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Economic Times
6 days ago
- General
- Economic Times
Ghost ship no more: Coast Guard contractor hauls derelict minesweeper from San Joaquin delta
A 140-foot derelict minesweeper, HMCS Chaleur, was successfully removed from California's San Joaquin Delta by a Coast Guard contractor. Ending decades of neglect had left it oil-soaked and environmentally hazardous. This final crucial removal in a multi-year cleanup emphasized the significant role of dismantling abandoned vessels to protect water quality, wildlife, and safe navigational routes. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The History of the Chaleur The Removal Process Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Challenges in the Delta FAQs: A major environmental cleanup has been successfully completed in California's Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, where a Coast Guard contractor removed the HMCS Chaleur, a 140-foot wooden-hulled minesweeper, from Little Potato Slough near Stockton. Years of decay and heavy oil saturation have made the vessel have deteriorated, making it one of the most dangerous wrecks in the region. This final major extraction in a multi-year attempt focused at reducing environmental and navigational risks in the HMCS Chaleur, originally serving in the Royal Canadian Navy from the 1950s until the late 1990s, was sold to private owners. Over time, it changed hands several times and ended up moored at a private marina that closed. Abandoned and neglected,, the ship deteriorated, with portions sinking into the water, creating ecological and navigation hazards. The wooden hull absorbed oil, posing a serious threat to the delta's water quality and surrounding these dangers, the U.S. Coast Guard introduced a comprehensive cleanup under the supervision of Lt. Cmdr. Mark Leahey. Funded through the Oil Pollution Liability Trust Fund, the program focused on vessels that posed the greatest risk to public safety, wildlife, and water quality, with the Chaleur rapidly designated as a top July, Power Engineering Construction , a California-based contractor, was tasked to carry out the extraction. Using a crane barge and dive team worked together to dismantle the vessel section by section directly remaining in the water. Divers carefully cut the hull into manageable sections, which were then lifted onto the barge. This method reduced further environmental risk while ensuring oil and debris were safely contained and removal follows earlier efforts to clear the slough of other derelict vessels, including the WWII Navy yard tug Mazapeta and the former cruise ship Aurora. With these operations completed, Little Potato Slough is now free of large wrecks, minimizing pollution risks and improving safety for all other waterway the slough has been cleared of major wrecks, the broader Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta still has numerous abandoned vessels . Lt. Cmdr. Leahey noted that 'dozens more wrecks throughout the Delta continue to pose environmental threats.' The Coast Guard intends to continue working with local authorities, environmental groups, and contractors to remove these remaining ships, concentrating primarily first on those with the greatest risk of pollution or navigational dangers.A1. A 140-foot wooden-hulled minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from the 1950s to the 1990s.A2. Little Potato Slough near Stockton, in California's Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Ghost ship no more: Coast Guard contractor hauls derelict minesweeper from San Joaquin delta
The History of the Chaleur The Removal Process Live Events Challenges in the Delta FAQs: (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A major environmental cleanup has been successfully completed in California's Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, where a Coast Guard contractor removed the HMCS Chaleur, a 140-foot wooden-hulled minesweeper, from Little Potato Slough near Stockton. Years of decay and heavy oil saturation have made the vessel have deteriorated, making it one of the most dangerous wrecks in the region. This final major extraction in a multi-year attempt focused at reducing environmental and navigational risks in the HMCS Chaleur, originally serving in the Royal Canadian Navy from the 1950s until the late 1990s, was sold to private owners. Over time, it changed hands several times and ended up moored at a private marina that closed. Abandoned and neglected,, the ship deteriorated, with portions sinking into the water, creating ecological and navigation hazards. The wooden hull absorbed oil, posing a serious threat to the delta's water quality and surrounding these dangers, the U.S. Coast Guard introduced a comprehensive cleanup under the supervision of Lt. Cmdr. Mark Leahey. Funded through the Oil Pollution Liability Trust Fund, the program focused on vessels that posed the greatest risk to public safety, wildlife, and water quality, with the Chaleur rapidly designated as a top July, Power Engineering Construction , a California-based contractor, was tasked to carry out the extraction. Using a crane barge and dive team worked together to dismantle the vessel section by section directly remaining in the water. Divers carefully cut the hull into manageable sections, which were then lifted onto the barge. This method reduced further environmental risk while ensuring oil and debris were safely contained and removal follows earlier efforts to clear the slough of other derelict vessels, including the WWII Navy yard tug Mazapeta and the former cruise ship Aurora. With these operations completed, Little Potato Slough is now free of large wrecks, minimizing pollution risks and improving safety for all other waterway the slough has been cleared of major wrecks, the broader Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta still has numerous abandoned vessels . Lt. Cmdr. Leahey noted that 'dozens more wrecks throughout the Delta continue to pose environmental threats.' The Coast Guard intends to continue working with local authorities, environmental groups, and contractors to remove these remaining ships, concentrating primarily first on those with the greatest risk of pollution or navigational dangers.A1. A 140-foot wooden-hulled minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from the 1950s to the 1990s.A2. Little Potato Slough near Stockton, in California's Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Medical device industry says future MDUFA hikes unsustainable
