Category: Safety and Security
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NTSB: Loss of lube oil led to $2.6M ATB fire
NTSB: Loss of lube oil led to $2.6M ATB fire The National Transportation Board (NTSB) has released its report on a December 30, 2024, incident involving the articulated tug and barge (ATB) Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder, owned and operated by the Interlake Steamship Co. On the day of the incident, at about 4.09 p.m. local time, the…
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Texas A&M’s Smart-Sea system guides seafarers away from collisions
Texas A&M’s Smart-Sea system guides seafarers away from collisions Researchers from the Texas A&M University College of Engineering have developed a system that analyzes vessel maneuverability and seafarer experience to deliver real-time collision avoidance recommendations. [Image: Rachel Barton/Texas A&M University College of Engineering] Collisions between marine vessels and allisions of vessels with stationary structures such…
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New USCG cybersecurity rules raise stakes for operators
New USCG cybersecurity rules raise stakes for operators As marine vessels become more modernized, they also become vulnerable to cyberattacks. Ransomware continues to pose a major threat, impacting a vessel’s entire operational networks, until a ransom is paid. According to Michael DeVolld, senior director, maritime cybersecurity, ABS Consulting and head of the ABS Cyber Center of…
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GAO: Navy still needs to do more on ship fire prevention
GAO: Navy still needs to do more on ship fire prevention Welding and other hot work involved in U.S. Navy ship maintenance means a significant risk of ship fires. The 2020 fire that gutted the Wasp-class amphibian USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), causing over $3 billion in damage, spurred Navy action to improve fire safety…
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Vanemar’s New Security System is a Snap to Install
Vanemar’s New Security System is a Snap to Install Vanemar’s security and monitoring system is easy to set up. Courtesy Vanemar BUY NOW Vanemar has a new system for remote vessel monitoring and in our test we found it to be the easiest to set up and use of several in this report. The process…
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NTSB: Faulty lashings led to Genius Star XI battery cargo fires
NTSB: Faulty lashings led to Genius Star XI battery cargo fires The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its report on an incident that began Christmas Day 2023 when the first of two fires broke out in lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) units stowed as cargo aboard the 410-foot bulk cargo vessel Genius…
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Windward Offshore opts for ScanReach ConnectPOB for newbuild CSOV quartet
Windward Offshore opts for ScanReach ConnectPOB for newbuild CSOV quartet Straume, Norway, headquartered ScanReach reports that its ConnectPOB personnel-on-board and safety platform has been selected for the series of four newbuild Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) ordered by Hamburg-headquartered Windward Offshore from Fincantieri’s Vard subsidiary The first vessel in the series, Windward Athens, was delivered…
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Op-Ed: Navigating the Coast Guard’s emerging cybersecurity framework
Op-Ed: Navigating the Coast Guard’s emerging cybersecurity framework Cybersecurity is becoming a formalized regulatory obligation for the maritime sector as the U.S. Coast Guard moves forward with new requirements under 33 CFR Part 101, Subpart F. Once finalized, these rules will establish mandatory cybersecurity controls for vessels and shoreside facilities operating in U.S. waters, marking…
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VIDEO: Massive fire on ONE Henry Hudson in Port of LA now under control
VIDEO: Massive fire on ONE Henry Hudson in Port of LA now under control A fire that broke about the Ocean Network Express containership ONE Henry Hudson, Friday evening, while moored in the Port of Los Angeles was reportedly largely under control by Saturday evening. The vessel had been moved to an anchorage approximately one…
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Hellas Aphrodite crew rescued as Somali piracy incidents surge
Hellas Aphrodite crew rescued as Somali piracy incidents surge Incidents of Somali Basin piracy are surging. This morning the UKMTO Operation Center gave an update on a November 6 incident 560 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia, in which the master of the Maltese-flagged merchant tanker Hellas Aphrodite reported that it had been approached from…
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Op-Ed: Identity Is the cybersecurity perimeter in maritime operations
