Clipper Daisy diverts to rendezvous with sailboat and medevac man

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: 25 November 2011 (PORTSMOUTH, Va.) -- Crewmembers aboard two merchant ships responded to the Coast Guard’s call for assistance to medevac a Canadian man reportedly experiencing signs of a heart attack aboard his sailboat 170 miles southwest of Bermuda, Thursday. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 5th District Command Center, internationally known as Rescue Coordination Center Norfolk, coordinated the rescue using the Automated Mutual–Assistance Vessel Rescue System after receiving notification from Nicole Gaudreault, an amateur radio operator from Montreal. The wife of the man experiencing the symptoms initially called Gaudreault stating she was a nurse and believed her husband needed to be medevaced. She also said they were aboard the Argo V, a 36-foot sailboat and were en route to St. Martin. Two AMVER vessel crews responded to the Coast Guard’s enhanced group call. A crewmember from aboard the merchant vessel Mary Ann Hudson stated they were approximately 120 miles from the Argo V, were willing to divert and the crewmember also said they had heart medication aboard. The crew of the Clipper Daisy also responded to the call for assistance saying they did not have heart medication but were willing to divert to the Argo V’s position to take the man aboard and transport him to Bermuda. The wife aboard Argo V altered her course to head toward Bermuda, but was unable to continue because of strong winds and 6-foot seas. The crew of the Clipper Daisy rendezvoused with the Argo V at approximately midnight Thursday and took the man aboard. The man is currently being transferred to Bermuda then to a local hospital. “This case is a prime example of the outstanding coordination using various tools in the search and rescue system to include amateur radio operators, AMVER system and Rescue Coordination Center Bermuda,” said Lt. Cmdr. James Klein, chief of the Rescue Coordination Center Norfolk.

Multiple River Bars Closed in Oregon and Washington

Coast Guard says Columbia River is among the closures 
(11/25/2011)


The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:

(SEATTLE) -- The Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Columbia River, in Astoria, Ore., and the COTP Sector Puget Sound in Seattle issued the closure of multiple river bars within Oregon and Washington due to hazardous conditions Thursday. The bars at Quillayute River, Wash., Grays Harbor, Wash., and the Columbia River are closed.

The bar closure applies to all vessels and any request to transit the bars prior to reopening must be approved by the COTP, Sector Columbia River. Mariners may contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16 or Sector Columbia River by telephone at (503) 861-6211 or Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound at 206-217-6001 for further information or to request crossing.

The Coast Guard will re-evaluate the bar closure on an ongoing basis and will re-open the waterway as soon as the offshore weather improves.

The Coast Guard understands the effects these closures have on commerce and will make every effort to re-open these waterways as soon as they are considered safe for navigation.

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Every year, an estimated 4,000 pleasure vessels fall victim to either fire or explosion.

Of this number approximately 400 are either a total loss or are extremely costly to rebuild.

Blaze Hits 8 Boats on Lake Norman

... According to several reports, eight boats were involved in the fire. Four boats suffered major damage, according to fire officials at the scene. There are several reports that one boat sank. Fire investigators say they will question boat owners, in an effort to determine how the blaze might have started. One possibility being mentioned this morning is that a boat owner might have left a heater operating on a craft overnight.

Source: Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC)

 

Portable Electric Heater identified as heat source in a Multi-boat Fire

A fire that started by a portable electric heater on a boat docked in a covered marina spread to several other boats, fanned by high winds that impeded fire ground operations. The boats were moored at a wooden dock that had a wood frame and a metal roof overhang. The boat on which the fire started was at the end of a dock, several slips of which were occupied by other boats. The marina had no detection or sprinkler system and was closed for the night when the fire broke out.

Although a portable heater was identified as the heat source for the unintentional fire, the exact cause and the ignition sequence was unknown, The flames spread to the boat's interior and from there, to the roof overhang and several other boats before firefighters arrived.

Cautionary Tales from Other Boat Owners:

"My next door neighbor put a small electric space heater on his boat (an Islander 32) and set it to its lowest setting. As the weather got colder the heater cycled on-off until the extension cord melted and set the boat on fire. The fire gutted the entire inside of the boat until another neighbor saw the smoke and put the fire out. The boat was a total loss. It was 5 feet from my boat in the next slip. My neighbor scares me."
--Mike

"I used to use a light bulb in the winter until the cheapo housing slipped and the whole light came to rest on my holding tank. It was kind of scary to see the burnt marks in the ABS where the plastic had smoldered. I have no idea why the boat did not burn down. The plastic had obviously burned in places. You could not pay me to put a light bulb in my engine compartment now. They were not made for boats and are just too risky."
--Brett

Coast Guard closes Columbia River Bar due to hazardous weather

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:

22 November 2011

(SEATTLE) -- The Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Columbia River, in Astoria, Ore., issued the closure of the Columbia River, Ore., bar entrance due to hazardous conditions at approximately 9 p.m., Monday.

The bar closure applies to all vessels and any request to transit the bars prior to reopening must be approved by the COTP, Sector Columbia River. Mariners may contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16 or Sector Columbia River by telephone at (503) 861-6211 for further information or to request crossing.

The Coast Guard will re-evaluate the bar closure on an ongoing basis and will re-open the waterway as soon as the offshore weather improves.