This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter. Medical device companies advocated against future increases to user fees at a public hearing Monday for the next medical device user fee amendments. Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration leaders, facing congressional budget cuts, made a case for more user fees, emphasizing the importance of the program. The five-year agreement determines the amount the FDA can raise from the medtech industry to supplement congressional appropriations. In the current MDUFA program, which ends in September 2027, the FDA's device center negotiated a boost in user fee funding in exchange for meeting certain review timelines and staffing levels. The next agreement would take effect in October 2027 and run through 2032. Michelle Tarver, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said the FDA 'requires sustained and increased investment by the medical device industry' to meet its goals. The device leader added that 'holding steady does not lead to excellence — it leads to mediocrity.' However, device industry lobbyists at the meeting indicated a preference for few changes. 'Each MDUFA cycle included significant resources and investments, including increasing the number of [full-time employees] to support the program,' said Janet Trunzo, senior executive vice president of technology and regulatory affairs for AdvaMed. 'Now that we have approached nearly 25 years … of user fee programs for medical devices, we are now in a position of merely fine-tuning the current program.' Mark Leahey, CEO of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association, called for the process to return 'back to the basics' in comments on Monday. Leahey said the funds from MDUFA should go to reviewers and medical officers, and added that the industry wants more visibility as to where the funds are going and 'where people are right now, realizing there's been some attrition over the last six months.' Citing the latest user fee rates, Leahey said more than $427 million in fees were authorized for fiscal year 2026. 'We have to realize the size and scope of the investments here,' he said. 'And this is not a sustainable pathway.' The meeting kicked off a process where the FDA will seek public comment through Sept. 4, before beginning negotiations with industry. When a final agreement is reached, the FDA will present it to Congress, which must approve the next MDUFA program. The negotiations come during a period of uncertainty, where several leaders have left the FDA under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The Trump administration's slashing of probationary FDA employees in February — followed by rehiring some staffers, and then more firings in April — raised questions about whether the FDA's user fees programs could be at risk. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has suggested lowering user fees for prescription drugs; however, he has not indicated any major changes to medical device fees, referring to MDUFA as 'the best of all the user fee arrangements' during the meeting. Patient advocates call for more fees, transparency While industry pushed back against further fee increases, patient groups called for more fees to offset federal budget cuts to the FDA. Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Center for Health Research, said that given recent cuts in FDA staffing and the importance of speedy device reviews, 'it's inevitable that improving quality requires increasing the fees.' Zuckerman said that while she would like to see Congress provide enough appropriations for the FDA's device center, 'we want to make sure that there's funding for everything that's needed, and, unfortunately, appropriations isn't making that possible.' Zuckerman also called for user fees to be used for postmarket device safety, as well as for more transparency during the negotiation process, positions that were supported by other patient advocates during the meeting. In the past, user fee negotiations have been behind closed doors, and patients, consumers and health professionals have not been able to join or observe the meetings, Zuckerman said. In the last round of negotiations, the FDA also faced scrutiny for not publishing meeting minutes from its conversations with industry in a timely fashion. 'At the very least, we should have access to remotely watch those negotiations, instead of just depending on minutes that are often vague or very delayed so that stakeholders have no opportunity for meaningful input,' said Tess Robertson-Neel, on behalf of the Patient, Consumer, & Public Health Coalition, a group of more than two dozen nonprofits. Robertson-Neel added that user fees should be increased, and the FDA should focus on being 'more patient-centered and transparent and less cozy with industry.' Alexander Naum, policy manager for Generation Patient, a nonprofit representing young adults living with chronic medical conditions, said that user fees must increase and the next MDUFA agreement should include clear postmarket device safety performance goals. He also asked for the FDA to commit funds to expanding its program for tracking medical device adverse events. Naum cited a statistic that the FDA receives more than 2 million reports annually of suspected device malfunctions, serious injuries or deaths. 'So many of us rely on medical devices for our survival,' Naum said. 'Many of these devices present the potential of unexpected adverse events.' Recommended Reading FDA schedules first public MDUFA VI meeting ahead of negotiations Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lancs woman welcomes NHS psychological support system for infected blood victims
Thousands of people impacted by the infected blood scandal in England will be able to self refer to a bespoke psychological support NHS service, officials have announced. Now, a Lancashire woman has welcomed the launch of the new support service. Nicola Leahey was infected with hepatitis C following blood transfusions in 1975 and/or 1980 and has described the launch of the NHS's Infected Blood Psychological Service as "much-needed." Ms Leahey, from Chorley, was part of an advisory group that helped to develop the service, which began a phased rollout in September. Talking therapies, peer support, and psychosocial support will be offered as part of the service to people impacted by the infected blood scandal, which saw more than 30,000 people in the UK infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. More than 3,000 people have died as a result, while survivors are living with lifelong health implications, according to a spokesperson. The new service is open to victims as well as bereaved partners, parents, children, and extended families. People can self-refer by phone or can be referred to the service by their GP. Claire Murdoch, national mental health director at NHS England, said: "The contaminated blood scandal and the subsequent long fight for answers have had life-altering physical and psychological impacts for thousands across the country, and the NHS is determined to ensure that anyone infected or affected can receive evidence-based support and treatment. "It has been so important that the Infected Blood Psychological Service has been co-designed with members of the infected blood community to ensure the best and most personalised care possible, and we are very grateful to all our partners who have helped establish these vital new services." Ms Leahey said: "After my diagnosis, I felt that my body had been violated, that I had been physically and mentally abused, stripped of my dignity, my self-esteem diminished - I mourned lost opportunities, I felt betrayed. "So many of us have long awaited the opportunity to have professional support to try to cope with the trauma and life-long effects that we've been subjected to. "I'm thrilled that this much-needed service is now operational." READ MORE: Birds Fish and Chip Shop in Burnley among our top 10 Hundreds attend funeral of hospital imam who died on Eid day Professor Meghana Pandit, co-national medical director for secondary care at NHS England, added: "Following the recommendations of the inquiry, this new service represents a vital step in ensuring patients and families affected in England can be offered tailored psychological treatment and support, and we are pleased that specialist clinics are now open in all areas of England. "This bespoke psychological treatment is already making a difference to the lives of the first people to access it, and we now want to ensure everyone eligible is aware of the services provided." More information is available at