Op-Ed: Identity Is the cybersecurity perimeter in maritime operations By Bill Moore, CEO, Xona The maritime sector is now a front line in cybersecurity conflict. Nation-state actors are targeting vessels, ports, and shipyards, not just to steal data, but to disrupt operations and gain strategic advantage. As connectivity expands across navigation, propulsion, and cargo systems,…
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Conrad’s Amelia shipyard achieves two years without a recordable incident
Conrad’s Amelia shipyard achieves two years without a recordable incident Conrad Shipyard reports that its Amelia, La., facility has achieved a significant safety milestone—two consecutive years without a recordable incident. The Amelia facility is currently constructing YRBM vessels for the U.S. Navy, alongside projects for several valued commercial clients. The company says that the accomplishment…
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New NTSB safety alert says land-based firefighters need ship fire training
New NTSB safety alert says land-based firefighters need ship fire training Repeating advice given following the July 2023 Grande Costa D’Avorio ship fire, in which two Newark firefighters lost their lives while responding, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a new safety alert Wednesday urging greater awareness and training for land-based firefighters who may be…
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IUMI updates its guidance on EV fire hazards
IUMI updates its guidance on EV fire hazards The recent loss of the car carrier Morning Midas is yet another reminder that costly and potentially deadly EV fires on board ship remain a continuing concern and, today, the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) published an updated version of its set of best practice and…
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FERRIES 2025: Passenger tech and cybersecurity risks
FERRIES 2025: Passenger tech and cybersecurity risks Marine Log’s 38th annual FERRIES Conference, taking place November 4–5, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J., across from Lower Manhattan will feature a panel discussion on “Passenger Tech, Shoreside Systems, and the Growing Cybersecurity Threat.” The session will be moderated by Sabrina Brigance, CMIP, managing director, marine, Hylant, and…
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Component failure caused $1.1M BBC Africa collision
Component failure caused $1.1M BBC Africa collision A steering control system component failure on the multi-purpose carrier BBC Africa resulted in a collision with a bulk carrier in the Houston Ship Channel, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday. The multi-purpose carrier lost steering as it was departing the channel on Aug. 25, 2023, and…
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USCG arrests captain of MSC Jubilee IX for operating ship while intoxicated
USCG arrests captain of MSC Jubilee IX for operating ship while intoxicated The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) arrested the captain of the Liberian-flagged 8,814 TEU containership MSC Jubilee IX for suspicion of operating the vessel while intoxicated following a boarding at Terminal 5 in Seattle, Aug 20, 2025. The Coast Guard says that watchstanders…
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VIDEO: Explosion on coal carrier W-Sapphire rocks Baltimore
VIDEO: Explosion on coal carrier W-Sapphire rocks Baltimore The Baltimore Sun reported this morning that the main channel used by cargo ships to enter and exit the Port of Baltimore was still shut down as the Coast Guard probed the cause of a Monday evening explosion on board the coal carrier W-Sapphire. Video on YouTube…
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USCG now monitoring 5 Chinese research vessels in U.S. Arctic
USCG now monitoring 5 Chinese research vessels in U.S. Arctic Nobody likes having strangers rattling around in the attic and the U.S. Coast Guard is continuing its response to five Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic. The Coast Guard Arctic District has been monitoring activity and deployed a C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft…
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Op-Ed: The impact of climate change on shipping
Op-Ed: The impact of climate change on shipping By Roberta Weisbrod, Executive Director, Worldwide Ferry Safety Association Ocean workers are on the front line of climate change, the Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF) concludes based on a massive survey conducted with the Gallup Organization of workers in a range of fields. The survey, of 147,000 workers in…
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Coast Guard monitors aground passenger vessel in Honolulu
Coast Guard monitors aground passenger vessel in Honolulu The Coast Guard is monitoring a passenger vessel that ran aground near Kewalo Basin in Honolulu on Saturday, August 9. The Discovery, a 75-foot passenger vessel that operates as a shuttle for Atlantis Adventures, is currently secured to the seawall at Kewalo Basin awaiting commercial salvage. At…
