Thursday, September 17, 2009

Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 17 September 2009

Headlines: USCG – large US passenger vessel crew requirements; LMRWSAC meeting; NOAA – meetings re protection of killer whales; FMC – passenger vessel financial responsibility; UK – Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme; MARAD – Women on the Water Conference; and Australia – update re offshore oil leak.

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

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.

USCG – large US passenger vessel crew requirements

clip_image004 The US Coast Guard promulgated a final rule regarding merchant mariner documentation requirements for large US-flag passenger vessels. The final rule adopts, with minor non-substantive changes, the interim rule published on April 24, 2007. It allows issuance of merchant mariner credentials to certain non-resident aliens for service in the steward’s departments of large US-flag passenger vessels eligible to engage in the coastwise trade. The rule comes into effect on October 19. 74 Fed. Reg. 47729 (September 17, 2009).

LMRWSAC – meeting

clip_image004[1] The Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee (LMRWSAC), sponsored by the US Coast Guard, will meet in New Orleans on October 7. 74 Fed. Reg. 47810 (September 17, 2009).

NOAA – meetings re protection of killer whales

clip_image006 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a notice stating that it will host meetings in Anacortes (September 24), Seattle (September 30), and Friday Harbor (October 5) to receive public comments on its proposed regulations to protect killer whales in the Northwest Region by prohibiting vessels from approaching within 200 yards of the whales and from parking in the path of whales in inland waters. The Anacortes meeting is newly scheduled. The Seattle and Friday Harbor meetings were announced earlier. Written comments must be submitted by October 27. 74 Fed. Reg. 47779 (September 17, 2009).

FMC – passenger vessel financial responsibility

clip_image008 The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a news release stating that the Commission voted to discontinue its pending rulemaking regarding passenger vessel financial responsibility. Rather, the staff has been directed to develop new methods for assessing the adequacy of financial responsibility for passenger vessel operators. (9/16/09).

UK – Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme

clip_image010 The UK Department for Transport issued its Guide to Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme. The booklet explains the process whereby rail or inland waterway carriers may be eligible for reimbursement of some or all of the transportation costs that exceed the costs of transporting the same goods by truck within the UK. The goal is to shift the mode of goods transport off the roads and onto trains and vessels. The scheme has been approved through 31 March 2015. (9/16/09). Note: If this scheme proves successful in removing trucks from the highway in the UK, it should be considered for adoption in the United States.

MARAD – Women on the Water Conference

clip_image012 The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued a news release stating that its third annual Women on the Water Conference will be held on the campus of the Maine Maritime Academy on October 15-17. (9/11/09).

Australia – update re offshore oil leak

clip_image014 The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a media release stating that it continues to monitor the oil leak from the offshore platform off the northwest coast of Australia. (9/16/09).

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

Dennis L. Bryant

Bryant’s Maritime Consulting

4845 SW 91st Way
Gainesville, FL 32608-8135

USA

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

http://brymar-consulting.com

© Dennis L. Bryant – September 2009

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