News
USCG Emergency Drill on Tennessee River
Wed, 25 Jun 25 Posted by: Gregory Forsythe
In April, 2025, the United States Coast Guard conducted an emergency preparedness drill on the Tennessee River, in partnership with nearly two dozen state and local agencies. The goal was to prepare these agencies for counter-terrorism operations on large vessels.
Click below for the full story, courtesy of WAFF Channel 48 News:
Alabama Shipbuilder Constructs new USCG Vessels
Tue, 01 Jul 25 Posted by: Gregory Forsythe
In June, 2025, Birdon America Inc. received authorization to begin construction on the first inland construction tender (WLIC) for the United States Coast Guard. Birdon will build the vessel in Bayou La Batre, Alabama as part of the new waterways commerce cutter (WCC) fleet. The WCC fleet is intended to replace the Coast Guard's aging fleet of inland tenders. Inland construction tenders construct, repair and maintain fixed aids to navigation within inland waterways along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast.
Read more on the following page:
Construction of first waterways commerce cutter begins
Changes to Alabama Boating Laws
Tue, 21 Jan 25
There are big changes in store for out-of-state residents operating watercraft on Alabama waterways. On October 1, 2024, Alabama law changed for out-of-state residents. Before the change, upon entering the state, out-of-state boaters had a 45-day grace period to operate watercraft legally. This grace period allowed non-residents to operate vessels without any requirement for license or certification.
Due to action by the Alabama Legislature and Governor Kay Ivey, the new law establishes the Nonresident Alabama Boater Safety Certification for out-of-state residents. Non-residents are now be required to obtain this certification in advance, in order to operate watercraft legally within Alabama. The 45-day grace period that previously existed has been eliminated. This change is intended to enhance safety on Alabama waterways, and to bring residents of other states in line with requirements already imposed on Alabama residents.
According to law enforcement sources, about 25% of watercraft accidents have involved nonresident operators.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary routinely offers safe boating instruction courses, and recommends that anyone operating watercraft be properly trained and licensed.
Bog Pushers Come Together to Move Hazard
Wed, 14 Aug 24
Early this summer, a 200-ton peat bog sprouting mature, 40-foot pine trees was blocking a waterway in the Lake Chippewa Flowage in northern Wisconsin. The bog — inaccurately known as an island — was lodged near a bridge, effectively splitting the 15,300 acre lake in two. If the bog remains in place, boats can’t cross from one side of the bridge to the other. It had to be moved.
Enter the “bog pushers.” A group of community members comes together nearly every year to move these navigational hazards.