The Seattle Times News

Senator Wesley Livsey Jones gave his name to the famous “Jones Act” governing U.S. domestic maritime trade. But what do really know about him? It turns out that he was much more than a leading merchant marine policy maker. (i)Jones had a long career in the U.S. House of Representatives before he was a Senator, was an effective legislator, an astute politician, one of the hardest working legislators of his era, and always viewed as honest and forthright. His many maritime legislative successes included the Merchant Marine Act…

Ship repair services provider Titan has announced that Frank Collins will join the company as Senior Vice President, Government and Public Affairs.Collins will replace long-time Vigor Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Jill Mackie, who has announced her retirement effective the end of June. Additionally, Benton Strong was recently named Director of Public Affairs, responsible for all communications, as well as state and local government affairs across all Titan companies including of Vigor…

Joining members of the maritime community to assist families of the six crew members of the FV Destination that went missing in the Bering Sea on February 11, 2017, Peoples Bank is now collecting donations for the families of the missing crew members. Donations to the F/V Destination Memorial Fund can be made at all Peoples Bank locations throughout Western Washington, and Peoples Bank, a long-time banking partner for the North Pacific Fleet, will not take any fees associated with the contributions made to this fund. Fully 100 percent of all donations made at Peoples Bank branches will be donated directly to the crew members’ families. The F/V Destination was registered in Sand Point, Alaska, and sailed out of Seattle.

Bankrupt South Korean shipping company Hanjin will sell its operations of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 46 to Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping COmpany (MSC) subsidiary Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), reports AP. The Seattle Times reports Hanjin will sell its majority stake in the terminal operating companies at the Seattle and Long Beach ports for $78 million. Hanjin Shipping filed for bankruptcy protection at the end of August, worrying local retailers about the fate of their cargo. Hanjin had been delivering about three major shipments per week to the Port - nearly one-third of the traffic at Terminal 46 - and owned the company that operated the terminal.

The Fishing Company of Alaska, based in Renton, owns the  238-foot  Alaska Juris that started sinking in the Bering Sea shortly before noon on Tuesday, says a report in Seattle Times. Forty-six crewmen from the Seattle-based fishing vessel Alaska Juris have been rescued from lifeboats near the Aleutians, but the fate of their trawler is unclear. There were no reports of any injuries as the crew members were transferred from life rafts to the merchant ships, in a fairly calm seas, Coast Guard Petty Officer Lauren Steenson said. Shortly after 9 p.m. Juneau time, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that the cargo ships Spar Canis and Vienna Express had successfully plucked the trawler's crew from the ocean with the assistance of aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak.

Amazon.com Inc's China arm has registered as an ocean freight forwarder, according to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, a move that will give it more control over shipping products from Chinese factories to U.S. shoppers. The registration is the latest indication that Amazon plans to expand its logistics reach to cut costs for its retail business and potentially provide third-party logistics services to other industries. Its new status as a freight forwarder, or "non-vessel operating common carrier," gives Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, a foothold in the $350 billion a year ocean freight business. It will not operate ships but subcontract that work.

Jill Mackie will join shipbuilder and repairer Vigor’s executive team as senior vice president of public affairs, the company announced today. In her new role, Mackie will provide leadership and oversight of strategic communications, community and government relations at the local, state and federal level for all Vigor companies. Mackie officially joins the Vigor team October 14. Previously vice president of public affairs for The Seattle Times Company, Mackie brings more than 20 years experience working in governmental and public affairs to the Vigor team.

Royal Dutch Shell's quest to return to Arctic drilling for the first time in three years could face delays after Seattle ruled that the city's port must apply for a permit for the company to use it as a hub for drilling rigs. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, a Democrat who has fought against new projects by coal and oil companies, applauded the requirement by the city's planning department. "This is an opportunity for the port and all of us to make a bold statement about how oil companies contribute to climate change, oil spills and other environmental disasters - and reject this short-term lease," Seattle's Mayor Ed Murray said on his website. The Puget Sound region has a decades-long history as a hub for equipment used in energy drilling in Alaska.

Omega Morgan, a 22-year-old specialized moving company, has its eyes on the aging bridges in the Pacific Northwest. After successfully employing the jack-and-slide method of efficiently moving bridge spans into place for two high-profile projects, the company sees more opportunities in Oregon and Washington. In January, Omega Morgan moved Portland’s 1,100-foot-long, 3,400-ton Sellwood Bridge across the Willamette River in a single day, in one piece and on an angle, drawing national media and big crowds. Then in Washington State on the night of Sept.

