Bryant's Maritime Blog: Bryant’s Maritime Blog

Headlines: Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – temporary closure; Freeport, Texas – security zones proposed; CBP – electronic payment and refund of harbor maintenance fees; USCG – 2010 William M. Benkert Environmental Awards; FMC – impact of EU elimination of shipping conferences; Miami – rescue of overboard cruise ship passenger; USCG – SAR demonstration in Shanghai; and IMO – France signs Recycling Convention.

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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.

Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – temporary closure

The US Coast Guard issued a temporary rule establishing safety and security zones on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville, Illinois intended to restrict all vessels from transiting the Canal at that location. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) electrical dispersal barrier will be shut down for maintenance and fish toxicant will be applied to keep Asian carp from getting through the area during the maintenance work. The temporary rule will be in effect through December 18. 74 Fed. Reg. 61278 (November 24, 2009).

Freeport, Texas – security zones proposed

The US Coast Guard proposes to establish four security zones in the Brazos River at Freeport, Texas. Comments on the proposal should be submitted by December 24. 74 Fed. Reg. 61305 (November 24, 2009).

CBP – electronic payment and refund of harbor maintenance fees

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposes to amend its regulations to prescribe an alternative method by which payers of the quarterly harbor maintenance fee (HMF) may submit payments or refund requests electronically. Comments on this proposal should be submitted by December 24. 74 Fed. Reg. 61267 (November 24, 2009). Note: Most people, including those making payments, refer to this assessment as the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT), but Customs clings to the illusion that the payers will feel better if it is labeled a fee.

USCG – 2010 William M. Benkert Environmental Awards

The US Coast Guard is soliciting nominations for the 2010 William M. Benkert Marine Environmental Protection Awards. The awards, named for the late Rear Admiral Benkert, USCG, recognize organizations for outstanding achievements in all aspects of marine environmental protection. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2010. The Awards Ceremony will be in June 2010. (11/23/09).

FMC – impact of EU elimination of shipping conferences

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a news release stating that it is studying the impact on US trades of the elimination of shipping conferences by the European Union. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the study. (11/23/09).

Miami – rescue of overboard cruise ship passenger

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it rescued a man who fell overboard from a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean 20 miles southeast of Miami. (11/22/09).

USCG – SAR demonstration in Shanghai

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that the USCG Cutter Rush and crew participated in a search and rescue (SAR) demonstration in Shanghai with Chinese vessels. (11/22/09).

IMO – France signs Recycling Convention

The IMO issued a news release stating that France has become the first country to sign, subject to ratification, the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe an Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009. The Convention will enter into force 24 months after the date on which 15 States, representing 40% of world merchant shipping by weight, have accepted the Convention. Furthermore, the combined maximum annual ship recycling volume of those States must, during the preceding 10 years, constitute not less than 3% of their combined merchant shipping tonnage. (11/23/09).