MarineLink News Search
Search term • USCG
Create an email alert for USCG
Incorrect Alloy for Valve Mounting Studs Presents Failure Hazard
The U.S. Coast Guard recently conducted a marine casualty investigation into an uncontrolled release of isobutane from a 2-inch cargo tank pipe aboard a pressure barge certificated to carry flammable cargoes. The direct cause of the incident was traced to the failure of the studs of a ball valve installed on a cargo tankâs gauging pipe which sheared off and caused the ball valve to separate from the cargo pipe.
USCG Awards Icebreaker Vessel Construction Contracts
The U.S. Coast Guard announced the award of two contracts to build up to six Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) icebreakers between the United States and Finland..Contracts were awarded to Rauma Marine Constructions Oy of Rauma, Finland, and Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C. of Lockport, Louisiana, and are the result of President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noemâs internationalâŠ
USCG Awaits Additional Forces to Before Seizing Venezuela-Linked Tanker
The U.S. Coast Guard is waiting for additional forces to arrive before potentially attempting to board and seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker it has been pursuing since Sunday, a U.S. official and a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.The ship, which maritime groups have identified as the Bella 1, has refused to be boarded by the Coast Guard. That means that the task will likely fall to oneâŠ
ABS Consulting Paper Supports USGC Maritime Cyber Compliance
ABSG Consulting Inc. (ABS Consulting), a leader in safety, risk and asset integrity management, has released a paper to support vessel and facility owners and operators in meeting compliance with the U.S. Coast Guardâs (USCG) Maritime Cyber Rule. This paper outlines practical steps to meet the first cybersecurity training deadline of January 12, 2026.Titled From Final Rule to Fully Trained: Practical Direction for Meeting the U.S.
The Great Lakes BWMS Regulation Scrum
There hasnât been an invasives species introduced to the Great Lakes from ballast water since 2006. So, whatâs the problem now?As far as Transport Canada is concerned: âScientific sampling to date consistently shows that ballast water management systems (BWMS) used in the Great Lakes reduce organism densities in ballast water discharges by over 99%, consistent with global evidence. As crews gain experience in operating these systemsâŠ
How Life Extension and Conversion Redefines âBorn Againâ in U.S. Ship Repair
We are well into the discussions advising shipbuilders and operators how the U.S. will create a renaissance of the maritime industry. Federal Legislation, Executive Orders, and new foreign partnerships driving the promise of commercial competitiveness with the leading global shipbuilders. Most of the shipbuilding rhetoric indicates the domestic markets will be left to survive on their own. This despiteâŠ
Ransomwar Tops Maritime Cyber Risks, Role-based Training a Priority
Maritime operations run on tight schedules and thin margins, and as ships, terminals and supply chains connect systems for visibility and efficiency, attackers gain paths to entry. Cyber risk has become an operational reliability and safety concern, not just an IT issue. âWhether we are looking at this challenge through an operational or organizational safety lens, cyber risk is a critical business risk.
Rozema Boat Works Receives USCG Contract
Rozema Boat Works, Inc., of Mount Vernon, Washington, was recently awarded a multi-year IDIQ contract by the U.S. Coast Guard for the construction of up to six second-generation Special Purpose Craft â Heavy Weather (SPC-HWX II) vessels. The all-aluminum boats are designed for extreme weather operations and will replace the legacy 52-foot SPC-HWX boats, which were originally commissioned in the 1950sâŠ
USCG Research Center Warns of Lithium-Ion Fire Hazards at Sea
As maritime industries accelerate toward electrification, the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) has issued a warning: lithium-ion batteriesâthe same technology powering the global shift to hybrid and all-electric vesselsâpose a unique and evolving threat when things go wrong. The April 2025 white paper, Lithium Battery Fire Hazards in the Maritime Environment, lays out the risksâŠ
Sustainable Fuel Chicken and Egg Redux. Maybe Some Ports Can Fix It.
In a recent sustainable fuel panel discussion, I once again found my self sucked into the sustainable fuel chicken and egg conundrum.I have discussed it before; shipowners will not buy ships that use a fuel for which no viable supply chain exists and fuel suppliers will not develop supply chains for which no buyers exist.In general, it is very difficult to break a chicken and egg conundrum, except through a direct directive or throughâŠ
USCG Confirms Contract Option for 10 Additional FRCs at Bollinger
The U.S. Coast Guard exercised a contract option with Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, Louisiana, to fund initial construction on 10 additional Fast Response Cutters (FRCs), a $507 million option that supports ongoing efforts to modernize the fleet and expand the Coast Guardâs global maritime mission.The action increases the total number of FRCs ordered under the current agreement from 67 to 77. Supported by historic investmentsâŠ
Maritime Dominance Begins with U.S. Ship Repair and Conversion
Dating back to the year 1786, Thomas Jefferson wrote to a member of the Continental Congress on the importance of free press keeping government in check. He was quoted as saying if he had a choice between âa government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to choose the latter.âThe basis of the statement being that the government is the opinion of the people. It is not in the current U.S.
