Bryant's Maritime Blog: Bryant’s Maritime Blog

Headlines: US barriers to trade and investment; Awards presented to rescuers of Captain Phillips; IMO- oil fuel tank arrangements; IMO – unified interpretations of IBC Code; IMO – amendments re flame arrestors; Resolutions adopted by MSC 86; DOT – Secretary’s remarks to MTSNAC; and USCG & CF agreement to exchange personnel.

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EC – US barriers to trade and investment

The European Commission (EC) issued its report on United States Barriers to Trade and Investment Report for 2008. The report notes that the US and the European Union are each other’s main trading partner, but there are still trade barriers and differences that hinder trade and investment. In an effort to eliminate even these relatively small barriers, this report attempts to identify and address them. Those identified barriers on the maritime side include: the Container Security Initiative (CSI); the SAFE Port Act; US economic sanctions against Iran; and the Jones Act. (7/27/09).

DOD – awards presented to rescuers of Captain Phillips

The US Department of Defense (DOD) issued a news release stating that General David Petraeus, head of the US Central Command, presented awards to three members of the crew of the USS Bainbridge who participated in the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates in April. After pirates boarded the container ship Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia, they took Captain Phillips hostage. The three Bainbridge crewmembers were directly involved in the hostage negotiations and eventual rescue. (7/27/09).

IMO – oil fuel tank arrangements

The IMO issued a circular forwarding a unified interpretation of SOLAS Chapter II-2 regarding oil fuel tank arrangements. MSC.1/Circ.1322 (6/11/09).

IMO – unified interpretations of IBC Code

The IMO issued a circular forwarding unified interpretations of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code). MSC.1/Circ.1323 (6/10/09).

IMO – amendments re flame arrestors

The IMO issued a circular amending the revised standards for the design, testing, and location of devices to prevent the passage of flame into cargo tanks in tankers (MSC/Circ.677, as amended by MSC/Circ.1009). MSC.1/Circ.1324 (6/10/09).

Singapore – resolutions adopted by MSC 86

The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular forwarding resolutions adopted by the 86th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 86) of IMO. Shipping Circular No. 22 of 2009 (7/21/09).

DOT – Secretary’s remarks to MTSNAC

The Department of Transportation (DOT) released the remarks of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC). He asked the MTSNAC to provide advice on how to better integrate the waterways with the intermodal freight transportation system and how to address the Congressional mandates of the Marine Highway Program. (7/23/09).

USCG & CF – agreement to exchange personnel

The US Coast Guard issued a photo release stating that Vice Admiral Robert Papp, USCG and Rear Admiral Paul Maddison, Canadian Forces, signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the exchange of personnel between USCG Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center Atlantic (MIFC LANT) and Canadian Forces TRINITY Joint Ocean Surveillance and Information Centre. The personnel exchanges will improve the ability of both nations to conduct homeland security and defense missions. (7/27/09).