Blog – 1 April 2009

April 1, 2009

Bryant’s Maritime Blog

Note: Much of the highlighted text in this newsletter constitutes links to Internet sites providing more detailed information. Links on this page may be in PDF format, requiring use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Comments on these postings are encouraged and may be made by clicking the envelope that appears at the end of each posting. Be aware that the daily blog entry is a single posting, even though it contains a number of individual items. Improvements in this blog site, while slow, are due to the assistance of Kim Nettles. She rapidly points me to the improvements. I, with the speed of a glacier, implement them. Please bear with me.

Cape Canaveral – safety zone

The US Coast Guard is establishing safety zones that extend from the shoreline of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to points approximately 12 nautical miles offshore to protect infrastructure and marine traffic from hazards associated with recurring space vehicle launches. The rulemaking comes into effect on May 1. The safety zones will only be activated and enforced during pre-launch hours and will terminate approximately 15 minutes after a successful launch. These permanent safety zones replace the prior practice of establishing temporary safety zones for each individual launch. 74 Fed. Reg. 14726 (April 1, 2009).

Massachusetts Bay – continuation of temporary safety zone

The US Coast Guard is continuing, through April 28, the temporary safety zone in Massachusetts Bay around the area of the wreck of the fishing vessel PATRIOT. The purpose of the safety zone is to reduce risks related to ongoing investigative and salvage efforts. 74 Fed. Reg. 14729 (April 1, 2009).

Hydrographic Services Review Panel – meeting

The Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP), sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will meet in Baltimore on April 14 and 15. Topics on the agenda include the PORTS project, height modernization, and integrated ocean and coastal mapping. 74 Fed. Reg. 14780 (April 1, 2009).

Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee – meeting

The Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee, sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will meet in Annapolis on April 21-23. 74 Fed. Reg. 14780 (April 1, 2009).

Hawaii – shipyard directed to control run-off

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a news release stating that it has ordered a ship repair and drydock facility at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor on Oahu to implement water pollution measures to prevent run-off caused by washing down work areas from entering the waterway. (3/30/09).

American Samoa – terminal ordered to control wastewater discharges

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a news release stating that it has ordered a petroleum storage terminal in American Samoa to implement water pollution measures to control discharges of processed wastewater and stormwater drainage into Pago Pago Harbor. (3/31/09).

USCG – guidance re waterfront LNG facilities

The US Coast Guard issued a change to its Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) providing guidance related to waterfront liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. The change is intended to clarify the relationship of the Coast Guard’s Letter of Recommendation (LOR) with the draft National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The change is effective immediately. NVIC 05-08, Change 1 (3/18/09).

Alaska – update on Drift River Terminal

The US Coast Guard issued a press release stating that it and other stakeholders continue to monitor and respond to the threat of lahar activity in the vicinity of the Drift River oil terminal on the west shore of Cook Inlet. The lahar (mud flow consisting mainly of volcanic debris) problem is a result of the ongoing eruptions of the Mount Redoubt volcano. (3/31/09).

Pacific Northwest coast – public meetings re proposed RNA

The US Coast Guard issued a press release advising that it will conduct meetings in Astoria (April 14) and Newport (April 15) to receive public comments on the proposal to establish regulated navigation areas (RNAs) along portions of the Oregon and Washington coasts. (3/31/09).

FMC – ISO Supervisory Industry Analyst

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a Vacancy Announcement stating that it is search of a Supervisory Industry Analyst. Applications must be received by April 30. (3/31/09).

St. Lawrence Seaway – 50th anniversary

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System issued a press release stating that the St. Lawrence Seaway was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower on March 31, 1959. (3/31/09).

Bill introduced re historic lighthouses

Senator Levin (D-MI) introduced the National Lighthouse Stewardship Act of 2009 (S. 715) to establish a pilot program to provide for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic lighthouses. (3/26/09).

Bill introduced to authorize new Great Lakes icebreaker

Representative Oberstar (D-MN) introduced the Great Lakes Icebreaker Replacement Act (H.R. 1747) to authorize appropriations for the design, acquisition, and construction of a combined buoy tender-icebreaker to replace icebreaking capacity on the Great Lakes. (3/26/09).

Attempt to block LNG facility permit ruled premature

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that a petition by the State of Delaware seeking review of two orders by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that conditionally approved an application to site, construct, and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility near the mouth of the Delaware River was premature. FERC issued an order approving the application subject to 67 conditions precedent, including a requirement that the applicant obtain concurrence from the relevant state agencies in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Since the current FERC order cannot possibly authorize the LNG project absent the approval of Delaware, the state has suffered no injury-in-fact and thus lacks standing to challenge the order. Delaware v. FERC, No. 07-1007 (D.C. Cir., March 13, 2009).

IMO – AIS discrepancy reports

The IMO issued a circular providing a summary of automatic identification system (AIS) discrepancy reports received during the period September to December 2008. The reports are for vessels operating either without AIS or with AIS incorrectly configured. MSC.6/Circ.1 (1/27/09).

IMO – contact information re dangerous goods

The IMO issued a circular forwarding an updated list of contact information for the designated national competent authority with regard to carriage of dangerous goods. MSC.1/Circ.1301 (2/9/09). A corrigendum has also been issued. MSC.1/Circ.1301/Corr.1 (3/17/09).

IMO – publication of revised MARPOL Annex VI and NOx Technical Code

The IMO issued a news release stating that a new publication can now be purchased from IMO Publications on the revised MARPOL Annex VI and NOx Technical Code, which enter into force on 1 July 2010. (3/31/09).

EC – funding available for Motorways of the Sea proposals

The European Commission (EC) issued a press release stating that €30 million is being made available under the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) program for Motorways of the Sea proposals. (3/31/09).

New Zealand – Safe Seas, Clean Seas

Maritime New Zealand released the latest edition of its periodic publication Safe Seas, Clean Seas. This edition features articles on oil spill response planning for the Sub-Antarctic islands and transition to 406 MHz EPIRBs. (3/31/09).

Laughing out loud

Reduction in nitrous oxide (popularly known as laughing gas) emissions has been associated with a worldwide loss of euphoria. The American Psychiatric Association and the Royal College of Psychiatrists have jointly recommended that governments remove all restrictions on NOx air emissions, particularly from ships, in an emergency effort to eliminate mental (as well as financial) depression. (4/1/09).

If you have questions regarding the above items, please contact the editor:

Dennis L. Bryant

Bryant’s Maritime Blog

4845 SW 91^st Way
Gainesville, FL 32608-8135

USA

1-352-692-5493
dennis.l.bryant@gmail.com

http://bryantsmaritimeblog.blogspot.com

© Dennis L. Bryant – April 2009

Redistribution permitted with attribution