The bar is anticipated to re-open by 8 a.m., Wednesday, based on current weather predictions.

The Coast Guard understands the effects these closures have on commerce and will make every effort to re-open these waterways as soon as they are considered safe for navigation.

Mobile Content and Your Boat

Earlier this year I received an Android phone as a birthday gift. Of course the first thing you do when you get a smart phone is go searching for the best Apps available. There are Apps that do useful things like track your bank accounts, and there are Apps that do useless mind-numbing things like blowing bubbles.

Eventually, once I began to comprehend how my phone works, I started looking for Boating related applications. There are actually more than I thought there would be. There are Navigational applications (my favorite is still from Navionics), tidal information, weather data, and quite a few others.

I’ve even read a couple articles about applications that control various functions of the boat itself. This is where I become a bit leery of the how fast things are advancing. The fact is that paper charts have not been completely replaced , yet people are willing to allow their phone to control things like auto-pilots and power distribution panels.

The National Marine Electronics Association(NMEA)  has made incredible progress in getting a protocol established that enables most marine electronics to interface. While the people at Apple, Google and Microsoft are all very bright – I'm not certain that any thought has been given to whether any of these programmers have even been on a boat, let alone piloted one.

The London P&I Club, one of the world’s leading mutual marine liability insurers, published in their StopLoss Bulletin that, “Onboard communication has improved significantly over the last few years, with technological advances enabling crew to use mobile phones and laptops to stay in contact with family and friends ashore. However, the use of such equipment at inappropriate moments may distract crew from the navigation or operation of the ship.

“Another issue is the risk of being exposed to excessive information and simply being unable to process it all. Bridge equipment is increasingly sophisticated and it can provide the crew with access to extensive information regarding the relative positions of other ships. But, unless it is used in a focused manner, it can confuse, rather than clarify, and ultimately prove counter-productive.”

There have been accidents on inland waterways, as well as intra-coastal waterways caused by the distractions of Skype calls, streaming news reports, and Email/Texting. Often, these  activities are being conducted on equipment either adjacent to or on the same screen as chartplotters, AIS displays or RADAR supplies.

There is no doubt that great advances have been made in what is possible to accomplish with technology, particularly within the marine industry. In 2004, the idea of linking different systems together seemed like something from the realm of "Star Trek." Now, in the world of tech, there is an app for everything it seems. The question isn't whether we “can” control a boat from an iPhone, Droid, Blackberry or Windows Phone – rather “should” we take this step. Eventually, sure but this is where the NMEA should monitor closely what the mobile device developers are “attaching” to boats. The most dangerous of the four major smart phone’s to the marine industry is the Droid phones – because anybody can make an application for them. This is great for the general public, but can mean disaster to mariners.

We’ve all had that person checking their Twitter or Facebook account cut us off on the road – boats are not quite as responsive. Already there are apps that are trying to replicate the functionality of AIS systems. What happens when somebody loses reception, or they forgot to plug in their phone the night before when they happen to be in a very busy port? Call me a cynic – but I can see bad things happening.

The bottom line is that there always seems to be a trade off for progress made to quickly.

As always, I appreciate any comments.

Coast Guard Warnings For Winter Storm

This is a press release from the Coast Guard's 13th District. There is a major storm front heading towards the Pacific Northwest and these are measures to prepare that the Coast Guard is recommending.


