Courtesy: The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

1 October 2014   

The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton will welcome visitors on October 5 at 3 pm for its annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services. Members of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and The United States Public Health Service along with family members and friends will gather at the Basilica in Emmitsburg. The event is held each year to honor Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton as Patroness of the Sea Services and ask for her intercession for all the men and women serving in our nation's Sea Services.

 
Fallon, a four-star admiral, served for 41 years in the U.S. military and his last assignment was a Commander, U.S. Central Command from March 2007 to March 2008. The Sea Services Pilgrimage was previously chaired by the late Admiral James D. Watkins, who in 1977 successfully petitioned the Vatican to establish Saint Elizabeth Ann's patronage of the Sea Services.
 
"It is my honor to serve as chair of this committee, assisted by Vice Admiral Bill Earner," said Fallon. "Admiral Watkins laid the foundation and inspirationally led the committee for over 30 years.  It is our  desire to bolster participation in the pilgrimage and devotion to our Patroness through greater outreach to our active duty ranks. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is a beacon of hope for the men and women serving our country at sea."
 
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton's link to the sea services stems from the U.S. Navy service of her two sons, William and Richard. Her deep concern for William, who was appointed midshipman on the fourth of July in 1817, is evidenced in the many letters she wrote him during his 17 years of service. In February 1818 he reported for duty aboard the USS Independence, and in July, he was assigned to the USS Macedonian, which sailed from Boston around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile. While he was on this voyage, his mother died on January 4, 1821. Mother Seton's letters to her sons at sea showed a mother's concern in startling clarity. Elizabeth Ann would worry that she didn't know where they were at sea and if they were okay. "Now men and women at sea can know they have a Saint watching over them. They can entrust their loved ones to her care," said Admiral Fallon.
 
The Naval Academy Catholic Midshipmen Choir will provide music at the Mass, which will be celebrated by Bishop Robert Coyle, from the Archdiocese for the Military Services.  Bishop Coyle served 25 years on Active and Reserve Duty as a Chaplain before his retirement from the Naval Reserve in 2013. He had many assignments, including service with the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan, in the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, and in the Middle East with Operations Southern watch and Enduring Freedom, as well as Command Chaplain at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.  In 2008, he was named by Pope Benedict XVI a Chaplain to His Holiness.  Bishop Coyle is also a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus.  His episcopal ordination took place in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the Feast of Saint Mark, April 25, 2013.
 
To add a dignified and patriotic sentiment at the Mass, The Military Ceremonial Honor Guard from Washington, D.C. will present the Colors with an Honor Guard from the Knights of Columbus.  Deacons and altar servers will be provided by seminarians from Mount Saint Mary's Seminary.
 
Contact 301.447.6606, or visit 

Seton Pilgrimage
 for more information.

Courtesy:GCaptain.Com

29 September 2014

 Something went terribly wrong today aboard Hapag-Lloyd's containership Colombo Expresswhen it lost control and slammed into the Maersk Tanjong today. Both vessels were heading south through the Suez Canal.

Accident between two vessels in suez canal

From the following AIS replay of the incident, it appears the Colombo Express was attempting to overtake the Maersk Tanjong and when a left rudder was applied to come back to a parallel course, the rudder went hard left.

Hapag-Lloyd notes in a statement there were no injuries or pollution as a result of the incident.  Maersk Line spokesperson Michael Storgaard notes in phone call that three containers were lost over the side from the Maersk Tanjong, one has been recovered.  No further details on the damage were available however.

The collision was expected to delay Suez traffic in both directions.

The collision occurred at 0715 local time at kilometer 15 and the Colombo Express suffered a 20-meter dent to its port bow, according to a statement by Inchcape Shipping Services.

The incident occurred when the Maersk Tanjong was clearing the Suez Canal Container terminal to join the second convoy, whilst the Colombo Express was already proceeding through the convoy at the same point.

The incident has severely interrupted the second southbound convoy and the northbound convoy is therefore expected to delay.

The Suez Canal Authority is currently trying to pick up the dropped containers from the eastern channel and both vessels will be moored at the canal lakes until the required investigations, paper work and maintenance have been completed.

Courtesy: The Canadian Press

1 October 2014

QUEBEC - Hundreds of passengers stranded since last weekend on board a cruise ship with mechanical problems have finally left the luxury liner.

The MS Veendam was supposed to sail from Quebec City to Boston on Sunday on a Canada-New England cruise, but that never happened.

A statement from Holland America Line said the sailing was cancelled because one of the ship's propellers required repairs.

Spokesperson Erik Elvejord said in an email that some of the 1,303 guests stayed aboard for the last couple of days, but all have now quit the vessel and arrangements have been made to get them home.

