Mariner

Ship Design: Zero-Emission Cruise Ship Concept Unveiled

Northern Xplorer AS (NX) announced itszero-emission, luxury cruise concept, designed to feature 'clean' technologies including fully electric propulsion, battery energy storage, hydrogen fuel cells and auxiliary renewable energy supply (wind and solar power). Northern Xplorer will provide opportunities to travel ‘off the beaten track’, connecting passengers with unique locations in the Nordic countries in a personal way,” said Rolf André Sandvik, the company's founder and CEO. Sandvik is a master mariner with extensive experience with cruise lines NCL and Crystal Cruises.

New Book: Steaming to Djibouti…My First Hitch on an Underway Replenishment Ship

The following excerpts are from the new travelogue by Captain Sean P. Tortora, titled, “Steaming to Djibouti…My First Hitch on an Underway Replenishment Ship.”  Join a motivated young merchant marine officer on his first journey onboard a venerable navy auxiliary steamship. Accompany him through the convoluted reporting for duty process through his truly surreal first tour onboard. Meet the oddball characters in the crew and follow their outlandish daily routine. Listen in to the truly jaw-dropping crew interactions.

Training Tips for Ships: Tip #10 - Don’t Handcuff Your Trainees

Do any of your e-learning modules force learners to spend a certain amount of time on a page before advancing to the next one? Do they force readers to answer one or more questions before advancing to the next page? Do they prevent access to the final exam until every learning page has been visited at least once? Do they enforce a prerequisite structure that prevents access to more advanced learning material until the prerequisite material has been completed?If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions then 1) you are not alone…

Sailing Vessel Runs Aground off Hilo, Hawaii

One mariner has been rescued from a 63-foot motor-sailing vessel that ran aground near Ale Ale’a Point, Hilo Bay, Monday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard said.At 5:33 p.m. Monday, Coast GUard Sector Honolulu watchstanders received a report from Hilo Fire Department of the grounded vessel, named Midway Island, on the rocks northwest of Hilo Harbor with a mariner aboard.Hilo Fire Department responded with engine, fire boat and aircrews Their aircrew arrived on scene and hoisted the…

New Online Marine License Insurance Program

Mariners looking for insurance have a new option that is touted as being fast and affordable, cared for immediately in an online format that is designed to be more expedient than ever.360 Coverage Pros launched a new Marine License Insurance Program for mariners that offers an entirely online buying experience combined with low monthly payment options and instant proof of coverage.Until now, the process of securing a marine license insurance policy involved requesting quotes,…

Harris Supercharges Its Lineup

Harris Pontoons has officially announced that it will offer the Mercury Marine 450R outboard engine on its Grand Mariner and Crowne models effective immediately. In addition, both models will now offer Nautic-On as an option in addition to 7” and 9” screens (Simrad GO7 and GO9 series), an upgrade from the current 5” offering on both models.The Mercury 450R engines, officially released in June 2019, give Harris the largest outboard option it has ever offered its customers, designed for unprecedented high performance and power.

Interview: Douglas Prothero, CEO, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

As privately owned, luxury yachts near the size of the average cruise ship, behold a new option, which is anything but commonplace: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. At 624 feet and 11 decks, her exterior profile resembles a sleek superyacht design, not a cruise ship on the horizon. Launched in October 2018 at Hijos de J. Barreras Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, the flagship of the new brand is now in outfitting and interior finishing. The project was co-managed by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Marriott and Tillberg Design of Sweden.

CG Searches for Mariner Off Jamaica

The Coast Guard is searching for a missing mariner Tuesday approximately 146 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.Watchstanders at Coast Guard 7th District Command Center received a report from master of the sailing vessel Cinnamon Girl that a 71-year-old crewmember was went overboard.The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC-617) was diverted by the watchstanders to search.No further information is available at this time.

USCG: Unlicensed Charters - Bad News for Everyone

The Coast Guard is reminding the public that unlicensed vessel charters are both illegal and unsafe to consumers.Hiring an unlicensed charter is dangerous because the charter may not have the proper emergency safety gear, navigation and communication gear, and may not have undergone the proper license exams and inspections which are put in place to ensure passenger and crew safety.Legal passenger vessel operations fall into one of these three categories:Uninspected Passenger Vessel…

Mariner Assessment: "There's an App for That"

Carnival Corporation partnered with Marine Learning Systems to develop an App for mariner skills assessment.Dubbed SkillGrader, the App was designed to help standardize Carnival Corporation’s training and assessment across the company’s fleet of 105 ships and 9 brands. Prior to its development, there were numerous different approaches to training, with hundreds of programs, and a variety of fleet trainers and external training providers.“We wanted to align and standardize our approach.” says John Allen, Carnival Corporation’s Director of Maritime Professional Development.