SEATTLE — With severe weather approaching and forecasts of strong winds and heavy surf, the Coast Guard reminds boaters and beach-goers to be prepared and stay aware; and reminds mariners to take the necessary steps to ensure that their boats are properly secured.
“During the fall and winter storms in this region, the Coast Guard receives several reports of vessels adrift in Puget Sound, Washington and Oregon coasts. These adrift vessels not only represent a possible loss of property for the owners, they are significant hazards to navigation and pose a serious environmental threat as chemicals and fuels onboard can spill should the vessels break apart,” said Capt. David Klipp, 13th Coast Guard District’s Chief of Response. “Coast Guard crews are also put at risk when responding to these boats in rough waters.”
Boaters, beach-goers and those living in areas with a potential for flooding should follow these guidelines to ensure their safety:
Watch the weather forecast closely and pay attention to small craft advisories issued by the National Weather Service. Small craft advisory conditions are dangerous to even the most seasoned professional mariner in the most seaworthy vessels.
Exercise extreme caution on beaches and jetties: Sudden, powerful waves can engulf the entire beach, knocking people down or throwing them violently against nearby rocks. Once in the water, strong currents can pull people out to sea. Beachgoers should also stay away from driftwood floating in the water or resting on shore. Logs can weigh several tons and can quickly be picked up by an unexpected wave and tossed onto people. Jetties are also dangerous due to unstable surfaces and slippery conditions. Large gaps in jetty structures can also trap people who slip and fall while walking on the rocks. Be aware of rising tides – high tides can trap people on rock formations and in coves. Always let someone know where you are going, walk with a buddy and be weather and surf aware.
If it has been raining hard for several hours, or steadily raining for several days, be alert to the possibility of a flood.
Minimize contact with flood water – Standing water from flooding can carry diseases and hazardous chemicals. If you get your water from a well and water floods into your pump house – check to see if water from the ground went down your well. If so, or if you’re not sure, boil your water before using it for drinking or cooking for yourself or your pets. If water floods your septic system, minimize your use of water for washing and wait for the water level to drop. If you come in contact with standing water, wash carefully before you eat or drink.
Assemble a disaster preparedness kit – a good disaster kit should include: a first aid kit and essential medications, canned food and a can opener, at least three gallons of water per person, protective clothing, rain gear, and bedding or sleeping bags, battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries, special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members, written instructions for how to turn off electricity, gas and water if authorities advise you to do so (remember, you’ll need a professional to turn them back on.)
Stay high and dry – move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks, and storm drains. Do not drive around barricades, they are there for your safety. If your car stalls in rapidly rising waters, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground.
Vessel owners should take the following precautions to assure their vessels are secure:
Cover your boat: Heavy rains can flood boats and even cause sinking in extreme cases. Protect your boat and be sure your vessel is adequately covered when it is moored up to prevent flooding. If you can’t bring your boat onto shore, make sure it is securely fastened to its dock. Vessels that break free from their moorings can become a hazard to navigation and endanger the lives of those who must retrieve them.
Check all of your anchor and mooring lines. Double the lines up for added strength. Ensure all lines and tackle are in good condition.
Ensure you have a storm anchor. The anchor that comes with a boat is often inadequate for the storms in the Pacific Northwest. An improper or inadequate anchor can cause your boat to drift and may lead to unnecessary search-and-rescue calls.
Small boats should be removed from the water and moved to a secure location well above tidal and flood areas to ensure they are not washed out to sea.
Ensure boat registration numbers are updated with correct owner information. Consider keeping owner contact information on vessel itself. With this information, agencies responding to adrift vessels can promptly return the vessel to its owner.
If you are going to be underway, you should take the following precautions:
Wear Personal Floatation Devices: Life jackets – bring one for each person. History has shown that the chance of survival greatly increases if an individual is wearing a personal floatation device. For more information on life jacket requirements visit: http://www.uscgboating.org/command/initiative/jacket.htm
Have a Marine Radio: Investing in a good VHF radio is a smart purchase. Cell phones should not be used as a primary means of emergency communication on the water where reception may be poor or unavailable. A VHF radio has a strong signal and distress calls are received by everyone monitoring a VHF radio in range, whereas cell phone communications are point-to-point. Use VHF Channel 16 for emergencies. For more in-depth information about radios and terminology visit the link below. http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/metlife/radio.htm
Float Plan: A float plan is a written statement of the details of an intended voyage usually filed with a friend, neighbor and/or marina operator or; a document that specifically describes the vessel, equipment, crew, and itinerary of a planned voyage. Leave a copy with a friend, relative or local marina before heading out on the water. If a vessel has an emergency or is overdue, pertinent information will be available to provide local marine police or the Coast Guard. If delayed, boaters should inform those with the float plan, and be sure to notify them upon returning so the float plan can be "closed out" and an unnecessary and costly search avoided. An example of a float plan can be found at http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/floatplan.pdf.
For a detailed coastal weather forecast, click the National Weather Service link for your area:
Western Washington – http://www.weather.gov/seattle or http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS56.KPQR.html
South Washington/Central/Northern Oregon Coasts – http://www.weather.gov/portland
South Oregon Coast – http://www.weather.gov/medford or http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS56.KPQR.html

Navico Introduces Broadband 4G™ Radar

From a Navico Press Release:
Date: 10/27/2011 

Revolutionary New Dual-Range Radar System Features ‘Beam Sharpening’ For Unprecedented Target Resolution

Tulsa, Okla. — Navico — the world leader in recreational marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad Yachting and B&G brands — announced today its next-generation, solid-state Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radome, the Lowrance, Simrad and B&G Broadband 4G™ Radar models. Offering unparalleled performance, Broadband 4G Radar redefines what is possible in radar-based navigation and collision avoidance.

Joining the award-winning and world’s first recreational marine FMCW Broadband Radar™ line, 4G radar delivers 50-percent greater range and target detection than Broadband 3G Radar. All 4G radar models feature revolutionary Beam Sharpening technology that provides the sharpest-possible radar images. When networked with most display options, the new Simrad and B&G Broadband 4G models also have the unprecedented ability to present dual-range radar returns from a single scanner, combined with the benefits of greater high-speed operation.*

The new Lowrance, Simrad and B&G Broadband 4G Radar models are compatible, respectively, with the award-winning Lowrance HDS®, Simrad NSO Offshore, NSE Expert and NSS Sport, and B&G Zeus™ multifunction displays.

For optimal target separation, Broadband 4G Radar is the world’s first dome radar to use Beam Sharpening, which significantly improves azimuth resolution — the effective horizontal beam width of the radar signal. The result is a resolution that is equivalent to a 3.5-foot open array radar. When combined with a Simrad NSE, NSO or B&G Zeus multifunction display, the system’s user-defined, target-separation control allows users to adjust the level of separation to meet specific navigational needs.

