Though they may seem peaceful, lakes can be just as dangerous as the open seas. Would you be surprised to learn that over 6,000 ships have sunk in the Great Lakes? While the location of many of those ships remains a mystery, researchers from NOAA, the state of Michigan, and Ocean Exploration Trust have recently…
Have you ever wondered what happens to old mooring lines after they get replaced? Historically lines were discarded–often dumped in landfills. But some shipping companies are moving towards a more environmentally friendly solution: recycling. HMM, a South Korean shipping company, is launching a program that will recycle mooring lines. This could save up to 20…
As of April 1, 2021, operators of recreational vessels less than 26 feet long will be required to use an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) and associated ECOS link (ECOSL), according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The ECOS and ECOSL devices prevent runaway vessels and the threats they pose. The ECOSL attaches the vessel operator to…
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port of Los Angeles, which remains the U.S.’s busiest port, reported the fourth-best year on record in 2020. Specifically, the Port of Los Angeles handled 9.2 million 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs. As reported by the Port’s Executive Director, Gene Seroka, the Port’s container business was the “most erratic” seen…
On December 10, 2020, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board issued a summary report detailing the most important maritime safety lessons learned from marine incidents during the year 2019. The report is known as the Safer Seas Digest. The Safer Seas Digest 2019 includes lessons learned from 30 different incidents in 2019. These included allisions,…
In the wake of the deadly fire aboard D/V CONCEPTION in September 2019, lawmakers have advanced a new fire safety bill for small passenger vessels, the Small Passenger Vessel Safety Act. The legislation was proposed by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representatives Salud Carbajal and Julia Brownley. It was rolled into the National Defense Authorization Act…
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is helping lead a coalition of 14 state attorneys demanding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthen the asbestos reporting rule as part of the Chemical Data Reporting Rule under the Toxic Substance Control Act. “It’s widely known that asbestos is one of the most harmful chemicals known to humankind,” said…
Last month, Alaska Maritime Physicians (AMP) partnered with DrChrono to connect maritime workers with improved access to care for those working on the frigid waters of Alaska. Waters in the northern Pacific and the Bering Sea are a lucrative and popular destination for commercial and recreational fishing, Alaskan commerce and the cruise ship industry. But…
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee launched the Maritime Blue strategy early last month at the Port of Seattle. The first of its kind in the United States, the strategy aims to make Washington State the leader in the maritime industry by 2050. The Port of Seattle was one of the first coastal areas to support…
As Hurricane Sandy relentlessly batters the U.S. East Coast, much of the focus is on the intensity of its wind speeds, which are forecasted to reach 90 miles per hour. Mariners, perhaps more than anyone, have long been acutely aware of the dangers posed by strong winds, as they are directly tied to wave action…
