Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 6 January 2009

Headlines: EU – hijacked car carrier arrives off Somalia; DOJ – former Customs officer pleads guilty; USCG – CPI adjustments to OPA 90 limits of liability; Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – safety zone and RNA; NOAA – petition to list Atlantic sturgeon as endangered; USCG – build and rebuild determination letters; FMC – new ALJ; Panama Canal – decade of management; UK – examination of container stack collapse; and UK – examination of main engine failure.

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EU – hijacked car carrier arrives off Somalia

The EU Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) issued a press release stating that the car carrier Asian Glory, hijacked by pirates on 1 January, has arrived off the coast of Somalia near Hobyo. (1/5/10).

DOJ – former Customs officer pleads guilty

The Department of Justice issued a press release stating that a former officer of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Beaumont, Texas pleaded guilty to public corruption. He admitted accepting an illegal gratuity from the master of a merchant vessel in connection with conducting an inspection of that vessel. The defendant faces up to two years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. (1/4/10).

USCG – CPI adjustments to OPA 90 limits of liability

The US Coast Guard is adopting as a final rule its previous interim rule increasing limits of liability under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) for vessels and for deepwater ports. The final rule comes into effect on February 5. 75 Fed. Reg. 750 (January 6, 2010).

Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – safety zone and RNA

The US Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone and regulated navigation area (RNA) on the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal near Romeoville, Illinois. This action places navigational, environmental, and operational restrictions on vessels transiting the waterway adjacent to and over the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) electrical dispersal fish barrier system. The temporary interim rule comes into effect immediately. 75 Fed. Reg. 754 (January 6, 2010).

NOAA – petition to list Atlantic sturgeon as endangered

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a notice stating that it received a petition seeking to have the Atlantic sturgeon listed as endangered or threatened. Comments on the petition should be submitted by February 5. 75 Fed. Reg. 838 (January 6, 2010).

USCG – build and rebuild determination letters

In an effort to improve transparency, the US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) has established a web-site for posting of Determination Letters. These letters relate to USCG determinations relating to “US Build” and “Rebuild” issues as regards US-flag vessels. (1/5/10).

FMC – new ALJ

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a news release stating that Erin Masson has joined the FMC as an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). (1/5/10).

Panama Canal – decade of management

The Panama Canal Authority issued a press release commemorating the ten years that have passed since it assumed management of the Panama Canal. (1/4/10).

UK – examination of container stack collapse

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) issued the summary of its preliminary examination of a container stack collapse on a container feeder in Bremerhaven on October 3, 2009. During discharge operations, the containers in one bay toppled to port. As a result, 18 containers were lost overboard. Examination revealed that top containers in seven of the nine stacks shown on the stowage plan as being empty actually had cargoes ranging between 15 and 30 tons. The carrier was using a software program that did not update when the shipper provided more accurate contents details. A new software program is being introduced by the carrier. (1/5/10).

UK – examination of main engine failure

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) issued the summary of its preliminary examination of an incident in Southampton Waters on October 4, 2009 in which an oil tanker suffered a main engine failure while underway. The engine shut down due to high cooling water temperature. Examination revealed that the high cooling water temperature was the result of a blocked sea water inlet filter, which the tanker had experienced previously. The ship owner is replacing the plate strainers in the sea water suction and fresh water cooler inlet filters and taking other corrective action. (1/5/10).

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