The Simrad and B&G Broadband 4G Radars’ exclusive dual-range functionality — available with Simrad NSE, NSO and B&G Zeus displays — makes them the only recreational radars capable of displaying distances from 200 feet to 36 nautical miles — all from a single dome. The ultimate navigational safety tool, Broadband 4G Radar allows boaters to see a buoy 200 feet away on the multifunction display, while simultaneously monitoring coastal projections up to 36 nautical miles. In addition, Simrad and B&G Broadband 4G Radar models can track up to 10 MARPA targets per range — each with independent control, for a total of 20 tracked targets in split-screen mode.

All Broadband 4G Radars provide an unequalled number of working ranges, 18, for premier performance and navigational awareness. Providing intuitive and easy-to-use operation, each model also features smart, pre-defined Offshore and Harbor modes on all ranges without requiring special tuning knowledge.

Broadband 4G Radar not only raises the bar in radome performance by providing far superior resolution at long-range distances, it also delivers the same exceptional close-range capability signature to Broadband Radar. The system marks objects within 6.5 feet (2 meters) of the boat, providing target definition and separation in close quarters where traditional pulse radar is blind.

“Broadband 4G Radar will change the way boaters navigate,” said Louis Chemi, COO for Navico Americas. “With unrivalled close-range visibility and new groundbreaking long-distance capability, this latest addition to the Lowrance, Simrad Yachting and B&G Broadband Radar lineup provides the sharpest radar images of any radome in the world for best-in-class situational awareness on the water.”

Maintaining high-sensitivity and clarity in all weather conditions, the radar provides easy-to-view detail of targets even in high-sea states. Additional Broadband 4G Radar safety and convenience features include: revolution speeds up to 36 rpm for Lowrance HDS and Simrad NSS, and 48 rpm for Simrad NSE, NSO and B&G Zeus — providing near-instant updates at ranges less than 1 nautical miles; directional sidelobe-clutter suppression to reduce clutter and echoes caused by large targets; accurate chart overlay and MARPA; display networking; extremely low emissions (less than 1/5th the energy of a mobile phone); flexible antenna-placement options for safe and easy installation almost anywhere on a boat; InstantOn™ — allowing the radar to power up immediately from cold start and standby; and incredibly low power consumption.

Broadband 4G Radar’s compact 18-inch radome measures 11.02-inches high x 19.28-inches in diameter (280 mm x 489 mm), weighs 16.3 pounds (7.4 kg), and installs quickly with an easy-to-route 0.5-inch (13.5 mm) diameter scanner cable. Drawing only 20 watts of power during operation (21 watts in dual range mode) and 2.9 watts in standby, Broadband 4G Radar has an operating temperature range of -13 to +131 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 to +55 degrees Celsius) and can operate in winds up to 100 knots. Broadband 4G™ Radar is waterproof to the IPX6 standard and is protected by a two-year parts and labor warranty and the Lowrance, Simrad Yachting and B&G Advantage Program.

Price & Availability: Available in November 2011 from authorized dealers and distributors throughout the United States and Canada, the new Lowrance Broadband 4G Radar has a minimum advertised price of US $1,899, while the Simrad and B&G Broadband 4G Radars have a suggested retail price of US $2,299. For more information on Lowrance, Simrad and B&G Broadband 4G Radar, or their entire line of performance marine electronics, contact 800-324-1356 (toll-free) in the USA or 800-661-3983 (toll-free) in Canada or visit www.lowrance.com, www.simrad-yachting.com and www.bandg.com, for details on brand-specific models.

*Available with the Simrad NSE and NSO and B&G Zeus multifunction displays.

ACR ResQLink Awarded Five Year US Coast Guard Contract For Up To 5,000 Personal Locator Beacons

Press Release From Cobham Commercial Systems:

October 28, 2011

Buy Yours Now!FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida - Cobham has been awarded a US Coast Guard contract to supply up to 5,000 406 MHz ACR Electronics Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), called ResQLink™. ACR, a business unit of Cobham Commercial Systems, will provide up to 1,000 units per year under this five year contract, with a contract extension possible after the fifth year.

The ResQLink™ is small and light enough to hold comfortably in one hand yet powerful enough to guide rescuers to within 100 meters or less of the user's position in a life-threatening emergency. Many of the GPS-enabled ResQLink™ PLBs are to be used by the US Coast Guard's small and medium response boat crews.

"ACR Electronics has over many years equipped the US Coast Guard and other branches of the military with satellite detectible beacons and a variety of rescue lights and strobes," said Michael Wilkerson, ACR's General Manager. "It's a relationship built on quality, performance and trust."

The ResQLink™ offers great capability in the smallest and lightest package available today. It combines ease of use and ACR technology to give pilots, boaters, and outdoors enthusiasts a powerful and accurate safety companion, ready for action at the simple push of a button.

The ResQLink™ broadcasts a unique registered distress signal that not only tells rescuers where the sender is, but who they are.  The onboard 66 channel GPS can quickly fix the sender's position to within 100 meters and then utilizes a powerful 406 MHz signal to relay the distress call to orbiting satellites. As local Search and Rescue is deployed, a separate homing signal and integrated LED strobe light guide rescuers to the sender's exact position.

About Cobham

Cobham specializes in meeting the insatiable demand for data, connectivity and bandwidth in defence, security and commercial environments. Offering a technically diverse and innovative range of technologies and services, the Group protects the lives and livelihoods, responding to customer needs with agility that differentiates it.  The most important thing we build is trust. Employing more than 11,000 people on five continents, the Group has customers and partners in over 100 countries, with annual revenue of £1.9bn/US$3 billion.

