A sweeping change in shipborne commerce will take effect on Jan. 1 with the implementation of the International Maritime Organization’s 0.5 percent sulfur cap. While operators in Emission Control Areas are already in compliance, big questions remain across North America about fuel quality and cost after the global shift. In its December/January issue, Professional Mariner examines what’s likely to happen and who will be affected. Moving beyond diesel, all-electric propulsion has proven viable for smaller commercial vessels. But can it step up to handle the demands imposed by tugboats and pilot boats? Many now believe the answer is yes, with plans in the works at Damen for the world’s first full-size electric tug. We also take a closer look at the challenges still ahead in the rollout of Subchapter M, and what led to the Conception dive boat disaster in California.

Record high water this spring and early summer took a heavy toll on barge traffic in the heartland, with river closures preventing key crops from reaching market. In its October-November issue, Professional Mariner takes stock of the damage as logistics networks struggle to catch up. We also listen in as Capt. Marc Deglinnocenti talks with Richard Balzano, MarAd’s second in command, about the future of autonomous vessels in the U.S. — are merchant mariner jobs at stake? Additional coverage includes a look at the difficult recovery of oil from a tanker torpedoed by a U-boat off Long Island during World War II, and the advent of hands-free mooring technology at locks along the St. Lawrence Seaway. Plus Kelly Sweeney’s Mariner’s Notebook and full maritime casualty coverage for the U.S. and Canada.

After decades of neglect and eventual slow progress, mariners have grown more accustomed to wearing safety gear or at least keeping it close at hand. The cudgel of regulation has made everyone pay attention, and more regulatory changes are being weighed. In its September issue, Professional Mariner examines how technology is keeping pace. We also take a look at the easing of offshore drilling rules and what it might mean for mariners in the Gulf of Mexico; a new Smithsonian Channel series that analyzes notable maritime disasters; and the challenges facing the new steward of New York state’s canal system. Plus Capt. Kelly Sweeney's Mariner's Notebook and full maritime casualty coverage for the United States and Canada.

As the next deadline approaches for the inspection of towing vessels under Subchapter M, industry members say the process is still rocky, with inconsistencies in the interpretation of regulations, unpredictable wait times for the processing of applications, and questions about enforcement. In its August issue, Professional Mariner examines what’s working and what’s not. We also take a closer look at the evolving world of mobile apps on the water, with new capabilities in navigation and communication making life safer and more connected for mariners. Additional coverage includes the latest on the IMO’s pending sulfur cap, a showdown over growing containership traffic in the Houston Ship Channel, and the industry’s leading maritime casualty roundup.

The age of autonomous ships is dawning, bringing with it the promise of new efficiencies and savings for operators. But what will happen when something goes wrong at sea? Who will be responsible, and how will regulators deal with determining liability? In its June/July issue, Professional Mariner takes a closer look at what might be at stake. Coverage also includes a ride aboard a Foss tugboat in Honolulu Harbor, where the busy crew handles ships carrying everything from containers to cows; the approval of $300 million for a new training ship for Massachusetts Maritime Academy; and an onboard look at Enhydra, the innovative San Francisco tour boat that is setting a new standard in hybrid propulsion. Plus Capt. Kelly Sweeney’s Mariner’s Notebook and industry-leading casualty coverage for the U.S. and Canada.

It was another difficult Antarctic voyage for Polar Star last winter, with power outages, a failed shaft seal and a fire plaguing America’s only heavy icebreaker. In its May issue, Professional Mariner covers the latest breakdowns as the Coast Guard awaits more help at the poles from newbuilds. We also look back – and ahead – at the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System, better known as AMVER, which has saved thousands of mariners over six decades and continues to add participants from around the world. Coverage this month also includes an autonomous first for the U.S. Navy as it sends a crewless trimaran from San Diego to Hawaii and back; growing pressure to eliminate hydrofluorcarbons (HFCs) as onboard fire suppressants; and an ambitious plan by Washington State Ferries to add 16 vessels to its fleet over the next 20 years. Plus Capt. Kelly Sweeney’s Mariner’s Notebook and industry-leading casualty coverage for the U.S. and Canada.

