The Obama administration is increasingly facing on the Coast Guard 2011 fiscal year budget proposal criticism following the scornful hearing with the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation this past Thursday. The Coast Guard unlike the Department of Defense is facing a shrinking budget while trying to maintain some of the oldest ships [...]

▶ The tropical paradise of St. Lucia is dealing with the aftermath of the 6704 GT container ship ANGELN (IMO: 9298600) which capsized and partially sank just off the island’s coast near Vieux-Fort.  The video posted above provides a glimpse of the capsized vessel, and the cargo which has drifted ashore.  No lives were lost in [...]

The C-5-S-75a class cargo ship is one of the last remaining bulk cargo ships that remain in service under the U.S. Flag. A total of 5 ships were constructed under this class at the Newport News Shipbuilding Co. in Newport News, VA from 1968 to 1969.  They entered the fleet just as containerization began to [...]

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.

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 [...]