Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 26 May 2009

Headlines: Piracy update; San Pablo Bay – safety zone; Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – proposed RNA; Portland, Oregon – proposed anchorage; LMRWSAC – meeting; Airport & Seaport Inspections User Fee Advisory Committee – meeting; NOAA – Hydrographic Services Review Panel; MARAD & FMC – budget submissions; Bill introduced to amend shipping investment withdrawal rules; Bill introduced to establish Working Waterfront Grant Program; Australia – complacency leads to grounding, falsehoods make it worse; Execution Dock; You’ve got mail.

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Tel: 1-352-692-5493 – Email: dennis.l.bryant@gmail.com – Internet: http://brymar-consulting.com

Note: This blog is one section of the Bryant’s Maritime Consulting website. Visit the site for more extensive maritime regulatory information. Individual concerns may be addressed by retaining Dennis Bryant directly. 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.

EU MSC(HOA) – piracy update

The European Union – Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) [EU MSC(HOA)] issued an update stating that an Italian warship assigned to Operation Atalanta deterred piratical attacks on two merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden. The pirates fired rocket propelled grenades at one of the vessels. The warship later detained nine suspected pirates, who are being held for further investigation. Unofficial reports indicate that the second ship attacked was the US-flag container ship Maersk Virginia, which is part of the Maritime Security Program (MSP) fleet administered by the Maritime Administration (MARAD). (5/22/09).

San Pablo Bay – temporary safety zone

The US Coast Guard has established, through December 31, 2009, a temporary safety zone on waters of San Pablo Bay to protect persons from potential hazards associated with fast-moving Coast Guard small boats taking part in use of force training exercises. The safety zone will be activated for enforcement when training exercises are scheduled. 74 Fed. Reg. 24699 (May 26, 2009).

Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal – proposed RNA and safety zone

The US Coast Guard proposes to establish a regulated navigation area (RNA) and safety zone on waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville, Illinois. This proposal would place navigational and operational restrictions on all vessels transiting waters located adjacent to and over the Army Corps of Engineers electrical dispersal fish barrier system. This proposal, if adopted, would establish on a permanent basis rules similar to those in the current temporary interim regulations. Comments on this proposal should be submitted by July 27. 74 Fed. Reg. 24722 (May 26, 2009).

Portland, Oregon – anchorage proposal

The US Coast Guard proposes to establish a new anchorage, modify existing anchorages, and revise regulations governing anchorages in the Captain of the Port (COTP) Portland, Oregon area of responsibility. Comments on the proposal should be submitted by July 27. 74 Fed. Reg. 24718 (May 26, 2009).

LMRWSAC – meeting

The Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee (LMRWSAC), sponsored by the US Coast Guard, will meet in New Orleans on June 2. 74 Fed. Reg. 24871 (May 26, 2009).

Airport and Seaport Inspections User Fee Advisory Committee – meeting

The Airport and Seaport Inspections User Fee Advisory Committee, sponsored by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will meet in Washington, DC on June 10. 74 Fed. Reg. 24870 (May 26, 2009).

NOAA – members sought for Hydrographic Services Review Panel

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting nominations for membership on the Hydrographic Services Review Panel. Applications must be received by June 26. 74 Fed. Reg. 24798 (May 26, 2009).

MARAD – budget submission

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued its Budget Estimate for FY 20210. The agency is requesting approximately $345.5 million for the fiscal year. (5/22/09).

FMC – budget submission

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued its Budget Estimate for FY 2010. The agency is requesting approximately $24.5 million for the fiscal year. (5/22/09).

Bill introduced to amend shipping investment withdrawal rules

Representative McDermott (D-WA) introduced a bill (H.R. 2542) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the shipping investment withdrawal rules in section 955 and to provide an incentive to reinvest foreign shipping earnings in the United States. Text of the bill is not yet available. (5/21/09).

Bill introduced to establish Working Waterfront Grant Program

Representative Pingree (D-ME) introduced a bill (H.R. 2548) to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to require establishment of a Working Waterfront Grant Program, and for other purposes. Text of the bill is not yet available. (5/21/09).

Australia – complacency leads to grounding; falsehoods make it worse

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued the report of its investigation of the grounding of a bulk carrier at Maude Reef, off Albany, Western Australia on 15 July 2008. Upon departure from Albany, the master made alterations from the planned course to account for assumed effects of wind and current. He dismissed the helmsman and then departed the bridge, leaving the second officer in charge and alone. The second officer did not change course and did not check the position of the ship until it grounded on the charted reef about 20 minutes later. The company’s safety management system was found to have not been effectively implemented. The investigation also revealed that false positions had been plotted on the ship’s navigation chart immediately after the incident. MAIR No. 255 (5/21/09).

Execution Dock

Used until 1830, Execution Dock in London was the site where pirates, smugglers, and mutineers sentenced to death by the British Admiralty Court met their fate. Captain Kidd was executed there in 1701. Execution Dock was closed when it was (prematurely) assumed that the threat of piracy had ended.

You’ve got mail

After an extended delay, during which I have attempted to learn how to push various keys in which order, I am restarting my email distribution. You, my long-suffering readers, thought you had successfully escaped my grasp, but I am back. As always, you may be deleted from my distribution list merely by letting me know that you have come to your senses. On the other hand, there may be someone you know upon whom you wish to inflict me. In that case, please provide me with their contact details. (5/26/09).

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

Dennis L. Bryant

Bryant’s Maritime Consulting

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

USA

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

http://brymar-consulting.com

© Dennis L. Bryant – May 2009

Redistribution permitted with attribution