The iPhone has become the perfect mobile tool for many of us, myself included. Having just concluded a trip abroad, I was amazed at the access I had while traveling, even if limiting myself to using only freewifi hotspots to avoid roaming charges. With over 150,000 apps, the iPhone still has an advantage over even its newest competitors and with a number like that, there are sure to be a few apps that can benefit those in the merchant marine. Here are 10 apps that I think might just be worth a download.

Well, it appears old Bligh Reef isn’t quite finished snagging ships and ripping open their hull’s. This time it was the tug Pathfinder, operated by Crowley Maritime. A recent press release on the Crowley website highlites that the Pathfinder had operated for 32 years without a single environmental incident.
From the CG press release:
VALDEZ, Alaska – Coast Guard personnel from Marine Safety Unit Valdez, Sector Anchorage and Cutter Long Island are responding to a 136-foot Crowley tug grounding on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound Thursday.
The Pathfinder crew had …

Good news for the time being for the Indian flagged cargo ship, the APJ Suryavir that was previously reported disabled and adrift in the North Pacific, South of the Aleutian chain. The crew reported in to the Coast Guard that they had been able to make repairs to what appears to be the fuel pump and are continuing their voyage to Portland, OR.

The empty Indian flagged cargo ship APJ Suryavir has reported itself disabled and adrift in the North Pacific, approximately 544 NM south of Adak in heavy seas. It will be a busy 48 hours as the crew of 28 is preparing to abandon ship to seek shelter on another passing cargo ship. Abandoning ship in heavy seas will no doubt be a dangerous evolution, and our prayers and thoughts go out to the mariners on board this ship.

There have been a series of extremely strong storm systems that have moved across the Northern Pacific and Gulf of Alaska in the early half of December. Just a week earlier from this incident, the Coast Guard LORAN station in Attu recorded wind gusting to 178 MPH. To those crossing the Pacific out there, be careful and keep a weather eye!

Icebergs drifting North from Antarctica have been getting closer and closer to Australia and New Zealand, and have more recently began to constitute a fairly serious threat to shipping in that area. Navigation is made more dangerous as the large icebergs move North into warmer temperatures and begin to break up, scattering hundreds of smaller yet still dangerous icebergs.

The Maritime is proud to welcome aboard our first sponsor, the Doyle Raizner Maritime Injury Law Firm out of Houston.  Doyle Raizner is an international firm that specializes in assisting and protecting mariners and those working in the dangerous maritime environment at sea. They specialize in the complex areas of admiralty law, international injury law, and the Jones Act. The firm consists of a dedicated team of respected and trusted attorneys who represent both U.S. Merchant Mariners, and international mariners in finding the justice they deserve.
In the coming …