Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 17 December 2009

Headlines: Shipping Coordinating Committee – meeting re STW; Shipping Coordinating Committee – meeting re SLF; DOJ – US citizen charged with conspiracy to bribe foreign officials; House adopts Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions bill; Australia – report on crewmember fatality; New Zealand – The Good Oil newsletter; UK – Liverpool cruise terminal; and UK – timber vessel temporarily aground.

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Shipping Coordinating Committee – meeting re STW

The Shipping Coordinating Committee, sponsored by the US Department of State, will meet in Washington, DC on January 5, 2010. The purpose of the meeting is to prepare for the upcoming session of the IMO Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW). Topics on the agenda include safe manning levels; maritime security; and development of an e-navigation strategy implementation plan. 74 Fed. Reg. 67004 (December 17, 2009).

Shipping Coordinating Committee – meeting re SLF

The Shipping Coordinating Committee, sponsored by the US Department of State, will meet in Washington, DC on January 7, 2010. The purpose of the meeting is to prepare for the upcoming session of the IMO Subcommittee on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessel Safety (SLF). Topics on the agenda include survivability of passenger ships in damaged condition and damage stability requirements for tankers and bulk carriers. 74 Fed. Reg. 67005 (December 17, 2009).

DOJ – US citizen charged with conspiracy to bribe foreign officials

The US Department of Justice issued a news release stating that a US citizen has been charged with conspiracy to pay bribes to former Panamanian Government officials to secure maritime contracts. The conspiracy allegedly involved payment of monies to these foreign officials for awarding the conspirator’s company contracts to maintain lighthouses and buoys along Panama’s waterways. (12/16/09).

House adopts Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions bill

The US House of Representatives adopted the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009 (H.R. 2194). This measure, if enacted into law, would impose economic sanctions on persons and entities involved in providing refined petroleum products to Iran or assisting Iran in expanding its domestic capability to refine petroleum. The measure would apply to, among others, shippers and ship owners delivering refined petroleum products to Iran and underwriters providing insurance for such activities. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. (12/15/09).

Australia – report on crewmember fatality

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued the report of its investigation of a fatal accident on board a general cargo ship off Western Australia on 21 May 2009. The crewmember had gone into the forward hold to secure lashing bins that were moving about in the heavy seas. One of the lashing bins pinned him against the bulkhead. He died from the injuries incurred. The root cause of the casualty was that the ship manager had not conducted a thorough risk analysis prior to introducing the bins into service. A secondary cause was fatigue resulting from the ship’s use of a 6-hour on/6-hour off work routine. MO-2009-004 (12/16/09).

New Zealand – The Good Oil newsletter

Maritime New Zealand released the December issue of The Good Oil newsletter. Among other things, this issue discusses the Montara well head spill and the Antarctic Treaty Meeting of Experts. (12/16/09).

UK – Liverpool cruise terminal

The UK Department for Transport released the statement of Paul Clark MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport concerning an inquiry from the Liverpool City Council regarding a possible change to the permit for the Liverpool cruise terminal to allow turnaround cruises. Construction of the terminal was funded by a government grant. It has been concluded that the proposed change would be likely to have an unfair and adverse effect on competition with other UK cruise ports. (12/16/09).

UK – timber vessel temporarily aground

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a press notice stating that a timber cargo vessel grounded temporarily in the Gulf of Carryvreckan. Coastguard and Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) assets responded. The vessel was refloated and escorted into Oban. There were no injuries and no reports of pollution. (12/16/09).

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 – December 2009

Redistribution permitted with attribution