Oil Barge Sinks in Venezuela, Killing Two
At least two people died and four were declared missing following the sinking of an oil barge operated by a contractor of Venezuelan state-run energy company PDVSA at Lake Maracaibo, PDVSA said on Thursday.Sources and an internal report from the company had indicated four fatalities from the accident earlier on Thursday. But PDVSA said rescue work to find the four missing people has not finished."PDVSA reports the unfortunate sinking of barge Chantase G of company SOSCA…
Second Phase of New Soo Lock Construction Completed
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, substantially completed Phase 2 (Upstream Approach Walls) contract on September 17.“Phase 2 work focused on rehabilitating the upstream approach walls to guide vessels into the New Lock and will allow the vessels to moor on the wall,” said Ryan Berkompas, New Lock at the Soo Project Engineer. “The old approach walls in the northern channel were the same age as the Sabin and Davis Locks…
Pacific Maritime Towboat Repowered
Pacific Maritime Group said its harbor towboat S. Bass has recently completed a full repower at Bay Ship in Alameda, Calif. and is back in action in San Diego, Long Beach and the Bay Area.The repower involved installing new EPA Tier 3 Mitsubishi S12R-Y3MPTAW engines, and Twin Disc 540 transmissions which were supplied by Dee Finley Diesel Repair, and installed new exhaust, water coolers, custom critical grade mufflers…
Heightened Security Alert for Israeli Ports as Maritime Industry Faces Increased Threats
Maritime security and industry groups raised the risk level for ships calling at Israeli ports on Friday, with terminals facing possible missile strikes from Lebanese group Hezbollah in the Mediterranean and Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea.Earlier this week, the Israeli government's port authority issued a letter stating that terminals ranging from the southern port of Eilat on the Red Sea to the major…
Seakeeper Opens Dealer Training Site in Italy
Seakeeper, a developer of marine motion control systems, has launched a new training facility in San Salvatore, Italy. This European location will enhance training access for partners outside North America, helping to build a global network of skilled technicians to support Seakeeper’s expanding customer base.“Our dedication to continuous improvement goes beyond our products; it’s also about the people who support them,” said Seakeeper president and CEO Andrew Semprevivo.
Armed Gangs Attack Key Haiti Cargo Port
Land access to a vital supply port in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince is being closed off after attacks by armed gangs, operator Caribbean Port Services (CPS) said on Thursday."CPS will shut its barriers to all types of land-based traffic from Sept. 26 to Sept. 29," it said in a statement, saying that the suspension should allow the army and national police to secure the area.A shipping official told Reuters this week that ships were being shot at…
US Reports Uptick in Russian, Chinese Navy Activity Near Alaska
The U.S. Coast Guard is watching an "uptick" in Chinese and Russian navy activity around Alaska and the northern Pacific but encounters to date have been very professional, a senior commander said on Friday.Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander, noted on a call with regional reporters while visiting Japan that his country and Russia share a maritime boundary line between Alaska and the Russian Far East"Russian naval vessels…
Spliethoff Orders Eight New L-Type Multi-Purpose Vessels
Dutch shipping company Spliethoff has placed an order with Wuhu Shipyard in China for the construction of a new series of eight multi-purpose vessels with an option for two additional vessels.This new series of L-type vessels will be delivered starting the first quarter of 2028.The L-type vessels are specially designed for the transportation of various dry cargo types, including paper products, bulk cargo…