About Cobham Commercial Systems

Cobham Commercial Systems is a leading provider of integrated avionics systems, emergency locator systems and radar and missile electronics for military and civil customers.  Cobham's avionics systems can be offered individually or integrated to provide an entire cockpit.  Its synthetic vision Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) revolutionised safety in low-level flight operations and is now approved on more than 700 aircraft and helicopter models. 

Cobham's new Helicopter Stability Augmentation System (HeliSAS) adds to its extensive range of fixed wing auto-pilot solutions and brings added safety within the reach of a host of operators for whom such systems were previously too expensive and heavy. Cobham Commercial Systems is also an acknowledged expert in Emergency Locator Transmitter and Personal Locator Beacon technologies, from personal units to Original Equipment Manufacturer mounted systems on airliners and helicopters.  Its radar and missile RF front end electronics are part of many radars, missiles, and space and commercial radar systems as well as leading edge Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) solutions.

About ACR Electronics

ACR designs and manufactures a complete line of safety and survival products including EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS, SART, Strobe Lights, Life Jacket Lights, Search Lights and safety accessories.  The quality systems of this facility have been registered by UL to the ISO 9001:2008 Series Standards.  Recognized as the world leader in safety and survival technologies, ACR has provided safety equipment to the aviation and marine industries as well as to the military since 1956. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and employs 147 at its manufacturing facility.

Holiday Parade Warnings from the Coast Guard.

Risks include illegal charters, overloaded vessels, Christmas lights

(11/8/2011)

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard: (SAN PEDRO, Calif.) -- With the holiday boat parade season upon us, the Coast Guard wants to remind boaters and observers of certain safety pointers. General safety hazards for ALL boat operations: Illegal charters Overloaded or unsafe electrical systems due to Christmas lights Too many passengers affect stability of vessels – ensure compliance with maximum capacity Recreational boats cannot charge passengers to board their vessels – illegal, resulting in fines 5 knot speed limit strictly enforced during all boat parades Spot checks may be conducted on certified T-Boats: Adequate number of lifejackets Merchant Mariner licenses onboard Adequate number of crewmembers Compliance with vessel security plans Just like in past years, Coast Guard marine inspectors will be conducting additional inspections of vessels involved in the parades and evening trips.

Coast Guard medevacs fisherman north of Cold Bay

Coast Guard News Release

Date: November 7, 2011

KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a man from a 150-foot fishing vessel 60 miles north of Cold Bay Monday.
Communications Station Kodiak watchstanders received a radio call at about 1:22 p.m. from the crew of the Wizard reporting a 28-year-old male collapsed and was showing signs of dehydration and shock.
The Jayhawk rescue crew was on a training flight when they heard the call. They self-diverted to the location of the Wizard and safely hoisted the man. The rescue crew transferred the man to Cold Bay clinic personnel for further evaluation at about 3:20 p.m.
“As COMMSTA was receiving the initial call, multiple Coast Guard assets overheard it,” said Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Roberto, District 17 operations unit controller. “With the attentiveness of our crews, we were able to assist this man in an expeditious manner.”
The fishing vessel Wizard is a crabber based out of Seattle.
For more information contact Petty Officer 2nd Class Charly Hengen at 907-321-4505.

USCG Responds to A Singing Barge Near Miami

MIAMI - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca responded to a sinking barge approximately 10 miles east of Miami, Nov. 7, 2011. The crew of the tug towing a barge notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Miami they were experiencing fuel problems and later become disabled and adrift. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

---

MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca responded to a sinking barge approximately 10 miles east of Miami Monday afternoon.
The crew of a 94-foot tug boat towing a 270-foot barge notified Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders they were experiencing fuel problems and later became disabled and adrift.
The cutter Seneca arrived on scene and took the tug in tow. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback and a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew also arrived on scene to monitor the situation.
The barge, which has 33 empty containers on deck, was believed to be taking on water. Divers from TowBoat U.S. are attempting to dewater the barge. A commercial tugboat is scheduled to arrive on scene Tuesday morning to relieve the cutter Seneca of its tow.
The cutter Seneca is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Boston.
The cutter Diamondback is an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Miami Beach, Fla.

Port of Seattle Turns Up 10 Explosive Containers

Kizzi Nkwocha | Mon, 7 Nov 2011

US Coast Guard admits it has no plans yet for dealing with containers

IFW-Net

 

At least ten more potentially explosive containers have been found at the Port of Seattle with a question mark still hanging over the fate of the growing collection of containers.

Earlier this year maritime authorities reported that three reefer containers exploded or caused a fire, resulting in two fatalities in Vietnam and one in Brazil.

The explosions were believed to be the result of contaminated gas added to the boxes’ refrigeration units during servicing in Vietnam.

According to local reports, a growing stack of 80 refrigerated containers at the Port of Seattle have been sitting by itself, isolated from the rest of the port for safety reasons.

The US Coast Guard said it is working with the terminal operators to keep the 80 containers away from everyone, but admits there is no specific plan yet for dealing with them.

