In this issue

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.

IMO Grants Two-Year Reprieve For Ballast Water Treatment Compliance

Vessel owners operating under International Maritime Organization regulations were given an additional two years in July to comply with Ballast Water Management Convention requirements. However, vessels operating in U.S. waters still must comply with Coast Guard regulations stricter than the IMO’s protocol.

3 mins

CBP Drops Plan To Tighten Jones Act Rules On Offshore Equipment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has withdrawn a proposal to revoke or modify certain interpretations of the Jones Act that impact domestic vessel operators, particularly exemptions related to equipment carried for offshore oil and gas companies.

3 mins

Coast Guard Suspends Hudson Anchorage Plan, Orders Risk Review

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the rulemaking process for establishing new Hudson River barge anchorages to conduct an additional assessment of the waterway.

3 mins

Cuts, Fees In Trump's Infrastructure Plan Disappoint Towing Industry

Although President Trump has unveiled a record $1 trillion plan to rebuild infrastructure in America, the maritime community is extremely concerned about proposed cuts to several major inland waterway and port programs.

5 mins

War Days Over, Modified LCM-8 Pulls Duty In Peaceful Northwest Story

Young people growing up on Puget Sound and coastal British Columbia in the 1950s and ’60s could attend a Saturday afternoon movie to see landing craft carrying Marines to amphibious landings on beaches in the South Pacific.

7 mins

Compact Shaver Z-drive Long On Power, Versatility

Capt. Gary Setvin, at the helm of the 80-foot z-drive tug Sommer S., likes that the boat is compact. He applauds the maneuverability, the power and the comfort of the vessel, “but its greatest feature is that it is short and you can apply power in tight spaces.”

2 mins

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Professional Mariner Magazine Description:

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.