Ship detained after rag found plugging hull

Feb 20, 2010 0 Comments by nathan

Well folks, this is how you fail a port state vessel inspection – plug the hole in the side of your merchant ship with a rag!

Yup, it’s true. The operators of the Russian vessel Baltiyskiy-110 did just that. Apparently the company responsible for the vessel’s operation knew of the hole and told crew members to continue their voyage.

British inspectors decided otherwise, and now the vessel is detained in Fowey, Cornwall for this and several other serious issues.

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An engineering firm with a passion for ships

Feb 15, 2010 0 Comments by nathan

This week I’d like to take a moment to profile a marine engineering firm that is bringing a passion for ships directly into their business model.  CB Marine Design, lead by CEO Joseph Wrinn, is taking a unique approach towards marine engineering design by bringing  a love for ships into their work.  After all, they [...]

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Silence marks the end of LORAN (video)

Feb 12, 2010 0 Comments by nathan

This past Tuesday, Feb 8th 2010 marked the end of one of the longest running terrestrial radio navigation systems, the U.S. LORAN-C (LOng RAnge Navigation) system. In accordance with the 2010 DHS Appropriations Act, the U.S. Coast Guard terminated the transmission of all U.S. LORAN-C signals on 08 Feb 2010 at 2000 GMT. This termination does not affect U.S. participation in the Russian American or Canadian LORAN-C chains. U.S. participation in these chains will continue temporarily in accordance with international agreements, although Canada has announced it will cease transmissions on or before 01 October 2010.

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Dramatic rescue in South Pacific

Feb 10, 2010 0 Comments

The U.S. Coast Guard has completed a dramatic rescue of 28 crew members from the Taiwanese-flagged F/V Hou Chun 11 in the Pacific Ocean, just North of Kingman Reef, approximately 1000 NM South of Hawaii. The fishing vessel apparently caught fire, forcing the 28 crew members to abandon ship into liferafts. There are reports of several crew members suffering burns from the incident, but it appears all have survived. The rescue was conducted by the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley and with air support from a U.S. Navy P-3 and a Coast Guard C-130 from Air Station Barbers Point in Hawaii.

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Coast Guard announces deep cuts for 2011

Feb 01, 2010 0 Comments

My employer, the U.S. Coast Guard announced today that it expects to make difficult reductions in operational capacity in the next fiscal year. This follows the submission of the President’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request to congress, which includes the Coast Guard’s request for $10.08 billion dollars. The FY11 request is down from the FY10 $10.42 billion appropriation.

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