Southwest

Mercury Marine Opens New Global Distribution Center in Indiana

Mercury Marine opened its new, purpose-built distribution center to support its parts and accessories business. The new 512,000 square foot facility is located near Indianapolis, Ind., a major thoroughfare connecting Mercury’s global customers that will improve delivery and service and will add much needed capacity for scale, stability, and reduced logistics costs, the company said.Mercury’s current distribution facility at its global headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wis., will be repurposed to support its propulsion systems…

Fire Engulfs Superyacht in British Marina

Fire ripped through a superyacht in southwest England on Saturday, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky and briefly releasing the burning vessel to drift across its marina.Police and fire officials said the 85 foot (26 meter) yacht in Torquay, Devon, was "well alight" and the fire brigade said the vessel contained about 8,000 liters of diesel fuel, prompting local areas and nearby beaches to be cleared."Due to levels of smoke and fumes we are asking residents in the area to keep their doors and windows shut at this time," Devon & Cornwall police said.

Russian Billionaire's Yacht Detained in Gibraltar

A luxurious super-yacht linked to the owner of Russia's largest steel pipe maker, who is currently under British and European Union sanctions, docked in Gibraltar on Monday and was then detained by the authorities.Western sanctions on Russian oligarchs over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine have triggered an exodus of luxury yachts from Europe in recent weeks, with several heading towards the Maldives, which has no extradition treaty with the United States.Reuters TV footage showed the "Axioma", believed to be owned by Dmitrievich Pumpyansky…

Raymarine and CMOR help Anglers, Divers Discover More

The best diving and bottom-fishing spots are the ones that don’t show up on paper or digital charts and aren’t marked on commercially available fishing maps. They’re the forgotten wrecks, the isolated reefs, the ledges hidden between the contour lines — the kinds of places that take hundreds of hours on the water and countless dollars in fuel to find.CMOR Mapping’s chartplotter-compatible bathymetry clearly reveals those spots. With resolution as high as one meter (each pixel represents a single square meter of bottom) and coverage of the entire bottom…

The Benefits of Sustainable Marine Lumber

Today’s marinas are held to a higher standard of environmental stewardship than in the past. No longer are they just responsible for the environmental impacts of their day-to-day operations, but also of their infrastructure and how it affects both the oceans, waterways and their delicate marine ecosystems. For these reasons, many marinas are being far more selective as to construction materials being specified for their expansion and/or restoration projects.One material that is rising to the top for its eco-friendly and performance attributes is sustainable marine lumber.

British Golden Globe Yachtswoman Rescued by Cargo Ship

British solo round-the-world yachtswoman Susie Goodall was rescued by a cargo ship on Friday after her boat capsized and lost its mast during a violent storm in the southern Pacific Ocean.The 29-year-old, the youngest entrant in the Golden Globe race, had waited two days for the Hong Kong-registered Tian Fu to arrive after sending a distress signal from 2,000 nautical miles west of Cape Horn.The signal was picked up by Falmouth Coastguard in southwest England, with the alert passed on to race control and the Chilean maritime search and rescue authorities."ON THE SHIP!!!," she said on her Twitter feed after the rescue.Race organisers had earlier reporte

Keehi Marine to Reduce Stormwater Discharge Pollution

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with Hawaiian repair yard Keehi Marine, Inc. to reduce pollution in its stormwater discharges to Keehi Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean.Acting on a tip it received from the public, EPA performed an inspection in April 2017 at the Honolulu boatyard and found accumulation of fine sediment and debris without controls that prevent stormwater and associated debris from entering stormwater discharges and flowing into Keehi Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. It was discovered that recent flooding at a covered work area indicating pollutants had washed offsite.

Navico Hires Southwest US Sales Manager

Navico, a manufacturer of marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad and B&G brands, has appointed Scott Nagel as its new territory sales manager for the southwest U.S. Based in Mission Viejo, Calif., Nagel’s territory will cover California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Hawaii. Nagel has been in the industry for many years working as an independent sales representative for leading brands like Daiwa, Rapala, Flambeau, Penn, Beretta and Sig Sauer.

Up-to-date Cuba Atlas Charts Released

Press release - American cruisers, sailors, and boaters wanting to visit Cuba can now travel in confidence using new and updated chart sets for the entire Cuban coastline. NV Charts has announced the release of all four (4) Cuba chart sets in NV Charts’ new and popular Atlas style format. “Recently, the U.S. Government issued new rules regarding travel to Cuba,” states Hasko Scheidt, NV Charts’ CEO. “This is a momentous step forward for the boating industry, because now, persons travelling to Cuba can sail there on their own vessels, and with others.

