Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 29 April 2010

Headlines: UN – Security Council resolution re Somali piracy; Somalia – hijacked vessels arrive off coast; Malaysia – pirates board and rob tug; OMB – draft report on benefits and costs of federal regulations; Shipping Coordinating Committee meeting; USCG – Safety Alert re watertight doors; San Diego – Rescue 21 system commences operation; IMO – sympathy expressed over MODU incident; Australia – long-range medical evacuation; and New Zealand – Secure Export Scheme.

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UN – Security Council resolution re Somali piracy

The United Nations (UN) Security Council issued a news release containing the text of its recent resolution concerning Somali piracy. The resolution: (1) affirms that the failure to prosecute persons responsible for acts of piracy and armed robbery undermines anti-piracy efforts; (2) calls on all states to criminalize piracy under their domestic law; (3) calls on all participants to the IMO Djibouti Code of Conduct to implement it as soon as possible; and (4) requests the Secretary-General to review options for prosecuting and imprisoning persons responsible for acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia, including the possibility of establishing an international tribunal. Resolution 1918 (2010) (4/28/10).

Somalia – hijacked vessels arrive off coast

The EU Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) issued two releases addressing vessels recently hijacked by Somali pirates. The first press release states that the VOC Daisy with 21 crewmembers, hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on 21 April, has arrived off the coast of Somalia in the vicinity of Garacad. The second press release states that the three Thai fishing vessels with a total of 77 crewmembers, hijacked in the Indian Ocean on 18 April, have arrived off the coast of Somalia in the vicinity of Garacad. (4/28/10).

Malaysia – pirates board and rob tug

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an Incident Alert stating that pirates armed with pistols and parangs boarded a tug while it was towing a coal barge along the east coast of Malaysia. They held the crew hostage while stealing cash and valuables, then departed before government authorities arrived. (4/27/10).

OMB – draft report on benefits and costs of federal regulations

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests comments on its Draft 2010 Report to Congress on the Benefits and Costs of Federal Regulations. Comments should be submitted within 60 days. 75 Fed. Reg. 22630 (April 29, 2010).

Shipping Coordinating Committee – meeting

The Shipping Coordinating Committee, sponsored by the US Department of State, will meet in Washington, DC on May 5 to prepare for the upcoming session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee. Topics on the agenda include ship design and equipment; safety of navigation; dangerous goods, solid cargoes, and containers; and training and watchstanding. 75 Fed. Reg. 22436 (April 28, 2010). Note: This item is repeated from yesterday’s newsletter, as there was an error in the link address, which was gently pointed out to me by one of my long-suffering readers. Mea culpa.

USCG – Safety Alert re watertight doors

The US Coast Guard issued a Safety Alert reminding owners, operators, masters, and crew of the importance of closing and dogging watertight doors when the vessel is underway. A push boating operating in the Houston Ship Channel recently sank, with the loss of life, when it flooded through an open watertight door. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident and has been the subject of previous Safety Alerts, when are appended to this alert. (4/28/10).

San Diego – Rescue 21 system commences operation

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that the Rescue 21 advanced communications system has commenced operation in Sector San Diego. The system enhances the ability of the Coast Guard to hear distress calls and promptly identify the location of the transmission, greatly reducing the time required to get rescue assets to the scene. (4/28/10).

IMO – sympathy expressed over MODU incident

The IMO issued a news release expressing its sympathy following the 20 April explosion and subsequent sinking of the MODU Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in loss of life and impact on the maritime environment. (4/28/10).

Australia – long-range medical evacuation

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a media release stating that its Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) supervised the medical evacuation of an ill crewmember from a bulk carrier approximately 200 miles southwest of Adelaide. (4/28/10).

New Zealand – Secure Export Scheme

The New Zealand Customs Service issued a notice explaining its Secure Export Scheme. This program, similar to the US Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), is a voluntary program intended to increase the security of goods in international transit while reducing the likelihood of undue delay. (4/28/10).

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 – April 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution