More than 20 crewmembers were evacuated from a 34,500 DWT cargo ship off the coast of Germany on Tuesday after its fertilizer cargo began to overheat, creating a massive plume of hazardous smoke and prompting fears of an explosion. Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME) was informed overnight Monday of smoke developing in the hold of the Marshall … [Read more...]
Operations Resume at Port Metro Vancouver After Chemical Fire
Port Metro Vancouver was mostly re-opened Thursday after a chemical fire broke out in a container Wednesday afternoon at a terminal at the port's south shore. Port Metro Vancouver updated that as of Thursday morning, all port operations have resumed with the exception of the the Centerm Container Terminal, where the burning container was located. The fire broke out at … [Read more...]
Four-Alarm Chemical Fire Shuts Port Metro Vancouver – Update
Update: The fire was brought under control as of 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, Port Metro Vancouver said in a update. The update said that smoke continued to diminish and the "shelter in place" order had been lifted, but the public is still encouraged to stay away from the area. Previous: A four-alarm chemical fire broke out at Port Metro Vancouver Wednesday afternoon, sending … [Read more...]
Coast Guard Responding to Hazmat Situation at Kinder Morgan Terminal in Norfolk – Update
The U.S. Coast Guard says it is responding Wednesday along with state and local first responders in Virginia to an overloaded tank containing sodium hydroxide in Norfolk along the Elizabeth River. Norfolk Fire Department contacted Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads command center personnel at approximately 7:30 a.m., reporting a chemical tank was overloaded at a Kinder-Morgan … [Read more...]
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch – Mapped
(Source: IMC Brokers) In the broad expanse of the northern Pacific Ocean, there exists the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a slowly moving, clockwise spiral of currents created by a high-pressure system of air currents. The area is an oceanic desert, filled with tiny phytoplankton but few big fish or mammals. Due to its lack of large fish and gentle breezes, fishermen and … [Read more...]
Panel Allows Toxic Ship Into Alang Despite SC Ruling
American cruise ship, formerly the SS Oceanic Independence, now Platinum-II. Inquiries are under way into the circumstances under which the asbestos-laden vessel was granted entry into Indian waters. Photo: Jonathan Haeber Monday, February 15, 2010 Rakesh Bhatnagar / DNA Platinum-II, which lies anchored at the Alang shipbreaking yard off Bhavnagar, Gujarat, is considered … [Read more...]
American’s Marine Highway
I am pleased to report a significant amount of positive feedback from mariners when discussing new MARAD (Maritime Administration) initiatives. In addition to being on the forefront of new LNG programs they are aggressively pursuing new ways of providing job opportunities for U.S. Mariners and, the *word on the street* is they are even working with the IRS to protect our … [Read more...]