Offshore oil rigs play an important role in the American energy production and maritime industries. They not only produce thousands of barrels of oil a day in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere, but they help the economy by creating lucrative jobs for offshore maritime workers. However, offshore oil rigs are among the country’s most […]
Last week, a 656-foot long freight became stuck to the muddy bottom of a waterway near the U.S.-Canadian border. A mechanical failure caused steering loss, resulting in the freighter running around. At 3 a.m. on July 27, the watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Detroit received a report that the Federal Rideau, a bulk freighter carrying […]
A gambling vessel on its maiden voyage ran aground off the Georgia coast, stranding 123 persons for 16 hours until rescue crews could conduct a safe evacuation. The 174-foot-long casino boat Escapade was heading out to sea on its first gambling cruise shortly after midnight on Wednesday, July 16 when it hit a sandbar nearly […]
An American merchant marine officer who had recently resumed his career at sea after running his own business was killed in an accident during cargo-loading operations in the port of Bahrain. Harlan P. Crouch II, 44, was a mate assigned to a Liberty Maritime freighter which was loading cargo in the Persian Gulf port of […]
Working in the maritime industry comes with many risks and dangers. Many times, accidents and injuries happen seemingly out of nowhere, leaving behind devastating results. There are several factors that contribute to maritime accidents, some more common than others. Equipment Failure Maritime equipment is usually well-designed and built to tolerate the stresses that all vessels […]
Many veterans are prime candidates for the maritime industry. With their time spent being part of a team coupled with specialized experience in certain job functions that can be applied in the maritime field, there are several opportunities that are a good fit for veterans. However, it’s important for veterans to understand the risks that come […]
The body of a 39-year-old Filipino seaman was discovered on June 19 aboard a container ship at the Port of Los Angeles, according to local and Filipino media reports. According to news reports, investigators from the Los Angeles Port Police and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) state in their preliminary report that […]
An Alaska-bound cruise ship that sailed from the port of Seattle returned temporarily because of a fire in one of its boiler rooms last weekend. The MS Westerdam, an 82,348 ton passenger ship owned by the Holland America cruise line, left Seattle’s port at 4 p.m. on June 28. At around 5:15 p.m., the Westerdam reversed […]
Four seamen were plucked out of the Mississippi River on Tuesday night after their towboat sank near the Port of St. Louis under mysterious circumstances. The Jim Marko, a 70-foot-long,140-ton towboat, was sailing near the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge when its four-man crew noticed that the vessel was taking on water and rapidly sinking. […]