Tag: USCG

An oil sheen was reported after the towing vessel 'St. Rita' sank on the Mississippi River near Laplace, Louisiana, Thursday. The US Coast Guard and good Samaritans responded to the sinking. The St. Rita is estimated to have approximately 13,000 gallons of diesel onboard.

The US Coast Guard and local agencies rescued 46 ice fishermen from an ice floe that broke free near Catawba Island, in western Lake Erie, Saturday. An additional estimated 100 people were able to self-rescue themselves from the ice floe either by swimming or walking on ice-bridges.

The investigating officer on duty for the US Coast Guard Sector New Orleans responded to the report of a collision between two towing vessels on the Lower Mississippi River, on May 16, 2017. The investigation revealed that an endorsed master assigned to one of the vessels had impersonated another mariner during phone contacts with the sector command center and IO.

The Princess cruises ship 'Regal Princess' rescued two people from the water, after their private aircraft went down in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Grand Turk.  The cruise ship was en route from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, when she received a notification by USCG.

The US Office of Navigation Systems released Marine Safety Information Bulletin 002-19, 'Parasailing - Navigation Rules and Flight Safety,' to address operations of vessels pulling parasail wings and to promote the safety of passengers aloft in the vicinity of aircraft. Parasailing is an 'activity in which an individual is transported or carried aloft by a parachute, sail, or other material attached to a towline which is towed by a vessel.'

The US National Maritime Center provided information regarding how it will process applications for National Officer/Rating Endorsements that expire March 24, 2019. Under grandfathering provisions, mariners who started service or training for a national endorsement may qualify for the endorsement. However, mariners must meet certain criteria.

The US Office of Design and Engineering Standards issued Change 1 to CG-ENG Policy Letter 02-12, 'Acceptance of the 2009 MODU Code.' The 2009 Mobile Offshore Drilling Units Code was amended several times since its adoption. The most recent amendments include updated design and equipment requirements that derive from the findings of the Deepwater Horizon casualty investigation.

On March 4, US President Donald Trump signed the 'Military to Maritime' order that enables members of the armed forces to user their sea time and training to meet USCG merchant mariner licensing requirements, after leaving active duty.

A US Coast Guard buoy tender hit the dock, in New Orleans, on the Mississippi River, while carrying the Zulu King and Queen of Mardi Gras and other Zulu royalty for Mardi Gras festivities. The video, published by WWLTV, captures the time of the incident. 

Unwanted sexual contact in 2017-2018 increased for cadets and midshipmen compared to rates last measured in 2016, according to figures released by the US DoD. Among all female cadets and midshipmen, 15.8% experienced unwanted sexual contact in the past year in the 2018 survey, an increase from 12.2%.