Government Shutdown: USCG Update

To mitigate the impact caused by the partial lapse in appropriations and shutdown of National Maritime Center (NMC) operations, the following updated actions are being taken:• Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) (National Endorsements only) and Medical Certificates that expire in December 2018, January 2019, or February 2019 are extended as valid until April 30, 2019. Print letter and carry it with your credential.• Additional Information (AI) letters, sent to mariners that expire in December 2018, January 2019, or February 2019 are extended to April 30…

Yacht donations, marine charities help children in need.

It’s always the right season to give to those in need, but the end of the fiscal year correlates with a generosity spike - to make one more contribution for a last-minute, itemized tax deduction.However, most boat owners don’t donate their vessels out of altruism, it’s to stop the bleeding of incessant maintenance costs and expensive repairs for an aged boat that’s hard to sell. The write-off for income taxes is actually a bonus. Donating a boat or yacht is a legal process governed…

Yacht Charter Terminated for Multiple Safety Violations

The owner and operator of a 65-foot pleasure yacht is facing maximum civil penalties amounting to $41,546 for illegal passenger for hire operation.The U.S. Coast Guard said it boarded the yacht Zenith Saturday after receiving a call from a concerned passenger and hearing that the vessel allided with the Venetian Causeway Bridge in Miami earlier that day.There was no reported damage sustained to the bridge or any reported injuries to those on board the Zenith, but several safety issues and environmental concerns were discovered…

Damen Hires Trevisan as Sales Director, Cruise Newbuilds

Damen Shipyards Group has appointed Andrea Trevisan as its new Sales Director Cruise New Building, as the company plans to further expand its standing in the flourishung expedition and small size cruise vessels market. Trevisan will oversee Damen’s global commercial and marketing activities with regard to new build cruise vessels. “I will be a sort of Damen brand ‘ambassador’ for the cruise industry, working in close coordination with our well established regional sales organization and with my colleagues Mr. Henk Grunstra, Product Director Cruise and Ferries, and Mrs.

Blohm+Voss Strengthens Team

Blohm+Voss has appointed Jean-Gabriel Tridon as General Manager and Dieter Pladeck as Finance Director for its new maintenance and refit facility in La Ciotat in the south of France. The company has filled the two management positions only two weeks after winning the local tender of La Ciotat Shipyards for the setting up of the new site. In La Ciotat, Blohm+Voss will focus on the maintenance and refit of megayachts of over 80 meters in length. Fred van Beers, Chief Executive Officer at Blohm+Voss: “We are filling these key positions with familiar faces.

Mariner Rescued North of Grand Bahama

A man was rescued from a sinking 31-foot vessel that was taking on water 10 nautical miles north of Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Wednesday.   Coast Guard District 7 watchstanders received a report of an activated EPIRB at about 10 a.m., Wednesday. They diverted an Air Station Clearwater, Florida, MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew deployed to the Bahamas that was in the area. The aircrew arrived on scene, hoisted the man and transported him to Freeport, Bahamas. No medical concerns were reported.

Marine Electronics & the Smart ECDIS: eGlobe G2

ChartWorld have announced the launch of their next generation of ECDIS software - eGlobe G2. Designed with the assistance of experienced nautical officers, focusing on the practical usage for modern seafaring, eGlobe G2 opens a new era of mariner friendly & intuitive navigation solutions. Integrated “Watch handover” checks which creates confidence in the system settings during handover. ChartWorld have mastered the art of simple design allowing for compact packaging to reduce shipping costs and ensure a fast installation.

Simrad Launches Upgrades, New Products

A powerful new software upgrade is available for the Simrad AP70 and AP80 Autopilots. The upgrade is currently available as a free download and installed on all new systems sold. Continuing to build upon a legacy of state-of-the-art, high-performance autopilots, the Simrad AP80 and AP70 with RTM 2.0 software offer the most feature-packed and reliable solutions on the market. Adding the professional grade functionality that captains need, RTM 2.0 includes upgrades to system operation and greatly expands the overall feature set of both the AP70 and AP80.

Internet at Sea: Staying Connected

The maritime industry is at a crossroads, with a dearth of next-generation talent willing and available for a life at sea, yet increasing demands for efficiency and clarity of operations. At this crossroads lies modern communication technology, the connective tissue that can help to cure many of the industry’s ills, as Frank Coles, President of Inmarsat Maritime, contends. Commercial shipping will always remain a pivotal link in the global transport chain, but the very nature…