Rudy Finne of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said: "I personally think it’s ludicrous to have possible bombs at every corner here and have everybody seem not that concerned about it."

The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents the various terminal operators, said it is looking for a solution to checking each container to see if it poses any risk. These at-risk containers are being turned away from terminal operators, and as a result, they remain out in the public.

Meantime, the union is worried about containers that left Vietnam and may have passed through local ports before the security alert was put in place.

The three reefers that exploded were operated by Maersk Line, but since the danger was reported all carriers are scrambling to find any reefers that have been repaired in Vietnam since February.

Maersk has removed all its 844 reefer containers that have been repaired in Vietnam.

Mustang Survival Issues Recall on MD2010 and MD2012

(11/7/2011)

In keeping with Mustang Survival’s commitment to the highest levels of product quality and safety, Mustang Survival is voluntarily recalling all model number MD2010 and MD2012 inflatable personal flotation devices (PFDs) sold in the United States during 2011. This recall is being issued for the inspection and repair of an inflator installation inconsistency that may prevent some units from fully inflating. A solution has been developed that corrects any affected products and prevents re-occurrence of this issue. The inspection and repair can only be performed at a Mustang Survival factory. This recall notification is only for the MD2010 and MD2012 22LB buoyancy inflatable PFDs. No other Mustang Survival products are affected as they utilize different inflator assembly methods. “We have a detailed plan already in action to inform dealers and consumers of this recall and to collect, inspect and repair any model MD2010 and MD2012 inflatables that are affected,” commented Jason Leggatt, VP of Research, Development and Quality at Mustang Survival, “We will continue to work with the US Coast Guard and our dealers to implement the inspections and repairs for our customers.” Distributors and consumers are urged to return their MD2010 and MD2012 inflatable PFDs by directly contacting Mustang Survival’s Customer Service department at 1-800-526-0532 between 7:30am and 4:30pm PST, Monday through Friday for specific shipping instructions. Consumers with affected MD2010 and MD2012 inflatable PFDs should contact Mustang Survival’s Customer Service Department directly. Consumers should not return product to their dealers as all product inspections and repairs are being handled by Mustang Survival. Complete details on this recall, including how to determine if your PFDs are impacted, complete product return instructions, and frequently asked questions, are available at www.mustangsurvival.com/22lb-product-notice. For media inquiries please contact Cindy Cheung at 1-800-526-0532 or at media@mustangsurvival.com About Mustang Survival Mustang Survival has been providing lifesaving solutions for over 40 years. Through constant innovation and application of new technologies, Mustang is the leading supplier of quality flotation and hypothermia protection products to the most demanding users – from fishermen, sailors and commercial mariners to the Coast Guard, fighter pilots and shuttle astronauts. Mustang Survival. We save lives for a living.

Sailing The Gulf of Aden Is Like Playing Russian Roulette.

Source: EU NAVFOR

Christian Colombo, a former French Navy sailor and his wife were on their way to fulfil their dream. They were sailing to see the world in their yacht, the SY TRIBAL KAT until this dream was destroyed in the most traumatic way.

E.Colombo threatened with AK47

The TRIBAL KAT was attacked by Somali suspect criminals off the coast of Yemen while passing through the Gulf of Aden. Christian Colombo was killed during the attack, his body thrown overboard and his wife taken against her will by the suspect criminals. She was being moved by skiff towards Somalia when by a combination of good fortune, considering the vast area to be searched, and close cooperation between the counter-piracy forces in the region, a complex and dangerous rescue operation succeeded in recovering Mrs. Colombo uninjured.

The SY TRIBAL KAT was only the most recent of about 10 yachts attacked and their crews captured by Somali suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean in the past three years.

Nearly every recorded attack on a yacht has led to the crew being taken hostage and moved to Somalia where they were kept on land, their yachts being discarded. SY ROCKALL was completely stripped of everything onboard including the engine.
On land, the level of risk and hardship on the hostages is increased. They are removed from their familiar environment and exposed to a rough country with a harsh, hot climate. Often, hostages are held in the most basic conditions, i.e. no electricity, no sanitary installations, rationed basic food and water. Pirates have frequently moved hostages at short notice to avoid detection, increasing the stress and strain for the hostages.

The ordeal hostages have to endure can include every form of abuse. Physical and psychological mistreatment can include physical violence and mock executions. In some cases, crews and families have been separated for extended periods of time exposing hostages to the stress of uncertainty on the fate of their partner or child. When hostages were separated, pirates have simulated killing one or more of the hostages with machine gun fire out of sight of the remainder to increase the pressure for a ransom to be paid; the hostages are assumed to be very rich and the ransom demands can be for millions of dollars.

On average, maritime hostages have been held for over 7 months. However, for Paul and Rachel Chandler from the SY LYNN RIVAL, their captivity lasted 388 days in the Somali bush. They were eventually released after payment of a ransom however others are not so fortunate; French yacht-owner, husband and father, Florent Lemacon, was killed in April 2009 during the liberation of the SY TANIT. In February 2011, pirates shot and killed four Americans aboard the SY QUEST off the coast of Somalia when U.S. naval forces were trying to negotiate their release.