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U.K. pilots launch interactive aid to compliance with new SOLAS pilot transfer reg
U.K. pilots launch interactive aid to compliance with new SOLAS pilot transfer reg As well as being potentially deadly, deficiencies in pilot ladders and pilot transfer arrangements can carry serious operational and financial consequences for the supply chain In a move to enhance pilot transfer safety, the United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ Association (UKMPA) has launched…
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Q&A: Crew welfare in conflict zones and legal risks
Q&A: Crew welfare in conflict zones and legal risks The ongoing Iran–Israel conflict and the volatile situation in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz have intensified scrutiny of maritime risk zones. While the industry addresses insurance implications and routing strategies, a less discussed but critical concern lies in employment law and crew welfare. David…
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USCG: Deadly loss of Titan submersible was preventable
USCG: Deadly loss of Titan submersible was preventable The June 2023 loss of the Titan submersible, which cost five lives, was preventable according to Jason Neubauer, chair of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) into the incident. The MBI yesterday released its 300-page Report of Investigation (ROI) on the Titan’s ill fated…
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Vanemar: Is It The Best Remote Boat Monitoring System?
Vanemar: Is It The Best Remote Boat Monitoring System? A simple sticker, a powerful message. Vanemar’s “Protected by” badge signals smart monitoring, as well as deterring theft before it starts. Courtesy vanemar.com For many boat owners, the joy of boating comes with one persistent concern: “Is my boat okay when I’m not there?” Whether docked…
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Panama Ship Registry moves to end “dark fleet” registrations
Panama Ship Registry moves to end “dark fleet” registrations With flag-hopping continuing to be a favored deceptive practice used by “dark fleet” bad actors, the Panama Ship Registry will no longer accept the registration of tankers and bulkers older than 15 years. Here’s what it says: “The Panamanian Ship Registry has updated its policies to…
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Affordable Boat-Security Systems
Affordable Boat-Security Systems Monitoring your boat from afar is easier than ever, thanks to increasingly affordable and compact app-based systems that update you on the condition and location of your unattended boat, no matter how many miles separate you from your vessel. All it takes is a few clicks on your mobile phone to get…
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Rudder fell off: Bulker narrowly missed grounding
Rudder fell off: Bulker narrowly missed grounding The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has issued a report on a July 24, 2023, incident in which the rudder of a bulk carrier fell off, putting the ship at risk of grounding. The fully loaded 32,729 dwt Achilles Bulker, owned and operated by SE Apex…
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Human Rights Watch: Houthi attacks on ships amount to war crimes
Human Rights Watch: Houthi attacks on ships amount to war crimes The Houthi armed group in Yemen attacked two commercial cargo vessels in the Red Sea between July 6 and 9, 2025, violations of the laws of war amounting to war crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. The Houthis sunk both ships, killing and injuring…
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Cell phone use and fatigue: $810K tow strike on moored barges
Cell phone use and fatigue: $810K tow strike on moored barges The National Transportation Safety Board has released its report on an April 17, 2024, incident involving the 170-foot American Commercial Barge Line towboat William B Klunk. As in many other reports involving all types of vessel, cell phone use was implicated as a cause.…
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Houthis claim they have sunk bulker Magic Seas
Houthis claim they have sunk bulker Magic Seas The 22 crew of the 2016-built, 63,000 dwt Liberian-flag bulker Magic Seas were today reported safely rescued after an attack 51 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, by multiple small vessels who tha t opened fire with small arms and self-propelled grenades. The ship’s armed security…
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Tarka II fire underscores why effective placement of smoke and fire detectors matters
Tarka II fire underscores why effective placement of smoke and fire detectors matters Following its investigation of a fire that broke out aboard the 66-foot long, 1972-built fishing vessel Tarka II in September last year, the National Transportation Safety Board is highlighting the importance of effective placement of smoke and fire detectors. The Tarka II…
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Will Iran close the Strait of Hormuz?