M/V Seaward Endeavor Offers Increased International Charter Capabilities
Seaward Services, Inc., a provider of maritime solutions and part of the global Hornblower Group, announced that its vessel the M/V Seaward Endeavor is available for extended international operations following its approval by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for expanded authority to operate in international waters. The Seaward Endeavor is an integral component of Seawardâs growing fleet of Multi-Purpose Offshore Supply Vessels.
U.S. Coast Guard Commissions USCGC Storis
The U.S. Coast Guard has officially commissioned the USCGC Storis (WAGB 21) in Juneau, Alaska.The vessel is the Coast Guardâs first polar icebreaker acquired in over 25 years. The Storis, formerly the motor vessel Aiviq, was acquired on December 20, 2024, and subsequently renamed after modifications to enhance its communication and defense capabilities.Storis is manned by a hybrid crew of military cuttermen and civilian mariners.
US Coast Guard Displayed Ingenuity and Resourcefulness in Titan Response
The catastrophic implosion of the Titan submersible that killed five people in 2023 could have been prevented, a US Coast Guard investigative board found on Tuesday, calling the vesselâs safety culture and manager OceanGate's operational practices âcritically flawed.âThe Titan vanished during a descent to the Titanic wreck on a tourist expedition, losing contact with its support ship. After a tense four-day searchâŠ
Icebreaker Construction: Seaspan, Bollinger, Rauma and Aker Arctic Team to Build USCG Icebreakers
In a major move to accelerate the U.S. Coast Guardâs icebreaking fleet expansion, Bollinger Shipyards, Rauma Shipyards, Seaspan Shipyards, and Aker Arctic announced a partnership to deliver next-generation Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs) under the Coast Guardâs multibillion-dollar icebreaker program.The collaboration combines U.S., Canadian, and Finnish shipbuilding expertise to meet the Coast Guardâs urgent Arctic mission requirements.
USCG: Communication is Key when Completing a Declaration of Inspection
A recent oil spill on the Delaware River starkly underscored the critical need for effective communication when completing the required Declaration of Inspection (DOI) prior to an oil transfer in accordance with Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), §156.120 (33 CFR156.120). Prior to the incident, the facility person in charge (PIC) filled out their section of the DOI and sent the checklist in a bucket hoist to the barge PIC who subsequently completed their portion.
U.S. Shipbuilding, Maritime Dominance Requires a New Ecosystem
With all the Legislative fanfare, Executive Orders, Committee meetings, lobbying efforts and media announcements concerning American Shipbuilding, Naval Warfare and Maritime Dominance, it is no surprise that the result of the uproar is shear confusion within the maritime industrial base (MIB). The April 9, 2025 Executive Order Restoring Americaâs Maritime Dominance lists more than several reports to the President due within 90 days.
Top Five Essentials for U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Compliance
Vessel operators must embed cybersecurity into their operational procedures to meet USCG 33 CFR Part 104, writes Nicolas Furgé, President, Cyber, MarlinkAs cyber threats continue to grow in both scale and complexity, maritime stakeholders, from shipowners and operators to port facilities are facing new regulatory demands to improve cyber resilience.The latest cybersecurity rules from the United States Coast Guard (USCG)âŠ
US Coast Guard: Safety for Lithium-Ion Battery System Installations
An integrated Li-ion battery bank recently caught fire onboard an inspected passenger vessel when loosely crimped lugs overheated. While no one was injured and the vessel sustained minimal damage, this casualty highlights safety hazards unique to Li-ion batteries. All integrated (installations used for propulsion and electrical power) Li-ion battery systems on inspected vessels must undergo engineering plan reviewâŠ
When Your USCG License is on the Line, Relationships Matter
Evaluating Marine License Insurance Providers
The Importance of Marine License & Liability Insurance for USCG-Licensed Mariners
Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 CBT for ballast water treatment system
Marine License Insurance: Do You Need It?
Cyber Security in the Maritime Sector - What You Need to Know Now
Whatâs in that Box? Container Shipping Security Goes Digital
Maritime Security
DEX-O-TEX Light Weight Underlayment.
UNDERSTANDING UV TRANSMITTANCE