The presence of warships from EUNAVFOR, NATO and the Coalition Maritime Force, in addition to other naval forces, in the Gulf of Aden has significantly reduced the success of piracy attacks in this area. However, there remains a serious and increasing threat from piracy from the southern Red Sea, through the Bab el-Mandeb to the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia and into the Indian Ocean. This area is the same size as Western Europe and there are only between 12 and 18 warships in the area, with far higher priority tasking than protection of yachts and their crews, so if attacked, the chance of release is remote.

The risks to yachts from pirates are significant – they operate from one or more small skiffs, able to reach up to 25 knots. Increasingly, pirates use small arms fire and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) to stop and board vessels. Attacks have taken place mostly during the day, but pirates have also attacked at night. Pirates are likely to be aggressive, highly agitated, and possibly under the influence of drugs, (including khat, an amphetamine like stimulant).

Yachts cannot out-run the pirates and are unable to prevent boarding. Merchant ships, which have higher freeboards and can adopt the self-protection measures recommended in the fourth edition of “Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy” (BMP) improve their chances but even these only delay a determined pirate.

There is only one sure way of avoiding your yacht and crew being captured – freight the yacht across the high-risk area.

Otherwise you could be playing Russian Roulette with your crew and family.

German Warship Disrupts Pirates.

Suspect pirate jettisons an RPG warhead

On 4 November 2011, following a coordinated search and detection by a French Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft, the German warship FGS KOELN, operating as part of the EU NAVFOR, disrupted a pirate action group comprising a whaler and skiff, 50 nautical miles off the coast of Tanzania. On detection, the suspect pirates jettisoned their pirate equipment overboard and were detained without resistance. They have been transferred onboard FGS KOELN and the two pirate boats sunk, preventing their use against merchant shipping in the area.

EU NAVFOR Somalia is a counter-piracy taskforce operating in the area of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean responsible for repressing acts of piracy and for the safe escort of ships carrying World Food Program aid and vessels of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Additionally, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia”

DryShips and OceanFreight Complete Merger

Friday, November 04, 2011

 

DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) and OceanFreight Inc. (NASDAQ: OCNF) announced today that following approval by OceanFreight's shareholders at a special meeting, the companies have completed the merger and OceanFreight has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of DryShips. Under the terms of the merger agreement, OceanFreight shareholders will be entitled to receive $11.25 in cash and 0.52326 of a share of common stock of Ocean Rig UDW Inc., a global provider of offshore ultra deepwater drilling services, for each share of OceanFreight common stock owned by them.

As a result of the merger, OceanFreight's common shares will cease trading on the NASDAQ Global Market today, and OceanFreight expects to deregister and suspend its reporting obligations under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company has been appointed to serve as the agent for payment of the merger consideration to OceanFreight shareholders, and will promptly mail to shareholders instructions on how to surrender their stock certificates and receive payment for their shares. Banks, brokerage firms or other nominees will provide those shareholders who hold their shares in "street name" with their proceeds from the transaction. For more information, shareholders who hold their shares in "street name" should contact their bank, broker or other holder of record, and shareholders of record may contact American Stock Transfer & Trust Company at (877) 248-6417 (toll free). Shareholders of record should wait to receive the letter of transmittal before surrendering their shares.

Offshore Renewable Energy: Servicing North Sea Wind Turbines

Friday, November 04, 2011

A boat with suspension, a giant robotic arm and a vessel resembling a seahorse are just three of the innovative concepts shortlisted by the Carbon Trust as part of a competition to solve the problem of transferring engineers and equipment safely on to wind turbines as far as 300km offshore in wave heights up to around three meters. The project aims to improve the economics of offshore wind by keeping turbines generating electricity in the harshest sea conditions to increase revenues by as much as £3bn for the next generation of the UK’s offshore wind farms.
Through its Offshore Wind Accelerator program, the Carbon Trust is an industry collaboration of eight UK wind farm developers - E.ON, DONG Energy, Mainstream Renewable Power, RWE Innogy, ScottishPower Renewables, SSE Renewables, Statkraft and Statoil – to reduce the costs of offshore wind.
A technically rigorous process was used by the co-funded industry collaboration to select 13 designs from 450 submissions. The technical merit of these 13 concepts suggests they have the best chances of successfully driving down cost. Today’s offshore wind farms are typically less than 25km offshore in relatively benign sea conditions, and consist of up to 100 turbines. Maintenance is possible in boats about 90% of the time when wave heights are up to about 1.5m. The new ‘round three’ offshore wind projects will be as far as 300km offshore in rougher sea conditions, and may consist of as many as 2,500 turbines. At these sites, today’s access systems would only allow transfers about 210 days a year. The aim of the competition is to find concepts that can be commercialized to make transfers possible for a minimum of 300 days a year. Among the 13 designs shortlisted are a giant robotic arm for transferring engineers and equipment to the turbine base; a boat that uses suspension inspired by Paris Dakar-winning rally cars to remain stable for the transfer; a ‘seahorse’ vessel consisting of a towering keel that minimizes movements in the ocean swell; and a giant harbor mother ship that would act as a base for engineers for weeks on end, dispatching smaller daughter craft to access the turbines. Each of the successful applicants to the competition will benefit from funding of up to £100,000 to support the design and development of their concept, as well as technical support from the eight developers in the Offshore Wind Accelerator.  The competition has selected the following thirteen designs, in three categories, to receive funding:

