BP Whiting Oil Spill: Latest Update
The US Coast Guard informs that weather conditions improved overnight enabling clean up operations and assessment activities to progress near the BP Whiting Refinery in Whiting, Indiana. High winds and heavy surf created unsafe conditions for contractors and assessment team personnel both Friday and Saturday, suspending activities. A Coast Guard helicopter returning from a separate mission conducted an overflight assessment of the area and did not observe any oil sheen on the water.
Sick Crew Member Airlifted Off Crowley Tankship
The Coast Guard informs it has medevaced a 54-year-old crewmember from the Crowley Maritime's US-flagged motor tanker 'Pennsylvania' approximately 20 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C. The master of the 576-foot Pennsylvania notified Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders that a crewmember was suffering from chest pain and needed medical attention. Sector watchstanders launched a crew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., to assist.
Coast Guard Matagorda Bay Responds to Further Oil Pollution
The US Coast Guard informs that clean-up and response teams from the Matagorda Bay Incident Command Post are responding to sightings of oil near North Padre Island and along sporadic portions of Mustang Island in Corpus Christi. Additional sightings also include tar balls in the area, although it is not clear whether the tar balls are the result of the March 22 spill near Texas City. However, response teams from Miller EnvironmentalâŠ
GoM FPO Vessel Emergency Production Shut-In
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) informs it is responding to a report of an emergency disconnect and production shut-in onboard the Helix Producer 1 located approximately 100 miles southwest of Houma, La. The offshore oil and gas operator, Energy Resources Technology Gulf of Mexico, LLC (ERT)/Talos reported to BSEE that the facility experienced an electrical black-out at approximately 1:45 p.m. CDT. ERT performed an emergency disconnect of the transfer system buoy.
New Orleans Cruise Terminal Upgrade Nearly Complete
$2.3 million in renovations, expansions and upgrades are nearing completion at the Port of New Orleansâ Erato Street Cruise Terminal ahead of the arrival of the Portâs largest home-port cruise ship to date â the Carnival Dream. The 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream is scheduled to begin sailing seven-day, year-round eastern and western Caribbean itineraries April 14 from the Port of New Orleansâ Erato Street Cruise TerminalâŠ
The Monterey Bay - A Leader in the Blue Economy
Californiaâs blue economy is a +$50 billion industry. Today, marine science and the blue economy directly affect various business and government sectors such as offshore oil and gas productionâŠ
Bishop Lifting Acquires Delta Rigging & Tools
SBP Holdings, through its wholly owned subsidiary Bishop Lifting Products, has completed the acquisition of Delta Rigging & Tools headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Kiel Canal Strike Action Ended
The strike in the Kiel Canal ended at 6 a.m. this morning, March 28, according to a GAC report. At Brunsbuettel, the big south lock chamber and both small lock chambers are back in serviceâŠ
Maritime Reporter @ 75: The Daily Cartoon
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was founded by John J. O'Malley (1905-1980) in 1939, and today ranks as the world's largest audited trade publication in the world serving the maritime industry, with a circulation of more than 35,000 worldwide, including ship and boat owners, ship and boat builders, naval architects and marine engineers. Today Maritime Reporter heads a group of four print and 10 websites serving the global maritime, offshore and subsea sector.
USCG Lifts Matagorda Safety Zone, Response Ongoing
Oil spill responders from the Matagorda Incident Command Post in Port OâConnor, Texas, continue to implement their aggressive plans, Friday, intended to protect environmentally sensitive areas of the Matagorda Bay area against any impact from a portion of the oil spilled in Saturdayâs ship-barge collision near Texas City, Texas. Effective at 10 a.m. today, the U.S. Coast Guard has lifted the safety zoneâŠ
MARAD Study: Renewable Diesel Reduces Emissions, No Harm to Performance
MARAD study shows renewable diesel fuel reduces emissions without impacting engine performance. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has recently completed tests of renewable biofuel technology onboard the training ship State of Michigan. The project was part of a MARAD initiative to conduct âat seaâ tests of advanced renewable fuels and assess its impact on the shipâs engine. The tests compared operationalâŠ
US, Canadian Icebreakers Escort Great Lakes Bulker
U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard crews helped to keep commerce moving on the Great Lakes by breaking ice for bulk carrier CSL Laurentien in eastern Lake Eerie on March 27. The crews encountered plate ice as thick as 3 feet and ice ridges as tall as 8 feet. The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Neah Bay, homeported in Cleveland, work with Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley to escort the CSL Laurentien through the ice. uscgnews.com
Shipping Confidence at Highest Level Since 2008
Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry rose to their highest level for almost six years in the three-month period to February 2014, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. Freight rates look set to improve or maintain existing levels over the next twelve months, while an increase in private equity funding is expected to have a major impact on the industry.
Bollinger Delivers 9th USCG Fast Response Cutter
Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. has delivered the Kathleen Moore, the ninth Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to the United States Coast Guard. Bollinger President, Chris Bollinger announced the successful delivery of the USCGC Kathleen Moore to the 7th Coast Guard District in Key West, Fla., stating, âWe are very pleased with the latest delivery of this high quality Fast Response Cutter built by the Bollinger team. Once again, this is another successful FRC delivery that is on schedule and on budget.
Ocean Osprey is Ready to Serve in Norway
Zamakona Yards announced that the newly built vessel Ocean Osprey arrived to Scotland last week to soon begin operating in the Martin Linge offshore oilfields to support the works of Norwegian company Total E & P. Ocean Osprey was launched January 31 at Zamakonaâs facility in Pasajes (San Sebastián) and is the first ship ordered by the Norwegian shipping company Atlantic Offshore AS built by Zamakona Yards.
St. Lawrence Seaway Opens 2014 Season
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) marked the opening of the Seawayâs 56th navigation season today, with the transit of Algoma Central Corporationâs newly built ship, the Algoma Equinox, through Lock 3 of the Welland Canal. The vessel is the first of eight Equinox-class ships that are being purpose-built for trade in the St. Lawrence Seaway. âAlgoma Central Corporationâs fleet renewalâŠ
Today in U.S. Naval History: March 28
Today in U.S. 1800 - Essex becomes first U.S. 1814 - HMS Phoebe and Cherub capture USS Essex off Valparaiso, Chile. Before capture, Essex had captured 24 British prizes during the War of 1812. 1848 - USS Supply reaches the Bay of Acre, anchoring under Mount Carmel near the village of Haifa, during expedition to explore the Dead Sea and the River Jordan. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Varadkar Opens Killybegs Coast Guard Station
Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has today opened the newly-built Coast Guard Station in Killybegs which provides the voluntary crew withâŠ
Damen Delivers Shoalbuster to MCS in 8 Days
Maritime Craft Services (MCS) recently took delivery of a new Damen Shoalbuster 2609. Damen has delivered numerous Crew Transfer Vessels, Multicats, and Shoalbusters to MCS â the two companies have a long-standing relationship. What is notable about this latest delivery, however, is the incredibly short timeframe involved. MCS owner Dirk Kuijt and Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld managing director Jos van Woerkum signed the contract on March 12, and just eight days later, MCS took delivery.
Crane Barge Delivered to Stevens Towing
Bos Smith, Vice President, Operations, with Stevens Towing Co., Inc., Yonges Island, S.C., announces the delivery of Ocean Ranger, a 200â X 72â X 14â ABS-classed floating crane barge. Stevens Towing, operating Ocean Ranger under Charleston Heavy Lift, will offer crane services in the Charleston, S.C., to Savannah, Ga., area. The barge was designed by The Shearer Group, Inc., Seabrook, Texas, and built by Metal Trades, Inc., of Yonges Island, S.C.