Will Iran close the Strait of Hormuz? The big question in international shipping today has been whether Iran’s responses to the U.S. Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on its nuclear facilities will include closing the Strait of Hormuz — the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, making it the primary route…
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New brine-based firefighting system developed to counter EV car fires
New brine-based firefighting system developed to counter EV car fires With incidents like the Morning Midas fire continuing to underscore the risks of EV-related car fires aboard ship, operators are urgently seeking more effective solutions. A new brine-based firefighting system, developed by Skansi Offshore in close cooperation with Knud E. Hansen, is claimed to offers…
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Shadow fleet tanker Adalynn ablaze in Strait of Hormuz after collision with Front Eagle
Shadow fleet tanker Adalynn ablaze in Strait of Hormuz after collision with Front Eagle Multiple images have emerged on social media showing the tanker Adalynn ablaze off Fujairah after being in a collision early this morning after being in a collision with the Frontline tanker Front Eagle. UKMTO ADVISORY INCIDENT 024-25https://t.co/dBHrwKzykV#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/YPDJ9yAHPk — UKMTO…
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NTSB reports on why 80-year old fish tender Cape Douglas sank
NTSB reports on why 80-year old fish tender Cape Douglas sank The Cape Douglas, a vessel originally built in 1944 as a landing craft tank-1443 (LCT-1443) for the U.S. Navy sank as it was transiting Chiniak Bay, in part because the watertight doors in the engine room and companionway spaces remained open, the National Transportation…
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Podcast: CCTV mandates mark a turning point for maritime safety
Podcast: CCTV mandates mark a turning point for maritime safety Written by Osher Perry, CEO & Founder, ShipIn Systems EDITOR’S NOTE: Osher Perry and Marine Log recently did a podcast on this topic, which you can find below on either SoundCloud or Spotify. In this podcast, Perry unpacks the potential rabbit hole the industry could…
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Protecting Your Boat
Protecting Your Boat Today’s connected-boat systems often leverage digital-switching technologies, and satellite communications, and many offer a customized app experience. Courtesy Debut Art/Alex Williamson When I was a kid, my family lived about 45 minutes away from our boat on the East Coast. While this wasn’t a big deal—the constant traffic snarls on I-95 aside—we…
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VIDEO: Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc slams into Brooklyn Bridge
VIDEO: Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc slams into Brooklyn Bridge This morning, the Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc remained docked at Pier 36 in Manhattan after a deadly incident Saturday night in which horrified onlookers saw it plow under the Brooklyn Bridge, snapping off the tops of its three masts, one after another, sending two…
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Owners, yards and class team up on safety at Ship Repair USA
Owners, yards and class team up on safety at Ship Repair USA At this year’s Marine Log’s Ship Repair USA conference attendees will gain critical insights into one of the most pressing challenges in the maritime repair sector: aligning safety practices and regulatory compliance across multiple stakeholders. The session, “Bridging the Gap: Owners, Yards &…
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ClassNK releases new guidelines on safe operation of ammonia-fueled vessels
ClassNK releases new guidelines on safe operation of ammonia-fueled vessels With ammonia gaining ground as an alternative fuel, ClassNK has released its “Guidelines for Safety Operation for Ammonia-Fueled Vessels” to ensure safe operation on board vessels using the green, but toxic and corrosive, fuel. The guidelines give top priority to protecting the safety of seafarers,…
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AI at sea: Inside Zelim’s ZOE safety system
AI at sea: Inside Zelim’s ZOE safety system When cruise passengers imagine a relaxing voyage, they rarely think about the technology quietly working behind the scenes to keep them safe. But for Sam Mayall and Doug Lothian, the founders of Edinburgh, Scotland-based safety innovator Zelim, ensuring passenger safety is a full-time mission—one that’s rapidly evolving…
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USCG spot checks at Port of NYNJ find undeclared hazardous materials
USCG spot checks at Port of NYNJ find undeclared hazardous materials Coast Guard Sector New York personnel conducted three warehouse spot checks at the Port of New York and New Jersey this week, uncovering a 60% deficiency rate in hazardous material compliance. The targeted inspections, driven by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) container screening data,…
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NTSB reports on $3M Johnny M towboat fire
NTSB reports on $3M Johnny M towboat fire A catastrophic engine failure led to a fire aboard the towboat Johnny M last year, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday. The fire broke out on Jan. 30, 2024, when the 2019-built, 88-foot Johnny M, owned and operated by Terral River Service, was pushing four barges…
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NTSB: Engine failure leads to $2.4 million passenger vessel fire
NTSB: Engine failure leads to $2.4 million passenger vessel fire Debris in an engine’s lube oil system led to a diesel engine failure and an engine room fire aboard a passenger vessel docked in Portland, Maine, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday. The 300-foot, 2004-built passenger vessel Ocean Navigator (originally delivered as the Cape…
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NSC recognizes ABS for reaching significant safety milestones
NSC recognizes ABS for reaching significant safety milestones The National Safety Council (NSC) has presented ABS with two safety awards in recognition of the classification society’s exceptional achievement in maintaining a safe work environment. The NSC is a globally recognized nonprofit organization committed to eliminating leading causes of preventable death and injury in the workplace…
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Bank effect seen in $8M tanker strike on South Carolina pier
Bank effect seen in $8M tanker strike on South Carolina pier A tank vessel struck a pier at Joint Base Charleston’s Naval Weapons Station in South Carolina after a pilot allowed the vessel to get too close to a riverbank and experiencing bank effect, the National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday. The 604-foot-long Singapore-flagged tanker…
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MAIB releases interim report into strike on Stena Immaculate
MAIB releases interim report into strike on Stena Immaculate The U.K. Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released an interim report on its investigation of the March 10 incident in which the U.S.-flagged TSP program tanker Stena Immaculate was struck by the Portuguese-flagged tanker Solong while at anchor off the U.K. at a position 5…
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Maritime industry associations launch consolidated BMP maritime security publication
Maritime industry associations launch consolidated BMP maritime security publication Best Maritime Practices (BMP) for maritime security have been around and evolving since at least the time that Somali pirate hijackings were in the headlines. Now, with new threats continuing to evolve, leading maritime trade associations have released a new interactive guidance publication to help all…
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NTSB calls for risk evaluations of 68 U.S. bridges for vessel strikes
NTSB calls for risk evaluations of 68 U.S. bridges for vessel strikes The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended March 20 that 30 owners of 68 bridges across 19 states conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine the risk of bridge collapse from a vessel collision, part of the ongoing investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott…
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Boom! A systematic approach to maritime risks
Boom! A systematic approach to maritime risks By Luis Llamas and Thomas “Buddy” Bardenwerper, Jones Walker LLP Maritime Practice Group The bilge alarm is sounding. Smoke is billowing. Oil is spreading. A lot needs to happen in these critical, heart-pounding moments; coming up with an emergency response plan shouldn’t be one of them. Operating a…
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CENTCOM strikes on Houthis will be “unrelenting”
CENTCOM strikes on Houthis will be “unrelenting” Since March 15, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has been carrying out a series of strikes against the Iran backed Houthis that, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says, will be unrelenting. “Freedom of navigation is basic; it’s a core national interest,” Hegseth said, adding that the current campaign is about…
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Praise for heroic action of Stena Immaculate crew
