Be a Safety Freak!

December 14, 2011

I’m passionate about safety on board ships and in other industrial environments!  With this spirit in mind, I’m writing today to talk about taking safety to the “next level” and what exactly that “next level” looks like. To do this I’m going to share a quick story on what it means to be a “safety freak”… A [...]

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Increased Safety Measures and Performance Are Not Counter Productive

November 9, 2011

I’ve written a few articles on ship safety over the last year, not just on this site, but on gCaptain and in a “soon to be announced” leading professional maritime magazine (I’m sure the anticipation is killing you). I believe there is a misconception in the maritime industry (or any industrial environment for that matter) [...]

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Tidal Energy News: Massachusetts Maritime Academy Helps Test Hydrokinetic Turbine

August 7, 2011

Massachusetts Maritime Academy has been tapped to help test a new hydrokinetic turbine that will harness water currents for electricity production. Already host to a wind turbine, solar panels and other alternative energy projects, the the academy is seeking to explore “The one area where we have not taken advantage of our location … the [...]

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Maine Maritime Academy’s Historic Schooner “Bowdoin” Turns 90

August 7, 2011

Castine, ME – Maine Maritime Academy’s Bowdoin has had a long and illustrious career, and in her 90th year afloat serves as MMA’s traditional sail-training flagship. The vessel was designed by Hand and launched in 1921 at the Hodgdon Brothers Shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine. The schooner sailed on 25 scientific expeditions to the Arctic [...]

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Step by Step Guide for Renewing Your Merchant Mariner Credentials (license, MMD, STCW-95)

July 8, 2011

By now, most professional mariners are familiar with the US Coast Guard’s new “passport style” credential that consolidates the previous issuance of a paper license (licensed officers), STCW-95 certificate, and merchant mariner document (MMD or Z-Card) issued to American Merchant Marines. The challenge for most mariners looking to renew their license and associated documents has [...]

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Coast Guard Rescinds “Formal” Training Classes Requirement for Hawsepipers

July 1, 2011

Yes folks you heard it here first! According to Coast Guard Policy Letter 11-07 dated July 1, 2011, most “formal” classes required for “hawsepiper” applications for third mate licenses (3rd Mate) are no longer required. Talk about dropping a bomb right before the holiday weekend! Once called “the end of hawsepipers as we know it”, strict [...]

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USCG Introduces “Risk Based Targeting” of Foreign Flagged Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs)

June 30, 2011

Taking a cue from the commercial maritime industry’s use of ship vetting services, the United States Coast Guard has recently introduced a plan to use “risk based targeting” to determine the frequency and scope of inspecting foreign flagged oil rigs (MODUs) operating in US waters (primarily in the US Gulf of Mexico). Recognizing that some [...]

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Merchant Mariners: Making the Transition to Shore Side Employment

June 20, 2011

Let’s face it, when it comes to the prospect of a lifelong career on the high seas, most merchant mariners just don’t have what it takes. In fact, my informal analysis of graduates from one maritime academy’s alumni directory revealed that less than 10% of graduates from 1975 to 1995 are still actively sailing on [...]

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Video: Water Mist Fixed Fire Fighting System for Ships

June 16, 2011

The water mist fixed fire fighting system is (in my opinion) one of the most significant advancements in shipboard firefighting technologies in the last 20-30 years. Instead of using a toxic gas such as Halon or CO2, water mist systems fill protected spaces with an ultra fine mist of water (either fresh or salt) to [...]

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Amazing Video Highlighting One of a Ship Captain’s Biggest Fears

June 12, 2011

While it may seem inconceivable that two large ships can collide in relatively favorable weather during daylight hours in the middle of the ocean, this video demonstrates one scenario in which this very event may occur. Enjoy!

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