Transfer Systems
To transfer personnel and equipment from vessel to turbine, potentially with motion-compensation
•    Autobrow, South Boats
•    MOTS, Momac GmBH
•    Wind Bridge, Knud Hansen
•    TAS2, BMT Nigel Gee /
    Houlder

Vessels
Vessels for transporting personnel and equipment from permanent bases or mother ships to turbines, incorporating a transfer system
•    Pivoting Deck Vessel, North Sea
    Logistics
•    Nauti-Craft, Nauti-Craft
•    Fjellstrand Vessel, Fjellstrand
•    SES Vessel, Umoe Mandal
•    SolidSea, University of
    Strathclyde
•    TranSPAR, Extreme Ocean
    Innovation

Launch and Recovery Systems
Systems fitted to the permanent bases or mother ships for launching and recovering daughter craft from the sea.
•    Launch & Recovery, Offshore
    Kinetics
•    Z Port, Z Technologies
•    Launch And Recovery System,     Divex

(As published in the October 2011 edition of Maritime Reporter + Engineering News - www.marinelink.com)

Coast Guard Reccomends Changing Shipping Lanes For Blue Whales.

From the Los Angeles Times, November 1, 2011:

The U.S. Coast Guard has recommended shifting the shipping lanes in the Santa Barbara Channel to move cargo ships out of the way of whales feeding in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

A proposal published Tuesday would narrow the lanes and move one of them north of a steep, underwater drop-off near Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands where endangered blue, fin and humpback whales have been congregating to feed on krill, saying it would “help in preserving the marine environment.”

Federal wildlife officials and environmental groups have been alarmed by the presence of whales in shipping lanes, which they worry puts the giant marine mammals at greater risk of being struck and killed by the hulking vessels that ferry goods in and out of the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex.

Four blue whales were struck and killed by vessels near the Channel Islands sanctuary in 2007, prompting authorities to start issuing notices asking large vessels to slow down when whales are in the area.

The threat of collisions also has been of growing concern outside Los Angeles Harbor, where blue whales have been gathering to feed in dense concentrations in the path of a major shipping lane.

The Coast Guard proposal also calls for establishing new shipping lanes south of the Channel Islands, where some freighters have been navigating to avoid the state's strict air pollution curbs, prompting complaints from the Navy that they were getting too close to military testing ranges.

Unbounded ship traffic, the Coast Guard says, is a safety concern and a defined route would ensure more predictability.

Environmental groups, who have petitioned the Obama administration to establish a ship speed limit through California's four national marine sanctuaries to protect whales, praised the idea to move the lanes away from feeding areas. But they expressed disappointment that the Coast Guard’s proposal did not include speed restrictions.

 --Tony Barboza

Photo: A blue whale feeding on krill outside Los Angeles Harbor in October surfaces near a shipping lane. Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times

British Petroleum is Back!

By Ryan Tracy And Angel Gonzalez, The Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—BP PLC on Wednesday got permission to drill its first well in the Gulf of Mexico since the company’s massive oil spill there last year.

The decision was expected after the U.S. Interior Department approved the company’s broader plan for four exploratory wells in the Gulf late last week. It represents another milestone in the U.K. oil company’s efforts to return to the good graces of federal regulators since it lost control of a deep-water well after a blowout in April 2010. The incident killed 11 workers and caused the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

The Interior Department said the company had met new safety requirements put in place since the spill and had adhered to voluntary standards that went beyond the agency’s requirements.

The approval comes a day after the U.K. oil company reported quarterly earnings of $5.3 billion, surpassing analyst expectations and boosting hopes that the company was emerging with renewed strength from one of the darkest—and costliest—periods of its history. The company had to shed billions of dollars in assets in order to pay for spill costs, while facing the wrath of U.S. legislators, environmental activists and the public.

“We have now reached a definite turning point,” Chief Executive Bob Dudley said in a statement Tuesday. “Our operations are regaining momentum and we are facing the future with great confidence.”

BP said Wednesday’s permit came “after several months of hard work developing and implementing our new drilling standards and sharing those standards with industry partners and regulators.”

The well is located about 246 miles south of Lafayette, La., and is part of BP’s Kaskida prospect. It will be drilled in 6,034 feet of water.

To demonstrate it could contain a blowout at the new well, BP contracted with the Marine Well Containment Co., an industry consortium formed after last year’s spill. The company maintains a “capping stack” that can be scrambled to the scene of a spill and is designed to contain an out-of-control well in deep water.

Environmental groups have questioned whether the new containment system can fulfill those claims, but federal regulators have endorsed it.

“This permit was approved only after thorough well design, blowout preventer, and containment capability reviews,” Michael Bromwich, director of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, said Wednesday.

BP, one of the largest leaseholders in the U.S. Gulf and until the spill one of the most successful wildcatters there, can now join the flock of big oil and gas companies returning to the oil-rich area. On Tuesday, Hess Corp. said it was moving forward with the $2.3 billion development of the Tubular Bells deep-water oil and gas project in the Gulf—the helm of which it took over from BP in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon spill.

The Interior Department said it has approved permits for 46 deep-water wells since February, when a company first demonstrated it could contain a deep-water spill.
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