New Owner at the Helm of TowBoatUS Cape Cod

Capt. Shawn Brule, who retired from the U.S. Coast Guard last August after 22 years of service, is the new owner of TowBoatUS Cape Cod, an on water towing and assistance service for recreational boaters. “I’ve always known I would own a boat towing company at some point in my life,” said Brule, who began working as a deckhand in a similar business when he was a teenager in Florida. Brule, who was a senior chief boatswain’s mate, spent his entire Coast Guard career in New England waters, serving for the last five years as head of the Aids to Navigation Team out of the Boston station.

China Launches First Maritime Silk Road Cruise Liner

China has launched its first cruise liner to sail via its ambitious transcontinental initiative Maritime Silk Road (MSR) on its maiden voyage during which it will visit three South-East Asian nations. The liner has scheduled stops in Vietnam, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia before eventually reaches Kuantan Port in Malaysia. The cruise liner set off from the Beihai port in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The 135-m-long 20-m-wide modern cruise ship can accommodate about 400 people and is equipped with wireless Internet access.

New Portable Power System from SWE

Southwest Electronic Energy announced the launch of POW-R Tote, a rugged, lightweight, 12V/117Ah portable power system which provides compact-convenient energy for wherever standard power sources are unavailable. About the size of a lunchbox, and weighing 23 pounds, the eco-friendly POW-R Tote uses safe, powerful Lithium-Ion battery technology to deliver two times longer run time and two times more power at half the weight when compared to a typical 12V lead acid battery commonly used in similar applications.

Cigar Boat Ablaze in Florida Keys

Six people were rescued by a good Samaritan following a boat fire aboard a boat southwest of Islamorada, Florida Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard reported. No injuries have been recorded. A good Samaritan notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Islamorada of a fire aboard an approximately 40-foot cigar boat roughly five miles north of Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida at approximately 2 p.m. The good Samaritan then rescued the six individuals from the burning vessel. A USCG boatcrew from Station Islamorada is currently on scene to ensure the safety in the area of the burning vessel.

Boat Operator Alert: Take Care of Onboard Spare Gasoline

Hong Kong Marine Department (MARDEP) advise of the dangers of carrying spare gasoline fuel following its investigation of an accident aboard a locally-licensed speedboat that resulted in the fatal loss of the boat's coxswain. A fire broke out onboard aboard the speedboat off the Trio Island, Sai Kung, having started at a storage box which was fixed near the coxswain's seat of the speedboat, and  the blaze spread quickly. The coxswain of the speedboat was missing as a result of the accident and his body was found six days later at the southwest of the Steep Island, Sai Kung.

300 Missing After Korean Ferry Capsizes

Almost 300 people were missing after a ferry capsized off South Korea on Wednesday, despite frantic rescue efforts involving coastguard vessels, fishing boats and helicopters, in what could be the country's biggest maritime disaster in over 20 years. The ferry was carrying 459 people, of whom 164 have been rescued, coastguard officials said. It was not immediately clear why the Sewol ferry listed heavily on to its side and capsized in apparently calm conditions off South Korea's southwest coast, but some survivors spoke of what appeared to be an impact prior to the accident. "It was fine.

CG Saves Pair from Stricken Yacht

Two foreign nationals are now placed into safety by the Philippine Coast Guard after sustaining minor injuries from an incident while sailing east of Basterra Reef, Palawan. American citizen Capt Linda Mckeever, 60 years old, and Rene Menz, 47 years old from Palau, were onboard S/V Creola when they were found and rescued by a passing fishing vessel, FV Mighty One, yesterday at around 5:30AM approximately 47NM southwest of South Islet, Tubbataha, Palawan. On the same day at around 6:20AM…

U.S. Superyacht Association Announces 2013-14 Directors

The U.S. Superyacht Association (USSA) announced the 2013-2014 Board of Directors elected in October 2013. John J. Mann, III (Bluewater Books and Charts) will continue his role as Chairman. Ami Ira, Crew Unlimited / C.U. “The USSA has been very fortunate to have strong board members dedicated to helping grow the organization,” said John Mann, USSA Chairman. “By continually bringing in new representatives at the board level, we are able to draw on their energy, ideas and skills.

Marina Projects Secures Commission with Ports of Jersey

U.K.-based marina consultancy Marina Projects Ltd. was appointed by Ports of Jersey to deliver two new developments in St. Helier Harbor. The two projects, The Redevelopment of Berths № 4 & 5 and The Refurbishment of the Fishermen’s Berths, due to commence later this year, will considerably enhance the harbor offering for both the marine leisure and commercial fishing industries. This appointment is a further step in the long standing and successful relationship between Marina Projects and Ports of Jersey.

Port Mooring Goes Digital for Boaters

Boaters visiting San Diego can now reserve a slip even before dropping anchor and setting foot on land. The San Diego Harbor Police Department has launched an online service as a convenience for recreational boaters and visitors to San Diego Bay. Previously, the only ways to request a slip were to initially dock and reserve in-person or to place a call, while availability was first-come, first served. The new website allows boaters to see details about all Port-managed anchorages in the bay, check for availability up to two weeks in advance, and pay for a slip reservation using a credit card.