Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 27 May 2009

Headlines: Influenza updates; Piracy update; Shipping Coordinating Committee meetings; Australia – drifting barge under tow; IMO – MSC meeting agenda; USCG – Marine Safety Blog; EC- World Ocean Conference; Boston – moving shipping lanes to protect whales; FMC – change in meeting schedule; MARAD – ship sold for recycling; and Bill introduced to amend shipping investment withdrawal rules.

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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.

Australia – human swine flu

The New South Wales Department of Health issued a news release stating that four passengers and one crew member from the cruise ship Pacific Dawn are confirmed to have contracted the human swine flu. Three crew members have flu-like symptoms. All cruise ships are asked to provide advice on passengers and crew who may be showing signs of influenza prior to arriving in Australian ports. Disembarking passengers will be requested to complete a health declaration card. (5/26/09).

WHO & CDC – Influenza A (H1N1) updates – 12,954 cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an update stating that, as of 0600 GMT, 21 May, 48 countries have reported 12,954 confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection, including 92 deaths. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update stating that 48 states have reported a total of 6,764 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu infection, including ten deaths. (5/26/09).

EU MSC(HOA) – piracy update

The European Union – Maritime Security Center (Horn of Africa) [EU MSC(HOA)] issued a news release stating that pirates attacked a bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden, firing small arms and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). A Swedish warship responded, discovered weapons and related gear on the skiff, and is now holding the suspects for further investigation. (5/26/09).

Shipping Coordinating Committee – meeting re MEPC

The Shipping Coordinating Committee, sponsored by the US Department of State, will meet in Washington, DC on June 26. The purpose of the meeting is to prepare for the upcoming session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). Topics on the agenda include ballast water; recycling of ships; and air emissions. 74 Fed. Reg. 25297 (May 27, 2009).

Shipping Coordinating Committee – meeting re NAV

The Shipping Coordinating Committee, sponsored by the US Department of State, will meet in Washington, DC on July 8. The purpose of the meeting is to prepare for the upcoming session of the IMO Sub-committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV). Topics on the agenda include routing of ships; ship reporting; performance standards for bridge alert management; larger safety zones around artificial islands in the EEZ; and performance standards for VDRs. 74 Fed. Reg. 25297 (May 27, 2009).

Australia – drifting barge under tow

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a media release stating that it coordinated the response after a barge parted its tow from a tug in heavy weather off New South Wales. A salvage crew was placed on the barge via helicopter. A towline was attached to the tug, arresting the barge’s drift inshore. A salvage tug was deployed and relieved the regular tug of the tow. (5/24/09).

IMO – MSC meeting agenda

The IMO issued a news release stating that the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meets in London on 27 May – 5 June. Topics on the agenda include piracy and armed robbery against ships; Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT); goal-based new ship construction standards; and mandatory carriage of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm Systems (BNWAS). (5/26/09).

USCG – Marine Safety Blog

The US Coast Guard has launched its Marine Safety Blog. The blog will attempt to keep us up-to-date on what the agency is doing with regard to marine safety and security. The advantage of a blog is that it is a two-way street, so don’t be shy about posting your opinion (favorable or unfavorable) about new developments. Actually, the blog started in March, but is only now being widely publicized. (5/26/09).

EC – World Ocean Conference

The European Commission (EC) posted the Statement Emanating from the Global Ocean Policy Day conference held in Manado, Indonesia on May 11-14. Also posted was the Manado Ocean Declaration. The documents express, among other things, concern about the impact of climate change on the oceans and on coastal communities. (5/26/09).

Boston – moving shipping lanes to protect whales

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release stating that shipping lanes into the Port of Boston are due to change on 1 June in an effort to reduce the risk of ship strikes involving the endangered North Atlantic right whale. (5/26/09).

FMC – change in meeting schedule

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a notice stating that its June 3 meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting of the Commission will be on June 24. (5/26/09).

MARAD – ship sold for recycling

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued a news release stating that the American Osprey has been sold for recycling. The surplus ship is currently in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in Beaumont. (5/20/09).

Puerto Rico – spill response exercise

The US Coast Guard issued a press release stating that an oil spill response exercise will be conducted in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico on May 27-28. (5/26/09).

Johnston Atoll – buoy removal

The US Coast Guard issued a press release stating that it has removed the last of the navigational buoys at Johnston Atoll. This is part of the effort to return the newly-designated marine national monument to a natural state. A second press release notes, among other things, that the Coast Guard for many years operated a LORAN station on the atoll. (5/26/09).

Bill introduced to amend shipping investment withdrawal rules

Representative McDermott (D-WA) introduced the American Shipping Reinvestment Act of 2009 (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. (5/21/09).

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