Michael Jean Markey died peacefully at Swedish Hospital on March 2, 2013. Mike was born in Seattle, Wash., in 1932. He graduated from West Seattle High School in June 1950, and he received a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Stanford University in June 1954. In 1958, Mike joined his father, William C. Markey, at the family firm, Markey Machinery Company, Inc. in Seattle. MMCo was founded in 1907 by Mike's grandfather, Charles H. Markey. Mike was with the company until his retirement in 1996.

According to an August 21 report from The Seattle Times, above the Arctic Circle in Canada near Greenland, five Inuit villages have won a court order that blocks a German icebreaker from conducting seismic tests of an underwater region that abounds with marine life — and possibly with oil, gas and minerals. For the villagers who live in this mostly treeless region of fjords, icebergs and polar bears, the case was a victory that forces the national and territorial governments to consult them over the use of their homeland. The decision comes as Canada, Alaska and other Arctic regions are deciding whether to allow oil and gas development in Arctic waters that are covered by ice for nine or more months each year. (Source: The Seattle Times)

According to a report from the Seattle Times, a Coast Guard cutter stationed at Port Angeles responded to a report of a 65-ft whale-watching boat, with 80 passengers aboard, that grounded. The vessel reportedly grounded north of Lopez Island late afternoon on July 15. The boat was re-floated by a high tide. (Source: Seattle Times)

Japan Radio Company, Ltd., announces the addition of three new members to the staff in North America. Buddy Morgan is national sales manager in light marine and commercial fishing, Dennis Hogan is high seas sales manager and Patricia Beth Barker is public relations and marketing coordinator. 2003 begins the introduction of a new line of cutting edge Marine Electronics with innovative designs and advanced technology, which is an expansion into the pleasure craft Marine Electronics sector. Buddy Morgan brings over twenty years of experience in product development, sales and management with VEI, Datamarine, Simrad, Trimble and Raytheon. His extensive knowledge in all aspects of sales, service, support and marketing makes him a key player in JRC’s move to the forefront.

The Coast Guard and the state-funded rescue tugboat at Neah Bay rescued a sinking fishing boat in the bay, reported the Seattle Times. The 70-ft. boat Kristena Rose, with up to 5,000 gallons of fuel on board, was taking on water in its engine room while stopped at Makah Marina. A Coast Guard boat and the rescue tugboat responded and used pumps to get rid of the water. The pumping allowed some oil from the engine room to escape, and the Makah tribe is helping with the clean-up. The Coast Guard also had another rescue Tuesday, helping an elderly couple whose Nordic Tug had ran aground near Bellingham. The 37-ft. Augenblick got stuck at the south end of the Swinomish Channel.The Coast Guard launched a boat and transported the couple back to shore. Source: Seattle Times

Accoring to reports, two Seattle-based Coast Guard divers died Thursday while diving in the Arctic Ocean, about 500 miles north of Barrow, Alaska. Lt. Jessica Hill, 30, of St. Augustine, Fla., and Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Duque, 26, of Miami, were assigned to the Cutter Healy. The ship was on a scientific mission when the deaths occurred, according to the Coast Guard. Hill and Duque were on a practice dive familiarizing themselves with the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Coast Guard said. The cause of this dive accident is under investigation. The 420-foot Healy is one of three polar ice breakers operated by the Coast Guard. Healy is primarily used for Arctic science operations under sponsorship of the U.S. National Science Foundation.

According to reports, SeaMobile, a Seattle company that provides cellular and wireless service on cruise and cargo ships, acquired a Florida-based competitor, Maritime Telecommunications Network. The $168m all-cash deal, announced, will boost SeaMobile's position in the growing market to keep travelers and industry connected using the same devices they carry on shore. Maritime Telecommunications Network has satellite-based broadband networks deployed on cruise ships that provide several types of media in addition to wireless communications. source: Seattle Times

Washington Sen. Patty Murray is working to plug a hole in the nation's terrorism defenses that is very close to home, according to a Seattle Times report. Imported raw products and finished goods are vital to the U.S. economy, but they arrive in containers that could be filled with people and material meant to do the nation harm. Murray has teamed with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to propose the GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act. The legislation directs the secretary of Homeland Security to initiate specific projects, and, in several cases, finish or refine work already under way: uniform data collection and sharing; container security standards; radiation detection and safety.

Shipyards likely will submit new proposals to build four Washington state ferries after the state dropped its appeal of a court order that invalidated part of its selection process, according to a report in the Seattle Times. Last February, the state decided that Todd Shipyards of Seattle was the only company financially qualified to build the new ferries. Now, J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding of Tacoma will be allowed to submit a technical proposal to build the new ferries, a $284 million project. It would join Todd, and perhaps another, in competing to build the ferries. The original plans called for four 130-car ferries, now planners are considering 144-car ferries to accommodate a growing population. The change would have to be approved by the Legislature.