In a scene from a bygone century, tall ships made their way up the Mississippi River to grace New Orleans’ tricentennial celebration, handling inland navigation challenges with the help of local pilots and tugboats. In its April issue, Professional Mariner takes you along for the ride. Coverage for the month also includes the toll of the partial government shutdown on maritime interests; the Coast Guard’s newer, higher rate of random drug testing for mariners; hull coating innovations to keep one step ahead of the cling-ons; and congressional action that will allow the venerable riverboat Delta Queen to get back on the water. Plus industry-leading maritime casualty coverage for the U.S. and Canada.

The rollout of Subchapter M has come with a few bumps for towing interests, including what some operators see as discrepancies in manning requirements for similar vessels in different parts of the country. In its March issue, Professional Mariner examines what is happening and what is being done to smooth the regulatory transition. In the world of cybersecurity, a new survey is sounding the alarm about a false sense of preparedness among maritime companies in the U.S., with many facing “severe fallout” in the event of an attack. We also take a look at the long-awaited enactment of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, which replaces a patchwork of state regulations with a federal blueprint; a new lawsuit that continues the fight over pilotage rates set by the Coast Guard for the Great Lakes; and a call to overhaul the global STCW regime, the scope of which is being overtaken by technological change. Plus full maritime casualty coverage for the U.S. and Canada.

Hundreds of vessel operators worldwide will install emission scrubbers prior to January 2020, when the global 0.5 percent sulfur fuel cap takes effect. Industry analysts say the use of these systems, however, can create environmental problems and pose other potential risks. In its February issue, Professional Mariner examines the concerns and how they could affect shipping. In shipbuilding, we look back on 40 years of innovation in the development of pilot boats and where it has led, anchored by the evolution of the deep-V hull from Ray Hunt Design and longtime partner Gladding-Hearn. The February issue also brings coverage of key funding for inland waterways via the Water Resources Development Act of 2018; the appointment of former SeaRiver CEO Jack Buono as new master at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; and the fate of the century-old Urger, the Erie Canal’s teaching tugboat, whose future is in jeopardy due to new safety standards. Plus full maritime casualty news from the U.S. and Canada.

Contamination of bunker fuels, particularly on the U.S. Gulf Coast, has affected scores of vessels. While the problem seems to have largely abated for now, experts suggest that the IMO's looming 0.5 percent sulfur cap might inadvertently create more problems with future fuel formulations. In the December/January issue, Professional Mariner examines the challenges and what might lie ahead for operators. In New York, the future looks bright for NYC Ferry, which has put together a 19-boat fleet in a tight time frame to serve the city's growing commuter base. Ride along as we look at where the line is heading next. Coverage also includes the growing communication and navigation threat posed by LED lighting on vessels; advances in LNG bunkering as the fuel takes hold in North America; and full maritime casualty news from the U.S. and Canada.

American Ship Review 2019 covers newly constructed vessels from U.S. and Canadian shipyards, ranging from ferries, fireboats and patrol boats to tankers and LNG-powered cargo ships. ASR's Ship of the Year is Enhydra, a 128-foot, 600-passenger hybrid excursion boat built by All American Marine for Red and White Fleet of San Francisco. Outfitted with a lithium-ion battery-electric propulsion system, Enhydra is the largest hybrid tour boat in North America and one of just a handful of passenger vessels operating with similar propulsion worldwide. American Ship Review also profiles six other prominent vessels and examines trends that will affect key segments of the industry over the next year.

Duck boats have a long and checkered history as excursion vessels, leaving many fatalities in their wake. The capsizing of Stretch Duck 7 on Missouri's Table Rock Lake in July, at a cost of 17 lives, has amplified calls for stricter regulation. In its October/November issue, Professional Mariner examines what led to the tragedy and what the future holds for these amphibious vehicles. In towing, the Olmsted Locks and Dam is finally ready to open to commercial traffic, ending 30 years of delays and lost profits for the inland barge industry. Correspondent Brian Gauvin tours the Ohio River site and tracks why the process took so long. Additional coverage includes a look at fuel cells and the potential they hold for the future of marine propulsion; the possible impact of new steel and aluminum tariffs on U.S. shipbuilders; and incorrect AIS data posing a threat to the nation's towing vessels.