The ship was originally scheduled to set sail Sunday afternoon on a seven-day cruise after an overnight stay at the port of Quebec City.

The Seattle-based company's email also said all booked guests will receive a full refund of their fare and all shore excursions that were booked through Holland America. They will also get a credit towards a future cruise.

On Monday, the ship had to be moved to another berth to accommodate other ship traffic and tugs were needed because of high winds.

The cruise line pointed out Wednesday that all guest services and safety systems on the ship were fully functional.

It is due to be in Boston before Oct. 4 when another cruise to Quebec City is due to depart.

But Elvejord said an assessment to determine what repair work is required is still ongoing.

Courtesy: MarineLink.Com

By: Joseph R. Fonseca

28 September 2014

In the future, the IMO member States should accept the use of electronic certificates. This is the request of the Facilitation Committee (FAL) and, hence, the road is paved for less paperwork, nuisance and delays for the shipping industry.

In the future, it must be easier to use electronic certificates. This was decided by the Facilitation Committee of United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday when it approved a set of updated guidelines on the use of electronic certificates.

"These new guidelines constitute a major leap forward for electronic certificates. Hereby, the IMO is sending a clear signal that port State control inspectors, vetting companies and other maritime players should accept the new e-certificates just as well as paper certificates", says Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority Andreas Nordseth.

Danish presentation provided food for thought for years, Denmark has been striving to bring the international regulations of the shipping industry into the 21st century, including to reduce the paperwork and barriers to electronic solutions in an otherwise ultramodern line of business.

Therefore, the Danish Maritime Authority had invited Mr. Thomas Mørk, Vice President of Marine Standards at DFDS A/S, to deliver a strong message to the IMO Facilitation Committee.

"It is about time that the maritime world changes from burdensome paper certificates to modern electronic certificates", said Mr. Thomas Mørk.

His message was the conclusion of a pilot project where the Danish Maritime Authority and DFDS A/S have tested electronic certificates in practice. The project showed that there are savings to be gained both in terms of time and money, just as there are no major technical or legal barriers to getting started. Therefore, the task consists, first and foremost, in gaining international acceptance of the fact that electronic certificates are superior to paper certificates in all areas. It was evident that the presentation provided the many listeners with food for thought.

Now, FAL documentation can be sent electronically
The transition from paper to electronic solutions also progressed in another area at the meeting of the Facilitation Committee. 

After five years' work modernising the FAL Convention, it was approved that flag and port State authorities should accept ships' transmission of the so-called FAL documentation electronically - and thus the ships need not fill in paper forms. It is expected that the amendments of the FAL Convention will be adopted at the next session of the Facilitation Committee to be held in 2016, thereby reducing yet another major burden imposed on the shipping industry.
 

Courtesy: AOS - Great Britain 

                                26 September, 2014

Bishop Tom Burns SM, AoS Bishop Promoter for England & Wales said slavery has reared its head again in new forms at sea, but AoS is a rapid reaction team which responds to raw human need and cries for protection.

"AoS [port] chaplains and [ship visiting] volunteers bring the human face of Christ's love and care into a hopeless situation, to restore Christ's promise that he is with us until the end of time," he said in his homily during the Stella Maris mass for seafarers held in St George's Cathedral in Southwark London on September 25.

After mass, a reception was held to celebrate former AoS chair of trustees Eamonn Delaney receiving the Papal Knighthood.  

In highlighting AoS' ministry, Bishop Tom recalled an incident at the port of Tilbury last month where 35 migrants - one of whom had died - were found inside a shipping container on board a ferry, the Norstream.

The crew of the ferry were upset and distressed and AoS responded by holding a Mass on board and conducting a blessing following requests by the crew. Its chaplains also continued to support them through the ordeal.

"God has come close to his people. He has spoken to them through Mary, Star of the Sea, and through those in the Apostleship of the Sea who act in the name of Mary," said Bishop Tom.

"There can be no doubt that what was done at Tilbury was doing what the Lord tells us in AoS to do. Those refugees did not expect to be met with compassion, love, and the very Spirit of Christ himself. But those 34 migrants immediately recognised it, and so did the crew of the Norstream, and so did the police officers, the social services, and the other authorities present.

"Opening those metal container doors opened other spiritual doors too. God had visited his people. And God has blessed AoS and its work of charity and compassion," he added.

Courtesy: MarineLink.Com

By Michael Hirtzer and Karl Plume
 

                                26 September, 2014
 

With a record U.S. harvest just coming in, the river transportation system that is at the heart of the nation's farm economy is overstrained by rising demand for shipping capacity, a low barge inventory, and a dilapidated lock system.

The pressure is building on an inland waterways network that is just one flood, drought or mechanical breakdown from calamity after decades of neglect, industry sources say.

