Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 9 September 2009

Headlines: IMO – calculation of energy efficiency design index for new ships; IMO – voluntary verification of energy efficiency design index; IMO – ship energy efficiency management plan; IMO – voluntary use of ship energy efficiency operational indicator; EC – study of uniform multimodal transport system; TSA – TWIC centers closed for enrollments; Calcasieu River – temporary security zone; Shipping Coordinating Committee meeting; NTSB meeting; Probable seaman not covered by Jones Act; FMC meeting; EMSA newsletter; and USCG – hurricane and heavy weather contingency plans.

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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.

IMO – calculation of energy efficiency design index for new ships

The IMO issued a circular forwarding interim guidelines on the method of calculation of the energy efficiency design index for new ships. The guidelines are intended to stimulate innovation and technical development of all elements influencing the energy efficiency of a ship from its design phase. MEPC.1/Circ.681 (8/17/09).

IMO – voluntary verification of energy efficiency design index

The IMO issued a circular forwarding interim guidelines for voluntary verification of the energy efficiency design index. MEPC.1/Circ.682 (8/17/09).

IMO – ship energy efficiency management plan

The IMO issued a circular forwarding guidance for the development of a ship energy efficiency management plan (SEEMP). The plan is intended to serve as a voluntary tool to assist a shipping company in managing the environmental performance of its ships. MEPC.1/Circ.683 (8/17/09).

IMO – voluntary use of ship energy efficiency operational indicator

The IMO issued a circular forwarding guidelines for voluntary use of the ship energy efficiency operational indicator (EEOI). MEPC.1/Circ.684 (8/17/09).

EC – study of uniform multimodal transport system

The European Commission (EC) released a 197-page study (compiled on 19 May 2009) on the details and added value of establishing a single transport (electronic) document for all carriage of goods, irrespective of mode, as well as a standard liability clause, with regard to their ability to facilitate multimodal freight transport and enhance the framework offered by multimodal waybills and/or multimodal manifests. The study examines the divergent views within Europe regarding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (otherwise known as the Rotterdam Rules). The study does not take a position on ratification, but attempts to examine the advantages and disadvantages of a uniform multimodal transport system for a euro-centric perspective. (9/8/09).

TSA – TWIC centers closed to enrollments

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a notice stating that due to technical difficulties all Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) enrollment centers will be unable to process new enrollments until further notice. The centers will, though, be able to perform TWIC card activations. (9/8/09).

Calcasieu River – temporary security zone

The US Coast Guard has established, through November 30, a temporary security zone on waters of the Calcasieu River at the mooring basin for the Cameron liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility near Hackberry, Louisiana. 74 Fed. Reg. 46367 (September 9, 2009).

Shipping Coordinating Committee – meeting

The Shipping Coordinating Committee (SHC), sponsored by the US Department of State, will meet in Washington, DC on September 23. The purpose of the meeting is to prepare for the upcoming session of the IMO Legal Committee. Topics on the agenda include: LRIT-related matters; role of the human element; piracy and armed robbery against ships; and general cargo ship safety. 74 Fed. Reg. 46476 (September 9, 2009).

NTSB – meeting

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will meet in Washington, DC on September 30 to consider the marine accident report regarding the agency’s investigation into the sinking of the US fish processing vessel Alaska Ranger in the Bering Sea on March 23, 2008. 74 Fed. Reg. 46470 (September 9, 2009).

Probable seaman not covered by Jones Act

In a brief, unpublished decision, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the personal injury provisions of the Jones Act do not cover probable or expectant seamen but only seamen in being. In the instant case, plaintiff had been hired to perform as an entertainer on a cruise ship. He was injured, though, while rehearsing ashore before he actually joined the ship. He brought suit against the vessel operator, seeking recover under the Jones Act. In affirming dismissal of his action, the court ruled that plaintiff had not shown a connection to the vessel that was substantial in terms of both its duration and its nature. Campbell v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., No. 08-41343 (5th Cir., September 8, 2009).

FMC – meeting

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a notice stating that it will meet on September 15 in its offices in Washington, DC. Topics on the agenda for the open session of the meeting include passenger vessel financial responsibility, re-codification of 46 C.F.R., and the status of the FY 2009 budget. (9/8/09).

EMSA – newsletter

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) released the September issue of its newsletter. Among other things, this issue reports that a new stand-by oil spill response vessel has become operational in the Black Sea. (9/8/09).

USCG – hurricane and heavy weather contingency plans

The compilation of USCG hurricane and heavy weather contingency plans that I maintain on my website – Bryant’s Maritime Consulting – has been expanded with the addition of Port Preparedness chapter of the Sector San Juan Heavy Weather Plan. (9/8/09).

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 – September 2009

Redistribution permitted with attribution