. During a Tuesday over flight, patches of oil were located in the area where the T/V BOW MARINER sank Saturday night.

It's 8:30 a.m. as the Big Cat Express saddles up to the dock at the Port of Morgan City, La. It is Sea Trial day for the big quad engine catamaran ferry. No question she is waterjet powered as the tops of the blue "buckets" of the four Hamilton Jet 651's break the surface of the water at the stern. Just above the buckets are the exhausts, large four stainless steel pipes that curve downward toward the water. About 25 pickup trucks and my Ford Taurus wait the arrival of the 150-ft. by 34-ft. vessel. Painted gleaming white, the three-deck vessel looks like it was built for speed. Today we will find out just how fast it can travel. Emerging from the vehicles were several executives from Gulf Craft, Inc.

In accordance with the Maritime Transportation Security Act, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Milwaukee has reviewed and approved the first facility security plan in the Great Lakes region. This regulated facility is one of the first maritime facilities in the United States to receive U. S. Coast Guard approval under the full compliance review process. The Maritime Transportation Security Act requires maritime facilities to conduct facility security assessments and develop facility security plans to deter, detect, and defend against potential terrorists and other criminal activities. On or before July 1, 2004, facilities must begin operating in compliance with their proposed security plans.

Six stowaways were turned over to authorities in the Dominican Republic after they were removed from a tug and barge arriving in San Juan from the Dominican Republic Sunday. The stowaways were spotted by the crew of the tug Sea Islander using a video surveillance system that monitors security on the barge. The master reported the stowaways to the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office in San Juan. Crews from Coast Guard Station San Juan escorted the tug and barge to the pier where a team of law Enforcement officers including Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the barge company's private security guards waiting on the pier. While the barge was being moored to the pier, one stowaway exited the barge brandishing a machete and jumped into the water and swam under the pier.

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to work with local, state, and federal agencies to assess and improve port security throughout the region. Based on information received across the U.S. Government, there is a credible threat to maritime interests from swimmers and divers. The Captain of the Port Puget Sound has notified individual maritime industry and port authority stakeholders to heighten awareness and discuss appropriate security measures. This information does not change the Homeland Security Advisory System threat level. The threat level remains “yellow” (elevated). The Captain of the Port Puget Sound has established a communication network with local port authorities and marine industry leaders to report anomalous behaviors…

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Office San Francisco Bay, the California Department of Fish and Game Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) and Titan Maritime, Inc. continue their steady progress on the assessment and oil removal operations from the sunken 468 ft. cargo ship S.S. Jacob Luckenbach , which sank 50 years ago, 17 miles West of San Francisco. Despite the challenges and risks involved with the operation, the responders have identified 26 tanks and spaces on the wreck containing about 132,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil. To date, about 12,000 gallons of oil have been recovered. During the assessment, many fuel tanks were found to have badly corroded vent pipes which allowed oil to slowly leak into the cargo holds.

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is cooperating with U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Juneau to investigate and evaluate structural damage sustained to the ferry Fairweather Thursday (December 16) in Southeast Alaska waters. Fairweather sustained damage by waves during a regularly scheduled voyage from Haines to Juneau late Thursday afternoon. The vessel carried 101 passengers at the time, including the commanding officer of Marine Safety Office Juneau. At no time during the voyage were the passengers in any danger.

Pacific and Atlantic Corp. of Athens Greece, operator of the Motor Vessel John G. Lemos, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Jan. 19 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon in Portland, Ore., on charges that it falsified the Lemos' Oil Record Book. Pacific and Atlantic was ordered to pay a $500,000 fine, $250,000 of which will be paid to the Columbia River Estuary Coastal Fund. In addition, Pacific and Atlantic must also establish an environmental compliance program for all 10 vessels in its fleet. On Jan. 4, the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office conducted a routine Port State Control Inspection of the Lemos at the Port of Portland. The Lemos is a 473-foot, Cypress-flagged bulk cargo carrier. The inspection of the vessel revealed false entries in the ship's Oil Record Book.

the recovery of oil from the sunken vessel S/S JACOB LUCKENBACH. award at the annual meeting of the Task Force in Honolulu July 22. response resulting in enhanced environmental protection. partnerships and involve the public are favored. Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. 2003 Award. southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge, in 175 feet of water. last two decades. Response, and the California State Lands Commission. contract with the U.S. Coast Guard. the oil inside a tank, and pump the oil to the surface. minimal risk of oil release. The difficult and often dangerous work continued for four months. worldwide. sensitive wildlife will be protected from exposure to oil spills. others in industry, government, and the public to emulate.

U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Portland is investigating the grounding the motor vessel Marine Chemist. The 671-ft. vessel ran aground on Cottonwood Island, which is located on the Washington side of the Columbia River, just east of Longview. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the grounding. The St. Vincent flagged vessel was headed for India where it was to be scrapped. Coast Guard Auxiliary assets on scene reported no visible signs of pollution. The Coast Guard is communicating with all river traffic in the immediate vicinity. The Coast Guard has directed the master of the vessel to proceed to the nearest safe anchorage or berth once refloated for inspection to determine the seaworthiness of the vessel. Tugs were on scene working to refloat the vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office San Francisco Bay is investigating the near collision between a container ship Santa Monica and the fishing vessel Cheryl-C near the Golden Gate Bridge. At approximately 7:50 a.m. on August 16, 2005, the container ship Santa Monica was traveling outbound past the Golden Gate Bridge and had to make a drastic course change to avoid a collision with the fishing vessel Cheryl-C. The Cheryl-C was obstructing the path of the Santa Monica in the shipping lane and did not heed danger signals sounded by the 831-foot container ship. The Coast Guard is pursuing civil penalty action against the Cheryl-C…