The debate over compliance with salvage and firefighting requirements at U.S. ports is heating up, with a new report criticizing the effectiveness of vessel response plans for Charleston and Long Beach-Los Angeles. But according to the U.S. Coast Guard, simulation-based evaluations in 16 ports – including those two harbors – found all of the plans to be satisfactory. In its September issue, Professional Mariner gets a line on both sides of the argument. Coverage for the month also includes the International Maritime Organization's first steps to regulate autonomous shipping; Metal Shark's acquisition of Horizon Shipbuilding and its steel-hull expertise; Washington State Ferries' move to convert its three largest vessels to hybrid propulsion; and the evolution of deck cranes to take on new challenges offshore. Plus the latest U.S. and Canadian casualty news.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued its first certificates of inspection under Subchapter M. But the compliance deadline will arrive with many towing companies unprepared, and with uncertainty still surrounding the new inspection regime. Professional Mariner examines the challenges that remain and what needs to be done to overcome them. Our August issue also tracks the Coast Guard's Polar Star on its annual voyage to Antarctica, a transit marked by mechanical breakdowns that highlight a gap in U.S. icebreaking capability that isn't likely to close soon. Coverage for the month also includes maritime operators harnessing "big data" for efficiency and profit, congressional approval of funding for a new SUNY Maritime training ship, and the continuing dispute between tugboat captains and the Panama Canal Authority over manning and safety.

Global piracy has tumbled to its lowest level in more than 20 years, but security experts warn that threats still exist and could greatly intensify if complacency takes hold. In its June/July issue, Professional Mariner takes a look at why piracy is down but not out. On the Panama Canal, the use of tugboats instead of locomotive "mules" on the new set of locks has come with challenges and controversy. Find out how tug captains and crews are adjusting. Ever wonder what it's like to ride a tow through a set of locks? We give readers a seat on the towboat Elizabeth M. Robinson as it navigates Louisiana's Port Allen Route with a pair of tank barges. Our latest issue also takes a look at a proposal that could bring tolls back to the U.S. portion of the St. Lawrence Seaway; TOTE Maritime's conversion of two Jones Act cargo ships to run on LNG; and a move by the U.S. Coast Guard to raise the damage threshold for reporting marine casualties. 

LNG is gaining traction as a marine fuel in North America, bringing with it new safety challenges involving vapor control and firefighting. In its May issue, Professional Mariner examines what mariners need to know to deal with LNG, and what training schools and vessel operators are doing to prepare them for it. In the world of towing, we go west to profile the evolution of articulated tug-barges (ATBs) on the Pacific Coast, then head north to Alaska, where we ride with Cook Inlet Tug & Barge as crews employ novel ice-clearing strategies to keep commerce moving. Our May issue also focuses on President Trump's plan for new user fees along the nation's inland waterways; new testing for mariners for oxycodone and other semi-synthetic opioids; and a new study to determine if environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) are linked to an increase in stern tube bearing failures. Turn to Professional Mariner for these industry stories and more, including full maritime casualty coverage.

Call it ice for the ages, the frigid opening to winter that took a toll on shipping interests from the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Ohio Valley. In its April issue, Professional Mariner covers barge breakaways caused by ice jams, a bulk carrier trapped in a lock, and multiple icebreaker rescues of vessels in distress. In the never-ending battle against hull fouling, we examine slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), a new technology inspired by the pitcher plant that researchers hope will save maritime operators billions of dollars. Maritime tech developments are also extending into the sky, with a Dutch tugboat company employing drones to connect towlines to assisted vessels – find out how this project could soon improve safety on a tug near you. Our April issue also focuses on Davie Shipbuilding's Asterix, a converted containership now serving the Royal Canadian Navy; the threat posed by hackers manipulating loading data to endanger bulk carriers; and a difficult salvage near a busy Hawaii beach using a foam application technique common in the waters of Alaska. Turn to Professional Mariner for these stories and more, including full maritime casualty coverage.

