Professional Mariner - March 2020

In this issue

A strong economy, “baby boomers” reaching retirement age, and a growing wage gap with their seafaring colleagues have combined to create a perfect storm in maritime training, with the sector facing a potential shortfall of instructors across the United States. Find out what it means for all industry stakeholders in the March issue of Professional Mariner. Coverage for the month also includes a ride-along with Moran tugboat crews in the busy Port of Charleston; continuing pressure on the Coast Guard from the National Transportation Safety Board over duck boat safety rules; and whether the use of CBD oil for pain can put your merchant mariner credential at risk. Plus Capt. Kelly Sweeney’s Mariner’s Notebook and full maritime casualty coverage for the U.S. and Canada.

NTSB: Coast Guard failed to adopt key safety rules for duck boats

Current and former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials say that implementing past safety recommendations for duck boats could have prevented the Stretch Duck 7 tragedy in 2018 that claimed the lives of 17 people.

3 mins

OSHA orders Bouchard to compensate fired whistleblower

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Bouchard Transportation Co. to compensate a barge worker who the agency said was illegally fired after reporting safety concerns to the Coast Guard.

2 mins

Towing - Moran Tugs Power Up To Meet New Demands In Port Of Charleston

James A. Moran idled alongside an empty bulk carrier moored in South Carolina’s Cooper River as an aluminum skiff zipped back and forth, releasing the ship’s mooring lines.

6 mins

Damen newcomer at Ontario port has line on versatility

Capt. Joe Farish eased the tugboat Sheri Lynn S. off the Picton Terminals dock before 0730. It had snowed overnight, and the channel in from Lake Ontario was smooth on the calm, overcast December morning.

5 mins

Employment - Women Stepping Up As Stereotypes Break Down In Maritime World

Is the tide finally turning on gender imbalance in the maritime industry?

4 mins

Army Corps workhorse locked and loaded for Three Rivers

In late September, with the main chamber closed for repairs, there were 17 tows waiting to lock on the Ohio River at the Willow Island Locks and Dam in Newport, Ohio. Capt. Dale Hohman, at the helm of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers towboat Evanick, performed a nifty maneuver on the upstream guide wall in the auxiliary chamber to get the traffic moving again.

2 mins

Casualties - Three Die After Tanker, Fishing Boat Collide In Fog Near Galveston

One fisherman died and two are missing and presumed dead after a chemical tanker and fishing boat collided near Galveston, Texas, in heavy fog.

2 mins

NTSB cites ineffective bridge communication in NY pier strike

Ineffective communication between the docking pilot and the master of a Carnival cruise ship was the primary cause of a 2018 pier strike in New York that caused $2.5 million in damage, according to federal investigators.

3 mins

Engine Room Fire Disables Canadian Bulk Carrier Near Detroit

The Canada-flagged bulk carrier Tecumseh lost propulsion and briefly went adrift in the Detroit River after a fire in the engine room.

1 min

As Industry Needs Grow, Maritime Schools Face Potential Instructor Gap

The increasingly sophisticated and regulated maritime world needs professionals with stronger skill sets than in the past. But accumulating those skills through dedicated and accredited programs may start to get more difficult.

5 mins

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Professional Mariner Magazine Description:

Tugs, towboats, cargo, government, passenger, spill response, pilot boats, offshore support, salvage, dredge and fireboats - Professional Mariner covers them all. Plus, only Professional Mariner gives you all the essential information you need to advance your maritime business or career including the latest news and in-depth, investigative reporting on maritime casualties, regulations, legislation, shipbuilding, safety, technology, business/management issues and more.