Tag Archives: marine

Hijack!

Coast Guard, Environment, Equipment, Foreign, Government, Incidents, Information, Lighthouses, Military, News, Ships & Shipping, Transportation, , , , , , ,

The hijack of a ship on the British Columbia (BC) coast is a rare possibility, but with all the controversy over oil spills and destruction of coastal rain forests, the possibility is still there for terrorists or others to hijack a ship on the BC coast and hold the government for ransom.

In the rest of the world, piracy, or hijacking of a ship, is not unknown and shipping companies have had to find many ways to keep their ships safe. Speed is one method, but a fully-loaded freighter does not go very fast.

Today, October 17, 2013, a new website for me, Marine Insight, mentioned:

Infographics: Anti-Piracy Weapons Used on Ships

Anti-piracy-infographic
Anti-piracy-infographic

Continue reading Hijack! →

Shiny New Guest Blogger, Bearing a Letter

Boats, British Columbia, Information, Medical Emergency, Operators, Search & Rescue, Union, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hi all. Our lovely blog master asked if I would make a guest post now and then, and, since the world as I appreciate it is where everyone listens to me, of course I said “yes!”

By way of introduction, I’ll post a letter that I sent to Hon. Mr. Keith Ashfield, Minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, on the topic of Marine Communications and Traffic Services cutbacks. This blog has already posted on this topic, but I thought I would add my voice.

I also sent a copy to my MP Jean Crowder. Ms Crowder responded promptly. She thanked me for my concern, and linked me to a letter her party has already sent on the matter. I have yet to hear back from Hon. Mr. Ashfield, or his office.

 

Dear Hon. Mr Keith Ashfield,

I am writing because I feel very concerned about proposed government cuts to Coast Guard’s Marine Communication and Traffic Services. In an effort to save costs, the Coast Guard has proposed slashing overtime and holiday time for its operators, leaving the BC’s MCTS stations vulnerable to understaffing. Continue reading Shiny New Guest Blogger, Bearing a Letter →

MCTS To Lose Staff To Save Money

Anti-Automation, Boats, British Columbia, Canada, Coast Guard, Communication, Cruise Ship, Government, Lighthouses, Medical Emergency, On The Job, Radio, Search & Rescue, Ships, Ships & Shipping, Transportation, Union, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

For those of you that do not know, MCTS (Marine Communications and Traffic Services)  is “the Branch of the Canadian Coast Guard that provides communications and vessel traffic services to the sea-going public”. 

“MCTS monitors for distress radio signals; provides the communications link between vessels in distress and the JRCC/MRSC; sends safety information; handles public communication; and, regulates the flow of vessel traffic in some areas. MCTS is an important link in the SAR system”.

The above is a quote from the official Canadian government website on Maritime Search and Rescue. (about half-way down the page)

Continue reading MCTS To Lose Staff To Save Money →