Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 27 August 2009

Headlines: Gulf of Aden – cooperative effort in responding to piracy; APHIS - wood packaging material in domestic commerce – proposal; Pascagoula – disestablishment of restricted area; Port of Houston – EPA funding for Clean Diesel projects; IMO – MARPOL Annex VI cost effectiveness formula; IMO – application of NOx Technical Code; and New Zealand – solo navigation requirements.

Bryant’s Maritime Consulting - 4845 SW 91^st Way - Gainesville, FL 32608-8135 - USA

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

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Gulf of Aden – cooperative effort in responding to piracy

The EU Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) issued a press release stating that a merchant vessel transiting the Gulf of Aden reported that it was under piratical attack. The attack was thwarted by the merchant vessel itself. Two warships from the EU NAVFOR (one Norwegian and the other German) and one from CTF 151 (South Korean) responded. A suspicious skiff was sighted in the vicinity of the reported attack. As a NAVFOR boarding party approached the skiff, weapons were seen being thrown overboard. The skiff was released. (8/26/09).

APHIS – wood packaging material in domestic commerce – proposal

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is soliciting comment on regulatory options that could be applied to wood packaging material (e.g., crates, dunnage, wooden spools, pallets, packing blocks) used in domestic commerce to decrease the risk of the artificial spread of plant pests such as the emerald ash borer and the Asian longhorned beetle. These and other plant pests that could be transported interstate by wood packaging material pose a serious threat to US agriculture and to natural, cultivated, and urban forests. APHIS intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on various potential pest mitigation measures and opening a public scoping period for this document. Comments on this issue should be submitted by October 26. 74 Fed. Reg. 43643 (August 27, 2009). Note: This proposal would apply to all modes of domestic transportation, including short sea shipping. It is important that the maritime industry participate in this dialogue.

Pascagoula – disestablishment of restricted area

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is disestablishing the restricted area in waters adjacent to the former Naval Station Pascagoula, Mississippi. This action will become effective on October 26, unless adverse comment is received by September 28. 74 Fed. Reg. 43639 (August 27, 2009).

Port of Houston – EPA funding for Clean Diesel projects

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a news release stating that it is awarding $9 million to support innovative Clean Diesel projects in the Port of Houston. (8/26/09).

IMO – MARPOL Annex VI cost effectiveness formula

The IMO issued a circular providing definitions for the cost effectiveness formula in Regulation 13.7.5 of the Revised MARPOL Annex VI. MEPC.1/Circ.678 (7/27/09).

IMO – application of NOx Technical Code

The IMO issued a circular providing guidelines for the application of the NOx Technical Code relative to certification and amendments of Tier I engines. MEPC.1/Circ.679 (7/27/09).

New Zealand – solo navigation requirements

Maritime New Zealand issued a media release stating that it is reviewing the proposal of a 13-year-old sailor to undertake a solo world voyage on an 8 meter yacht. Under New Zealand law, Maritime New Zealand may detain any vessel from leaving New Zealand waters if it believes, on clear grounds, that the vessel is likely to endanger any person or property or is hazardous to the health or safety of any person. (8/26/09).

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 – August 2009

Redistribution permitted with attribution