Safety and Security

The UK P&I Club has issued a loss prevention bulletin on the dangers of pressing up ballast tanks. In a recent case, says the bulletin, an entered vessel pressed up its ballast tanks in order to optimize trim and to satisfy mandatory stability criteria. The operation resulted in the unexpected flooding of a cargo hold ...

Resolve Maritime Academy opened its new Simulation Training Center this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA facility adjacent to Port Everglades.Sharing the ceremonial scissors in our photograph are (L to R): Greg Purdy, VP, Marine Operations, Celebrity Cruises and Bill Wrigh ...

The Navy reports that guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Baranof (WPB 1318) rescued 24 Filipino mariners in the Persian Gulf, early March 15.At approximately 2 a.m., local time, John Paul Jones, assigned to Combined ...

Wärtsilä has signed a five-year service agreement with U.S.-based Prestige Cruise Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.The long-term service agreement covers six vessels, a total of 27 Wärtsilä engines and has the option to include further vessels in the future. The agreement f ...

With the Costa Concordia incident still impacting bookings, the top executives of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) gave delegates gathered at Cruise Shipping Miami their views on cruising's safety record and policies as well as the industry's prospects and commitment to growth in the coming months and years.Howard Frank, vice chairman of Carnival ...

The BBC reports that the captain of a vessel involved in a collision with a Stenaline ferry at the mouth of Belfast Lough will appear in court on Friday on a charge of having excess alcohol in his blood. The masters of both vessels were breathalyzed after the incident.Stena Line said that the collision involved the ...

Athens-headquartered Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ: SBLK) reports that one of its vessels, the 179,546 dwt Capesize bulk carrier STAR POLARIS, sustained bottom damage when entering the port of Eregli, Turkey. Following a survey of the damages, the vessel proceeded for permanent repairs to Daewoo Mangalia shipyard in Romania. The repairs are expected to be completed in appr ...

A maritime security alert has been issued for the Arabian Sea after a merchant vessel, MV Royal Grace, was reportedly hijacked in position 21:27N - 062:37E approximately 150NM off Oman on March 2, reports GAC Protective Solutions.The hijack was only confirmed after the vessel communicated with the owners stating her position on 4 March. Her last know ...