Category Archives: Merchant Marine

Coast Guard Rescues Four Mariners From Capsized Cargo Vessel

Coast Guard Rescues Four Mariners From Capsized Cargo Vessel

Coast Guard rescuers extract one of four crew members trapped for more than 34 hours inside a capsized cargo vessel near Brunswick, Ga. Coast Guard photo

The Coast Guard rescued four mariners trapped for more than 34 hours inside a capsized 656-foot-long cargo vessel in St. Simons Sound, just outside the port of Brunswick, Ga., on Monday

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Jones Act Not The Cause Of Higher Shipping Costs Supporters Say

Jones Act Not The Cause Of Higher Shipping Costs Supporters Say

A crew member of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw keeps a lookout before the ship’s departure for icebreaking operations on Whitefish Bay and Lake Superior ahead of the opening of the Sault Ste. Marie Locks March 25th, the start of this year’s shipping season. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

The Maritime Administration’s top official challenged critics of the Jones Act to prove the law’s requirement for having American-made ships with American crews is the “source of all evil” causing prices to increase for goods, minerals and food shipped by sea or inland waterways.

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Two U.S. Warships in Gulf of Oman Supporting Damaged Tanker

Two U.S. Warships in Gulf of Oman Supporting Damaged Tanker

Sailors aboard USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) render aid to the crew of the M/V Kokuka Courageous on June 13, 2019 in the Gulf of Oman. US Navy Photo

This post will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.

Two U.S. guided-missile destroyers are aiding a merchant ship that was damaged in an alleged attack by Iranian sectarian forces on Thursday, U.S. 5th Fleet officials told USNI News on Friday. Read More

U.S. Releases Video of Alleged Gulf of Oman Tanker Attacks

U.S. Releases Video of Alleged Gulf of Oman Tanker Attacks

Screenshot of a US Navy video in which US Central Command claims Iranian forces are captured removing a limpet mine from Kokuka Courageous on June 13, 2019.

This post has been updated with a new statement from U.S. Central Command.

U.S. Central Command has released a video and photographs that officials say prove the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy attacked two merchant tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. Read More

Keeping Up With the Jones Act

Keeping Up With the Jones Act

World War II Merchant Marine recruiting poster.

In the last several weeks, the Jones Act has drawn headlines over how it has shaped the U.S. and worldwide shipping industry. After almost 100 years as a part of federal law, there’s much misunderstanding as to what the law actually does. Read More

MARAD: U.S. Must Address Military Sealift Vessel and Crew Shortage

MARAD: U.S. Must Address Military Sealift Vessel and Crew Shortage

SATTAHIP, Thailand—A UH-60 Black Hawk is raised from Military Sealift Command’s voyage-charter, general purpose, heavy-lift vessel MV Ocean Grand at the pier in Sattahip, Thailand. Military Sealift Command Far East photo.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The few American-built and-operated tankers available to carry fuel for aircraft, tanks, fighting vehicles and trucks into war zones throws into sharp relief the strategic sealift problems facing the nation, a senior Maritime Administration official told USNI News on Tuesday.

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Kearsarge ARG, 22nd MEU Enter U.S. 6th Fleet Area Of Operations

Kearsarge ARG, 22nd MEU Enter U.S. 6th Fleet Area Of Operations

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group steams in formation on Dec. 24, 2018. Navy photo.

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) spent Christmas in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, after rescuing a British merchant sailor shortly after leaving homeport.

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