Praise for heroic action of Stena Immaculate crew Salvage experts with SMIT Salvage are continuing onboard assessments of Stena Immaculate, say statements from the vessel operator Crowley and owner Stena Bulk. Yesterday, Sunday, March 16, the third-party salvage team confirmed that damage resulting from the containership Solong striking the Stena Immaculate was limited to one…
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Stena Immaculate: All fires out, salvage preparations begin
Stena Immaculate: All fires out, salvage preparations begin The fire on the U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate has completely ceased, the vessel is completely stable, and full salvage activities onboard will begin as soon as safety considerations and weather conditions permit. That’s the latest word from Erik Hånell, president & CEO of Stena Bulk, which owns…
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Hanwha Systems cybersecurity solution gains ABS type approval
Hanwha Systems cybersecurity solution gains ABS type approval ABS has issued Hanwha Systems a type approval for IACS UR E27 cyber resilience requirements for its cybersecurity solution, SecuAider. The SecuAider software solution offers protection to a vessel’s data and networks from advanced cyberattacks, such as ransomware and malware. The ABS E27 certification is part of…
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Stena Immaculate: Pollution fears lessen
Stena Immaculate: Pollution fears lessen As the response to the incident involving the strike on the U.S.-flag tanker Stena Immaculate by the containership Solong continued today, it looked that the worst fears of pollution from the two vessels would not be realized. “There have been no further reports of pollution to the sea from either…
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Police arrest master of Solong in wake of Stena Immaculate strike
Police arrest master of Solong in wake of Stena Immaculate strike UPDATE TO EARLIER STORY:The Humberside Police has arrested the master of the Solong, the containership that struck the U.S.-flag TSP-program tanker Stena Immaculate yesterday. One member of the Solong crew is missing, believed dead. “Following enquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a…
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BIMCO: Ships and crew in danger in drug threat ports
BIMCO: Ships and crew in danger in drug threat ports If drugs are found on a ship in certain ports, the crew risk extreme prison sentences, says BIMCO. Limited understanding of merchant ship operations can lead judges to believe that hiding drugs onboard or attaching them to the ship’s hull is impossible without the crew’s…
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Weight input error led to President Eisenhower container loss and damage
Weight input error led to President Eisenhower container loss and damage The National Transportation Safety Board has released its report into a February 6, 2024 incident in which the U.S.-flag containership President Eisenhower lost 23 shipping containers overboard and another 10 were damaged. At the time, the 984-foot-long, 7,471 TEU vessel, which was operated by…
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NTSB reports on deadly engine room fire on Danaos containership Stride
NTSB reports on deadly engine room fire on Danaos containership Stride The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its report on a deadly engine room fire that broke out Jan. 8, 2024, when the Danaos-operated containership Stride was bunkering while docked at the Barbours Cut Marine Terminal in LaPorte, Texas. The fire self-extinguished after crewmembers…
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U.S. Coast Guard, partner agencies respond to tug fire
U.S. Coast Guard, partner agencies respond to tug fire The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies were responding to a tug fire near Pea Patch Island on the Delaware River, Tuesday. All four crewmembers were safely evacuated from the vessel. The tug fire has since been extinguished, and the vessel is now under tow. Coast Guard Sector…
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Op-Ed: Complying with Coast Guard’s final rule on cybersecurity
Op-Ed: Complying with Coast Guard’s final rule on cybersecurity By Jim Kearns and Andy Lee, Jones Walker LLP On January 17, the U.S. Coast Guard released a final rule on cybersecurity in the U.S. marine transportation system. The rule establishes cybersecurity requirements for U.S.-flag vessels, facilities, and Outer Continental Shelf facilities that are regulated under…
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What caused $1.3M Three Girls fishing vessel fire?