The U.S. maritime industry is facing a "silver tsunami" as experienced mariners, shipbuilders and other skilled workers head for retirement. In its March issue, Professional Mariner examines the challenge of finding younger, qualified replacements to fill the gap. Where are they and what can companies do to attract them? We also look at a new report from the U.S. Navy that exposes weaknesses in the 7th Fleet's manning and training, shortcomings cited in fatal collisions last year that claimed the lives of 17 U.S. sailors. Our coverage for the month also includes an innovative plan to convert laid-up offshore supply vessels on the Gulf Coast into dredgers; new navigation software that helps ships avoid severe weather; and the testing of drones to deliver parts and supplies to vessels at sea.

Following the U.S. Coast Guard's report detailing violations and mistakes that led to the loss of the cargo ship El Faro, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board weigh in with their analysis of the tragedy. In its February issue, Professional Mariner examines the findings and new information revealed by the agency. In navigation, we look at improving safety through S-Mode, a standard ECDIS display setting that could prevent dangerous consequences at sea due to lack of familiarization with different systems. Coverage for the month also includes the fight over establishing new barge anchorages on the Hudson River, and the continuing dispute over Great Lakes pilotage fees despite a judge's ruling to uphold a recent increase. Plus Professional Mariner's industry-leading casualty coverage.

Two years after the loss of El Faro, the U.S. Coast Guard's final report on the accident details errors by the captain, violations by operator TOTE Maritime and a lack of crew training that led to the tragedy. In its December/January issue, Professional Mariner examines the findings and new information revealed in the report. In towing, the arrival of Subchapter M made a huge splash last year across the industry. Many questions remain about compliance, however, and a key deadline in 2018 has some inland operators scrambling. We also look at the marine use of methanol, which is gaining traction overseas as a cost-effective, emissions-friendly alternative fuel, and examine the changes the U.S. Navy is making in crew training — and the use of AIS — following the fatal collisions of two destroyers with merchant vessels. Turn to Professional Mariner for these stories and more, including full maritime casualty coverage.

American Ship Review 2018 covers the newest vessels built by shipyards in the United States and Canada, from ferries, tour boats and patrol boats to offshore supply vessels and LNG-powered containerships. ASR's Ship of the Year is Araho, a 194-foot factory trawler built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group for the O'Hara Corp. Plying the waters of Alaska, it is the first U.S.-flagged freezer-processor constructed in America in more than 25 years. American Ship Review also profiles five other prominent vessels and examines trends that will affect key segments of the industry over the next year.

A cyberattack on Maersk took down the global shipper’s IT systems in June, sending shock waves through the industry. Are maritime operators in the U.S. taking the cyberthreat seriously? In our October/November issue, Professional Mariner also looks at the fuel savings possible with asymmetric sterns, a decades-old idea now gaining traction with the aid of computer fluid dynamics. In shipbuilding, Dakota Creek Industries is looking for congressional help after using too much foreign steel in the hull of a new $75 million trawler. Will the shipyard get a Jones Act waiver? We also profile Harvest, the first U.S.-flagged liquefied gas carrier built since 1982, a project that hinged on extensive cooperation between Vigor and the builder's many contractors

Seven sailors died when USS Fitzgerald collided with the containership ACX Crystal off Japan on a clear June night. The destroyer sustained extensive damage to its starboard infrastructure and deck, leading many experts to determine that the ship was at fault given maritime navigation protocol. Professional Mariner examines the possible causes. In our September issue, we also take a closer look at marine safety rails, deck systems that got their start in the world of yachting but which now are making inroads in the North American commercial market. On the jobs front, Customs and Border Protection has dropped a proposal to tighten rules governing what foreign-flagged ships can transport to drilling rigs in U.S. waters, dealing a setback to American vessel operators and mariners. Coverage for the month also includes the scope of new ECDIS standards and just what President Trump's $1 trillion infrastructure proposal will do to help the nation's marine towing industry.

Before the Internet, most mariners expected to be out of touch when at sea. Now, they want increased connectivity to talk with family and friends. In its August issue, Professional Mariner examines how vessel operators are balancing the cost with the value of keeping crews plugged in. At the expanded Panama Canal, benefits are being limited by shortage of tugboats and qualified crews, according to a leading mariners' union. The canal authority disagrees, and we take a look at both sides. Coverage in August also includes the largest Jones Act penalty ever assessed for using a foreign-flagged ship to transport a jack-up rig in U.S. waters, and a profile of San Francisco's new fireboat – the powerful Vigor-built St. Francis.

American Tugboat Review is an annual special issue published by Professional Mariner magazine. ATR, as it's known, features profiles of notable tugboats already delivered or under construction along with full spec sheets. The issue has dozens of smaller articles on tug and towboats delivered over the last 12 months and a comprehensive industry overview and coverage of industry trends, new designs and technology. 




As vessels become more dependent on sophisticated technology, there are more ways for cybercriminals to cause damage and put lives at risk. The good news is that many of these dangers can be avoided with proper training of personnel. In its June/July issue, Professional Mariner surveys the experts to get their advice on what to do – and what not to do. We also talk to industry officials about President Trump's proposal to cut $1.3 billion from the U.S. Coast Guard, a reduction that critics say could lead to fewer offshore patrols and an increase in illegal immigration and terrorism. On the safety front, we examine the how the increase in recreational boaters is raising risks for commercial mariners, and how the Coast Guard and university researchers are using voice analysis to identify hoax callers who put search-and-rescue personnel in jeopardy.

Injuries and fatalities during lifeboat drills are raising concerns across the maritime industry, undermining the confidence of seafarers whose lives and careers hang in the balance. In its May issue, Professional Mariner examines the training and equipment shortcomings that are contributing to the problem. Closing a chapter in the El Faro saga, a Coast Guard investigation board holds its final round of hearings, with sometimes-emotional testimony focusing on the decisions and procedures that led to the loss of the ship and crew. We also look at a Coast Guard proposal to raise the damage threshold for reporting a marine casualty, a move applauded by vessel owners but one that many say does not go far enough.

With vessel operators in a never-ending search for ways to cut costs, new attention is being paid to ultrasonic antifouling to reduce biofilm and organisms on submerged surfaces. In its April issue, Professional Mariner looks at how to get results without chemical residue. In a victory for the inland towing industry, the new Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act provides key funding for navigation projects while omitting a provision for lockage fees. We also focus on a controversial Coast Guard plan to establish new commercial vessel anchorages on the Hudson River, the first U.S. shipyard to go solar for vessel production, and the impact caused by a processing backlog for Merchant Mariner Credentials.

The voyage data recorder retrieved from the depths of the Caribbean reveals what was said on the bridge in El Faro’s final hours, including the last harrowing exchange between the captain and a crewmember he was trying to assist. In its March issue, Professional Mariner examines how the VDR transcript might help investigators determine what led to the ship's demise. In the world of LNG, the evolution of dual-fuel vessels has brought a learning curve for safe operation. Find out what is being done to help mariners protect themselves. For the towing industry, it's been six months since Subchapter M ushered in a new era of regulation. How are operators and mariners coping with the expected and the unexpected? We also take a look at Pasha Hawaii's plan for new LNG-powered containerships, Kongsberg's venture to build the world's first autonomous offshore supply vessel, and Tampa Bay's new pod-powered pilot boat.

The wait is over: The first type approval of a ballast water treatment system by the U.S. Coast Guard has ushered in a new era of regulation for vessel operators. Find out what has changed regarding compliance and what is on the horizon. In its February issue, Professional Mariner also examines how AIS technology is being used to protect mariners from underwater pipelines and cables that could put their vessels at risk. On the Great Lakes, the Coast Guard has proposed a new increase in pilotage fees that a shipping coalition says adds insult to injury, and we also take a ride aboard M/V Ocearch, a converted Alaska crabber that is now being used to study great white sharks.

October/November 2019

September 2019

August 2019

June/July 2019

May 2019

April 2019

March 2019

February 2019

December/January 2019

American Ship Review 2019

October/November 2018

September 2018

August 2018

June/July 2018

May 2018

Tugs, towboats, cargo, government, passenger, spill response, pilot boats, offshore support, salvage, dredge and fireboats - Professional Mariner covers them all.  Plus, only Professional Mariner gives you all the essential information you need to advance your maritime business or career including the latest news and in-depth, investigative reporting on maritime casualties, regulations, legislation, shipbuilding, safety, technology,  business/management issues and more.

American Ship Review 2020

American Tugboat Review 2019

American Tugboat Review 2018

American Tugboat Review 2016

American Tugboat Review 2015

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Professional Mariner - December / January 2020

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