Features – Pacific Maritime Magazine

Kongsberg Maritime: Celebrating 50 Years of Ship Design

Kongsberg Maritime, the Norway-based technology, equipment and services company that has offices in Washington state and British Columbia, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its ship design business this year. Kongsberg’s original design teams produced their first-ever models in 1974, and since then, the company has risen as a name in the vessel design industry. At the dawn of the offshore oil and gas industry in the 1970s, some of the very first vessels made specifically for the harsh operating conditions of the North Sea were designed by Kongsberg. The company’s UT design range became a benchmark for the industry…

Ferries Get Refreshed, Go Green

In recent years, West Coast ferry operators and public transportation agencies have been actively investing in vessel retrofits, new builds and shoreside infrastructure projects needed to support newer, greener ferries. One of the biggest ferry investment announcements took place last November, when the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced about $220.2 million in grants from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help pay for service expansion to rural areas, buy vessels and enhance shoreside infrastructure. The 13 grant recipients included the Washington State Department of Transportation, whose Ferry Division received $4.8 million to refurbish six ferries built between…

Q&A: Washington State Ferries Leader Steve Nevey

Washington State Ferries, a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation, is the largest ferry system in the U.S. and carries tens of millions of riders each year. In late February, state Transportation Secretary Roger Millar announced that career mariner Steve Nevey was being named the assistant secretary for WSF. Nevey, who began in his new position on March 16, succeeded Patty Rubstello, who stepped down from the role after more than 33 years of service with the Washington State DOT. During the two years before being promoted to his current role, served as WSF’s director of marine operations,…

Smaller Pacific Northwest Ports Have Big Infrastructure Plans

Smaller ports in the Pacific Northwest have some big infrastructure projects in the works, focusing on increasing cargo capacity, enhancing community experiences and developing facilities focused on sustainability. Pacific Maritime Magazine reached out to smaller ports up and down the coast to find out what plans are in the works. Port of Astoria The Port of Astoria offers services to commercial and recreational boaters at two marinas and a boatyard, and to commercial and cargo vessels, cruise ships and other vessels at its three deep-draft marine terminals. They have a number of projects in the works, but the highlight is…

Navigation Technology 2024

Across various industries, companies are increasingly incorporating more technology into their operations and the maritime industry is no different, as shippers now employ data programs to track cargo vessels and use artificial intelligence to perform organizational tasks. Some of the more exciting advances happening in the maritime industry have been in the development of navigation technology as mariners abandon paper charts in favor of electronic charting display and information systems, or ECDIS, serving not only as the primary means of navigation, but also as a backup. “Marine technology has been getting more and more advanced in both the recreational and…

Navigating Challenges at Sea: Lessons Learned from the Loss of El Faro

When contemplating technology in the maritime context, the mind often gravitates towards sophisticated electronic tools like GPS, AIS and ECDIS. However, it is essential to broaden our perspective. Technology – defined as “the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes” –encompasses not only the technical skills associated with electronic tools, but also the soft (or human) skills crucial for human interaction and decision-making. The tragic loss of the El Faro and her crew serves as a somber reminder that the intricate balance required between advanced technology and human expertise is a critical determinant of safety and success. (El Faro and…

Seaspan’s Victoria, BC Shipyard Celebrates 30 Years

Back in 1994, Bill Clinton was a year into his first term as President of the United States, gasoline cost an average of $1.12 per gallon, the film Pulp Fiction first landed in movie theatres, and Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley. And there was also another momentous event that year that helped—and continues to help—shape the maritime industry on British Columbia’s West Coast: the opening of Seaspan ULC’s Victoria, British Columbia shipyard, which took place in April of that year. In 1994, the business began with one 20-foot shipping container and five managers. The facility’s first major repair job…

Vessel Profile: Hungry Like the eWolf

Crowley Maritime’s first all-electric tugboat begins its working life in San Diego. Maritime industry firsts are always exciting, and the first American all-electric ship assist tugboat, the eWolf, is no exception. The 82-foot tug is now homeported in the Port of San Diego where it’s expected to be put to work this spring. Vessel owner Crowley Maritime accepted delivery of the vessel in January. “The eWolf will provide services through its advanced vessel control technology and first-in-class energy features while providing the safety, quality and reliability that Crowley and our mariners are known for,” Crowley Shipping Senior Vice President and…

Alternative Fuel, Environmentally Friendly Equipment: How Terminals are Going Green

Terminals up and down the West Coast are incorporating environmentally friendly practices, equipment and technologies in an effort to meet emissions goals, improve efficiency and enhance community and workforce health. The focus for many is to reduce carbon emissions and upgrade terminal vehicles, including heavy-duty equipment. The challenge is that the market is still expanding to include the maritime industry and demand outpaces the supply. As green technology advances, ports, terminals and manufacturers are reaffirming their commitment to environmental, social and governance principles. To find out the latest, Pacific Maritime reached out to officials from green certification programs, terminal operators…

Infrastructure Projects: Big West Coast Ports Focus on Capacity, Navigation, Efficiency

A variety of infrastructure projects are underway at major West Coast ports, with a focus on increasing capacity, improving navigation and enhancing efficiency. To accommodate bigger ships and increased demand, ports have been expanding facilities, deepening and widening channels and turning basins and enhancing on-shore coordination with rail and truck transit. They’ve also invested in digital infrastructure and green technology, both to meet emissions goals and to improve efficiency with several training, educational or other maritime facilities in the works. To find out the latest news, Pacific Maritime reached out to port and port authority officials in Vancouver, BC, Tacoma, Wash.,…