What caused $1.3M Three Girls fishing vessel fire? The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued its report on an August 11, 2024, engine room fire aboard the fishing vessel Three Girls that led to an estimated $1.3 million in damage to the vessel. The failure of a component on the hydraulic system for on-deck…
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GAO: USCG needs to up its MTS cybersecurity game
GAO: USCG needs to up its MTS cybersecurity game The more the maritime industry relies on digitalization and tech to increase its efficiency, the more it becomes vulnerable to cyber threats and a new report from the Government Accountability Office says that the cybersecurity risks facing thr U.S. Maritime Transportation System (MTS) are significant and…
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Installing a Skyhawk Oversea System to Protect Your Boat
Installing a Skyhawk Oversea System to Protect Your Boat The Skyhawk Oversea system won an Innovation Award from the National Marine Manufacturers Association at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show. Jim Hatch There are a number of app-based boat security and monitoring products today from well-known brands such as Garmin, Gost, Siren Marine, and one…
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Shipping Round Table raises concerns on unjust treatment of seafarers
Shipping Round Table raises concerns on unjust treatment of seafarers The Round Table of International Shipping Organizations is increasingly concerned about a rise in the unjust treatment and criminalization of seafarers. The chairpersons of the Round Table’s four member organizations — BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO —met in Athens, February…
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State Department: Galaxy Leader remains stolen property
State Department: Galaxy Leader remains stolen property While some in shipping see the release of the crew of the hijacked car carrier Galaxy Leader as a hopeful sign that the situation in the Red Sea may return to normal, realists are more skeptical — and the U.S. Department of State warned yesterday that “we must…
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Trump re-designates the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Trump re-designates the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order re-designating Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Executive Order sets in motion a process by which the group known as will be designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. President Trump designated the Iranian-backed…
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Ambrey: Sounion salvage successfully completed
Ambrey: Sounion salvage successfully completed U.K.-based maritime risk consultancy Ambrey has confirmed that the salvage of the MT Sounion has been successfully completed. As we reported at the time, the 163,000 dwt Greek-flagged Sounion was set ablaze following multiple Houthi attacks that began on August 21, 2024. Ambrey, which played a key role in the…
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USCG inspectors discover counterfeit pilot ladders
USCG inspectors discover counterfeit pilot ladders The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a Maritime Safety Alert after marine inspectors from Sector Maryland-National Capital Region (NCR) discovered counterfeit pilot ladders during a Port State Control Examination at the Port of Baltimore. The identification plate on the ladder (Figure 1) contained several errors, including referencing ISO 779-1…
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Op-Ed: Rising to USCG’s new maritime security directive
Op-Ed: Rising to USCG’s new maritime security directive By Michael Devolld, maritime transportation system cybersecurity lead at ABS Consulting On February 22, 2024, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register, updating maritime security regulations and introducing new regulations establishing minimum cybersecurity requirements for U.S.-flagged vessels,…
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Multiple people missing in Alaska fishing vessel capsize
Multiple people missing in Alaska fishing vessel capsize The Coast Guard and Good Samaritans have been searching since Sunday for a number of people from a fishing vessel that reportedly capsized near Couverden Point, Alaska. Coast Guard watchstanders have received reports from individuals familiar with those aboard the vessel that indicate there were five people…
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MAIB reports on fatal mooring line recoil incident
MAIB reports on fatal mooring line recoil incident The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its report into an August 2021 incident in which a bulker’s second officer (2/O) who was looking over the side of the vessel died after he was struck by a recoiling mooring line. The incident occurred while the…
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U.K. MAIB reports on deadly capsize of tug Biter
U.K. MAIB reports on deadly capsize of tug Biter The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has now published its accident investigation report into the girting [girding] and capsize of the tug Biter off Greenock, Scotland on February 2023. Biter was attached to the stern of the passenger vessel Hebridean Princess and the tug’s two…
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European Council adopts major maritime legislative package
European Council adopts major maritime legislative package The European Council has now adopted four important new pieces of legislation —and, as ever, the devil is in the details in terms of things that vessel owners and operators should start worrying about. The measures are part of a maritime legislative package that, along with one on…