Looming bumper corn and soybean crops are bringing to light issues that have built for years and which have been exacerbated by new entrants to the marketplace for river logistics, such as producers of crude oil from the nation's shale boom.

Rail congestion and truck shortages are shifting more cargo to the creaking infrastructure for floating heartland goods to market.

As a result, the U.S. Agriculture Department expects the cost to move grains from the Midwestern crop belt to export facilities along the Gulf Coast to reach a six-year high during October, the busiest harvest month of the year.

Concerns about transportation bottlenecks have eroded prices that farmers receive for their grain, reduced the competitiveness of U.S. supplies in the global marketplace and elevated expenses for food and energy producers who could ultimately pass the higher prices on to consumers.

Lower-cost grain suppliers in South America and eastern Europe are undercutting U.S. prices. South Korea and Taiwan, two top buyers of U.S. corn, recently purchased corn from exporters in Brazil. Shipments of corn out of Ukraine are the cheapest in the world, $8 per tonne less than U.S. grain.

COMPETING FOR BARGES

The fleet of barges available to move grain has shrunk to around 10,500, from a peak of around 12,700 in the mid-1990s, said Ken Eriksen, senior vice president for transportation at Informa Economics.

Demand is acute for covered barges that are used by grain shippers and shale oil producers who haul sand needed for hydraulic fracturing.

It is magnified by spillover from a congested train system, where capacity in some regions is largely booked by demand for oil-by-rail. So, traffic on North American tracks is moving 8 percent slower than last year. Delays are expected to persist through the winter.

The result: Grain shipments so far this year on rivers in the Midwestern crop belt were nearly double a year ago, USDA said.

The benchmark Mississippi River price at St. Louis climbed for barges loaded this week to around $40 per ton from about $23 last year, which equates to a jump of 48 cents per bushel, according to Reuters calculations based on figures from industry sources. A bushel of corn trades for about $3.26. Soybeans fetch about $9.23 per bushel. These are cheapest prices in four years.

"It will be a very busy fall. I don't think we've seen the highs in this (freight) market," said Rick Calhoun, the head of Cargill Inc's barge shipping business, Cargo Carriers.

NARROW PASSAGE

The number of emergency lock closures jumped 543 percent from 1992 to 2008. A backlog of authorized projects awaiting funding has grown for 15 years and stands at more than $8 billion, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data.

The Corps has stopped detailing needs at specific locks, citing national security risks.

"Even some of our infrastructure that works, and works very well, doesn't have the adequate amount of maintenance that's required to ensure reliability," said Mike Cox, chief of the operations division for the Corps' Rock Island District, which oversees all locks on the Illinois Waterway and a dozen on the Mississippi River. "Regular operations and maintenance dollars are a half to a third of what we need."

The stair-step system of river locks and dams, concentrated on northern stretches of the inland waterways, helps to maintain navigable river depths to connect Midwest farms and Rust Belt factories with export facilities along the Gulf Coast. Fertilizer, road salt, coal and other products dominate upriver shipments vital to more than a third of U.S. states.

Most Midwest locks were constructed in the 1930s with a 50-year lifespan. The Corps has refurbished much of the equipment to extend their life another 25 years, but budget constraints have forced engineers to employ a fix-as-they-fail strategy.

Shipping industry group the Waterways Council estimates that every dollar invested in inland waterways generates $10 in benefit for the nation. Maintaining a 9-foot-deep shipping channel, with an annual dredging price tag of just over $100 million, yields an estimated $1 billion in transportation cost savings, according to the Army Corps.

The $12 billion Water Resources Reform and Development Act, signed by President Obama in June, freed up about $105 million to chip away at the long list of projects.

Left out of the law was on an industry-supported proposal to increase the waterways user fee from 20 cents per gallon of fuel used to 26 to 29 cents, which would have generated $80 million annually.

"We will be trying to attach a garden hose to a fire hydrant," Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, said of the difficulty of sending a huge harvest down a constricted waterway.

RELIABILITY A CONCERN

In April 2013, during historic flooding, a barge accident at Marseilles Lock and Dam on the Illinois River in central Illinois shuttered the lock for a month. Complete restoration of the facility, which passes nearly 2 million tons of cargo a month, will take up to three years.

The drought of 2012 nearly closed the Mississippi River to shipping traffic. A two-month shutdown would have halted $7 billion in cargo, impacted 20,000 jobs and cost more than $130 million in lost wages, according to a shipping industry assessment.

The Army Corps doubled their dredging operations this summer to remove sediment. But shippers will remain on edge this autumn relying on the long-neglected network.

"We've had a lot of successes and there is a periodic influx of funds, but it's only a good start," said Army Corps' Cox.
 

Courtesy: The Nautical Institute

1 October 2014

The Navigator