USS Theodore Roosevelt Sailor Dies from COVID-19
A U.S. Navy sailor died on Monday after contracting the coronavirus aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, whose captain was fired after warning his crew would die unnecessarily unless strong action was taken.The sailor, the first active-duty U.S. servicemember to die from coronavirus complications, was admitted to intensive care on April 9 after being found unresponsive in his quarters.
Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor Kicks Off 2020 International Season
The first ocean-going vessel of 2020 arrived Monday at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, thereby commencing this year's international shipping season at the Great Lakes port.Port officials welcomed the M/V Muntgracht, a 466-foot general cargo carrier, after her five-day voyage through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the deepwater port on Lake Michigan. Due to the current global pandemic precautions, the ceremonial Steel Stein…
USMI Awarded Contract to Build Special Ops Vesels
United States Marine, Inc. (USMI) has been awarded a $108 million contract to produce vessels for the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).The Gulfport, Miss.
Safeguarding the Maritime Transportation System During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The marine transportation system (MTS) is critical to both our national security and economic prosperity. The U.S. Coast Guard has an enduring responsibility to safeguard the MTS and enable the uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce. While Coast Guard Prevention missions normally address the systemic risks to the MTS through a variety of regulatory and compliance activities on a day-to-day basis,…
Apply Now for the MN100
Each year, the August edition of Marine News magazine profiles 100 of the top firms in brown water, workboat space.Is your company one of the best? Apply now.The 100 companies selected will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre. OEMs, service providers, shipyards, operators and the full gamut of marine-related businesses are eligible. But, only those who apply before July 1…
Callan Marine Wins Corpus Christi Dredging Work
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded a $97.9 million dredging contract on Wednesday to Callan Marine, Ltd., to complete the second phase of the four phase Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project. The project increases the channel depth from -47 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) to -54 feet MLLW, and widens the channel to 530 feet with an additional 400 feet of barge shelves.The newest and largest dredger in the Callen Marine fleet…
By the Numbers: Small Shipyard Grants
Small shipyards in the U.S. are critical to the nation’s maritime operations and economic security. Typically family-owned and employing less than 1,200 workers, America’s small shipyards support more than 400,000 jobs, employ more than 100,000 Americans directly and contribute tens of billions in gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).In an effort to help support these vital assets…
Fast Water Imperils Tricky Night Move
In late Spring at about 0300 local time, an aging towboat (#1) was pushing two loaded barges upbound on a swollen and fast-moving northwestern U.S. river. It was a moonless night and, while certainly not unusual conditions for the veteran captain and his longtime deckhand, it didn’t diminish the added challenges of the short but tricky nocturnal run. And, as towboat pilots know, activities and hazards that are literally clear in daytime hours…
US CDC Extends 'No Sail Order' for All Cruise Ships
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended its “no sail order” for all cruise ships, as it looks to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.The new CDC order says that cruise ships have to cease operations for up to 100 days, or the expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services' declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency, or if the CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order.The order…
Another 103 Sailors from US Carrier Test Positive for Coronavirus
Another 103 crew members on the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Navy said on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases from the ship to 550.In a statement on its website, the Navy said 92% of the carrier’s crew members had been tested for the virus, with 550 positive and 3,673 negative results.
Italy Orders Migrants Put in Quarantine on a Ship
Italy on Sunday ordered migrants aboard a rescue ship off its coast to be quarantined on another vessel to test them for the coronavirus instead of allowing them to disembark.The Alan Kurdi, run by the German non-governmental group Sea-Eye, is sailing in international waters off the western coast of Sicily.The transport ministry said in a statement those on board will be transferred to another ship…
Operations at Three Ports Run by India's Adani Disrupted - Sources
Berthing operations and truck movement were disrupted over the weekend in at least three ports handled by India's Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, India's largest port operator, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.There was no truck movement at three Adani ports in the state of Gujarat on the west coast, Mundra, Dahej and Tuna, the sources said. Additionally, berthing of container vessels was disrupted at Mundra…
Royal Caribbean Cruises Founder Dies at 90
Arne Wilhelmsen, a founder of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. died Saturday, April 11, 2020, in Palma, Spain. He was 90.In a company statement on Sunday, Royal Caribbean Cruises called Wilhelmsen a "a constant influence on the company from its founding, serving more than three decades on the company's board of directors."Together with the company's first CEO, the late Edwin Stephan, Wilhelmsen saw possibilities for the nascent cruise industry that others did not…
Saipem Employee Dies of 'Natural Causes' Aboard Offshore Vessel
A Saipem employee died last Friday aboard the company's offshore vessel FDS in a port in the Netherlands. Saipem said that the death occurred "due to natural causes" not related to coronavirus.
Singapore Readies 'Floating Hotels' for Workers as Coronavirus Spreads
Singapore is preparing to house hundreds of foreign workers in accommodation vessels typically used for offshore and marine industry staff as it races to find alternatives to dormitories where the novel coronavirus has been spreading rapidly.Tens of thousands of migrant workers, many from South Asia, live in cramped dormitories across Singapore, which have become the biggest source of coronavirus infections…
Uruguay Transports Australians, New Zealanders from Virus-Hit Cruise Ship
Uruguay started on Friday to repatriate 112 Australians and New Zealanders from a cruise ship hit by coronavirus and stranded in the La Plata River near the capital of Montevideo since March 27…
OPEC, Russia Approve Biggest-Ever Oil Cut to Support Prices
OPEC and allies led by Russia agreed on Sunday to a record cut in output to prop up oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic in an unprecedented deal with fellow oil nations, including the United States, that could curb global oil supply by 20%. Measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus have destroyed demand for fuel and driven down oil prices, straining budgets of oil producers and hammering the U.S. shale industry, which is more vulnerable to low prices due to its higher costs.
US Grants BWTS Extension Due to COVID-19
The U.S. Coast Guard is giving additional time for vessels impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to comply with regulations requiring ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) to be installed on board.Recognizing the impact of public health policies and the importance of a the continued flow of maritime commerce, the Coast Guard said vessels with BWTS compliance dates before April 1, 2021 will have an extra 12 months to comply.In some instances…
Coronavirus: Cargo Loss Prevention Measures
The pandemic has brought about sudden changes for cargo transportation, impacting shippers and transport companies around the world and potentially increasing the risk environment, particularly for high-value and temperature-sensitive goods. In a new risk bulletin AGCS highlights steps for cargo owners to consider when developing contingency plans.While in most cases initial government directives have established cargo transportation as an essential activity…
Shipbuilding: Good Data Quality Pays Off
Improved data quality offers enormous financial benefits and can even increase work satisfaction, says Dutch shipbuilding software firm Shipbuilder.“Nevertheless, we see that many maritime companies do not work on data quality and that costs a lot of money and time. Some millions of euros (and a lot of man-hours) slip away while problems, caused by poor quality of your project data, are being solved…
