Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 19 January 2010

Headlines: Gulf of Aden – piratical attack thwarted; Somalia – pirates release hijacked tanker; MARAD – ships mobilized for Haitian earthquake relief; APHIS – movement of garbage from Hawaii to Washington; NOAA – grant funds for Coral Reef Conservation Program; COSPAS-SARSAT & NOAA – helped rescue 195 people during 2009; Congressional hearing – Asian carp and the Great Lakes; IMO – piracy and stowaway reports; IMO – bunker delivery notes and fuel oil sampling; EC – anti-trust investigation re Baltic Max Feeder; Australia – International Oil Spill Prevention & Preparedness Conference; and Hong Kong – UN sanctions against North Korea.

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Gulf of Aden – piratical attack thwarted

The EU Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) issued a press release stating that a NATO warship intercepted a skiff that had opened fire on a crude oil tanker operating in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden. The pirates on board the skiff have been arrested. An EU NAVFOR warship was in the area but did not have to intervene. (1/17/10).

Somalia – pirates release hijacked tanker

The EU Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) issued a press release stating that pirates have released a hijacked tanker outside Haradere, Somalia. The tanker was hijacked by pirates in the Somali Basin on 29 November 2009. The crew of 28 is reported unharmed. The 300,294 tonne tanker is now headed toward Durban. (1/18/10).

MARAD – ships mobilized for Haitian earthquake relief

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued a news release stating that five government-controlled ships are being mobilized to transport earthquake relief supplies to Haiti. (1/18/10).

APHIS – movement of garbage from Hawaii to Washington

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking comments on its environmental assessment relative to a request to allow the intestate movement of garbage from Hawaii to a landfill in the State of Washington. Comments should be submitted by February 18. 75 Fed. Reg. 2845 (January 19, 2010).

NOAA – grant funds for Coral Reef Conservation Program

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a notice advising of availability of grant funds for fiscal year 2010 for the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). The agency also requests comments on its proposed implementation guidelines for the CRCP. Comments should be submitted by February 12. 75 Fed. Reg. 3091 (January 19, 2010).

COSPAS-SARSAT & NOAA – helped rescue 195 people during 2009

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release stating that, during 2009, the multinational search and rescue satellite-aided tracking system COSPAS-SARSAT provided information that resulted in the rescue of 195 individuals throughout the United States and its surrounding waters. (1/15/10).

Congressional hearing – Asian carp and the Great Lakes

On February 9, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will conduct a hearing on Asian carp and the Great Lakes. (1/18/10). Note: For those who haven’t followed the issue, there is concern that the invasive Asian carp may have migrated up the Illinois River and the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal past the US Army Corps of Engineers fish barrier and are close to entering Lake Michigan. Various states bordering the Great Lakes have filed motions with the US Supreme Court to require that the locks and related facilities on the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal be closed. The Supreme Court is expected to announce soon whether it will hear the dispute.

IMO – reports of piracy for September 2009

The IMO released a circular summarizing reports it received during September 2009 reporting acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships. A total of 33 such reports were received during the month. MSC.4/Circ.143 (10/30/09).

IMO – reports of piracy for October 2009

The IMO released a circular summarizing reports it received during October 2009 reporting acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships. A total of 34 such reports were received during the month. MSC.4/Circ.145 (11/10/09).

IMO – reports of stowaways – May to August 2009

The IMO issued a circular summarizing reports it received during May through August 2009 reporting stowaway incidents. A total of 55 such incidents were reported, involving 137 individuals. FAL.2/Circ.115 (11/2/09).

IMO – reports re bunker delivery notes and fuel oil sampling

The IMO issued a circular forwarding communications received from Liberia and Norway regarding bunker delivery notes and fuel oil sampling as provided for in MARPOL Annex VI. MEPC.1/Circ.704 (12/22/09).

EC – anti-trust investigation re Baltic Max Feeder

The European Commission (EC) issued a press release stating that it has opened a formal anti-trust investigation concerning the Baltic Max Feeder scheme for European feeder vessel owners over a potential breach of EU rules on restrictive trade practices. The Commission is concerned in particular that the scheme, whereby European ship owners collectively agree to cover the costs of removing feeder vessels from service, may be aimed at reducing capacity and therefore at pushing up charter rates for such vessels. (1/15/10).

Australia – International Oil Spill Prevention & Preparedness Conference

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is co-sponsoring the International Oil Spill Prevention & Preparedness Conference (Spillcon 2010) in Melbourne on 12-16 April. (1/15/10).

Hong Kong – UN sanctions against North Korea

The Hong Kong Marine Department issued a notice reminding the maritime community that recent amendments to the United Nations (UN) sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) came into effect on 15 January 2010. The amendment broadens the list of items prohibited for export from or import to North Korea. It also prohibits certain financial transactions. Most significantly, from a maritime perspective, it prohibits the providing of bunkering and other services to a ship registered in North Korea under certain circumstances. Notice 8-2010 (1/15/10).

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 – January 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution