Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 16 November 2009

Headlines: DOJ – US citizen pleads guilty to bribery in Panamanian maritime contract; Indian Ocean – suspected pirates taken into custody; Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – temporary closure for fish barrier maintenance; FMC meeting; Kaneohe Bay – danger zone amendment; Cape Canaveral – restricted zone amendment; Florida Keys NMS – marine sanitation device discharge regulations; NOAA – NRDA indirect costs rates; Virginia Beach – barge aground; and USCG – change to NAVCEN mailing address.

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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.

DOJ – US citizen pleads guilty to bribery in Panamanian maritime contract

The US Department of Justice issued a press release stating that a US citizen pleaded guilty in federal court to bribing Panamanian officials in order to obtain a no-bid contract for maintenance of lighthouses and buoys on Panamanian waterways. The defendant admitted making payments of more than $200,000 to the former administrator and deputy administrator of Panama’s National Maritime Ports Authority and to a former high-ranking elected executive official of the Republic of Panama. He faces a possible sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. (11/13/09).

Indian Ocean – suspected pirates taken into custody

The EU Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) issued a press release stating that an EU NAVFOR warship tracked down and apprehended the individuals suspected of having launched recent piratical attacks on merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean northeast of the Seychelles. When the mother ship and two attack skiffs were detained, weapons, ladders, and other pirate paraphernalia were found on board. The individuals have been taken into custody. (11/13/09).

Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – temporary closure for fish barrier maintenance

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and US Coast Guard issued a joint news release stating that the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal will be closed to all traffic, weather permitting, beginning December 2 for a period of four to five days while scheduled maintenance is performed on Barrier IIA. The barrier is intended to prevent entry into the Great Lakes of the destructive Asian carp, a nonindigenous species. While the barrier is shut down, a fish toxicant called rotenone will be applied to the canal between the barrier and the Lockport Lock and Dam. The canal will be closed to all commercial and recreational vessel traffic between CSSC Mile Marker 291 and Mile Marker 298. (11/13/09).

FMC – meeting

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a notice stating that it will meet at its office in Washington, DC on November 19. Topics to be addressed in the open session include repeal of the marine terminal agreement exemption; the inquiry concerning ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) agents; and the FY 2010 budget status. Topics to be addressed in the closed session include the US-Australia/New Zealand trades; passenger vessel operator regulatory initiatives; and the petition to reopen Docket No. 07-02. 74 Fed. Reg. 58962 (November 16, 2009).

Kaneohe Bay – danger zone amendment

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a final rule amending the danger zone in waters of Kaneohe Bay adjacent to the Ulupau Crater Weapons Training Range. The amendments come into effect on December 16. 74 Fed. Reg. 58846 (November 16, 2009).

Cape Canaveral – restricted area amendment

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued correcting amendments to its recent rulemaking concerning the restricted area in the Atlantic Ocean offshore of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The amendment clarifies that the units of measurement for the boundaries of the restricted area are nautical miles. The amendments come into effect immediately. 74 Fed. Reg. 58848 (November 16, 2009).

Florida Keys NMS – marine sanitation device discharge regulations

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposes to amend the regulations for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) to require the marine sanitation devices on vessels operating within the NMS be locked to prevent discharges. Comments on this proposal should be submitted by February 17, 2010. 74 Fed. Reg. 58923 (November 16, 2009). Note: Because the seaward boundary of the FKNMS extends some miles offshore, this proposal could impact passing commercial vessels.

NOAA – NRDA indirect cost rates

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a notice announcing new indirect cost rates on the recovery of indirect costs for its component organizations involved in natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) and related restoration activities for fiscal years 2007 and 2008. 74 Fed. Reg. 58383 (November 16, 2009).

Virginia Beach – barge aground

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that a barge being towed from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Pennsauken, New Jersey broke loose in heavy weather and grounded at Virginia Beach. There have been no reports of personal injury or pollution. A second news release reports on salvage efforts. (11/14/09).

USCG – change to NAVCEN mailing address

The US Coast Guard Navigation Center issued a Special Notice stating that its mailing address has changed. Mail sent to the previous address will not be delivered. The new mailing address is:

US Coast Guard Navigation Center

NAVCEN MS 7310

7323 Telegraph Road

Alexandria, VA 20598-7310

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 – November 2009

Redistribution permitted with attribution