Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 9 April 2010

Headlines: MARAD – America’s Marine Highway Program; FEMA – draft PEA for evaluation of grant programs; GAO – report on USCG Deployable Operations Group; IMO – SAR agreement – Italy & Slovenia; IMO – stowaway incidents during 2009; IMO – LES Operation Coordinators in the INMARSAT system; IMO – priority distress communications for RCCs via INMARSAT; IMO – list of NAVAREA Coordinators; IMO – availability of SAR services; IMO – Bahamas pays 2010 contribution; EMSA – April newsletter; Great Barrier Reef – update re grounded bulker Shen Neng 1; New Zealand – customs guidance for vessel departures; and UK – investigation of tug capsizing.

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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. Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea (with apologies to the later Walter Winchell).

MARAD – America’s Marine Highway Program

The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) published its final rule implementing America’s Marine Highway Program. The program allows the Secretary of Transportation to designate marine highway corridors and identify and support short sea transportation projects to expand domestic water transportation services as an alternative means of moving containerized and wheeled freight cargoes; mitigate the economic, environmental, and energy costs of landside congestion; integrate the marine highway into the transportation process; and research improvements in efficiencies and environmental sustainability. This final rule comes into effect immediately. 75 Fed. Reg. 18095 (April 9, 2010).

FEMA – draft PEA for evaluation of grant programs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking comments on its draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to address potential impacts to the human environment resulting from typical actions funded by FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) through a wide variety of homeland security and emergency preparedness grant programs that it administers. Comments on the draft PEA should be submitted by May 10. 75 Fed. Reg. 17940 (April 8, 2010). Note: This item from yesterday’s newsletter is being repeated because the actual draft PEA was not available for inclusion in yesterday’s newsletter. It is linked here for your edification and delight.

GAO – report on USCG Deployable Operations Group

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued its review of the USCG’s Deployable Operations Group (DOG). The DOG consists of five types of teams or units: (1) the National Strike Force; (2) Tactical Law Enforcement Teams; (3) Port Security Units; (4) Maritime Safety and Security Teams; and (5) a Maritime Security Response Team. Through combining these units into one command, the Coast Guard achieved standardized tactics, techniques, and procedures, as well as a uniform process for allocation of deployable resources. GAO-10-433R (4/7/10). Note: This item was brought to my attention by my good friend John Bennett of Maritime Protective Services.

IMO – SAR agreement – Italy & Slovenia

The IMO issued a circular forwarding the search and rescue (SAR) memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Italy and Slovenia. SAR.6/Circ.44 (1/25/10).

IMO – stowaway incidents during 2009

The IMO issued a circular containing statistics on stowaway incidents reported during 2009. There were 314 reported incidents, involving 1,070 individuals. FAL.2/Circ.117 (2/19/10).

IMO – LES Operation Coordinators in the INMARSAT system

The IMO issued a circular forwarding an updated list of Land Earth Station (LES) Operation Coordinators in the INMARSAT system. COMSAR.1/Circ.49 (1/25/10).

IMO – priority distress communications for RCCs via INMARSAT

The IMO issued a circular addressing priority distress communications for RCCs from shore-to-ship via INMARSAT. COMSAR.1/Circ.50 (2/1/10).

IMO – list of NAVAREA Coordinators

The IMO issued a circular forwarding an updated list of NAVAREA Coordinators. COMSAR.1/Circ.51 (3/17/10).

IMO – availability of SAR services

The IMO issued a circular forwarding a questionnaire on the availability of search and rescue (SAR) services. It is designed to be completed by flag administrations or sister agencies within a government, but submittal of information by third parties is permissible. COMSAR.1/Circ.52 (3/17/10).

IMO – Bahamas pays 2010 contribution

The IMO issued a news release stating that the Commonwealth of the Bahamas paid its 2010 contribution in full with presentation of a check in the amount of £1,377,596. (4/8/10).

EMSA – April newsletter

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) issued its April newsletter. This issue discusses the agency’s five-year strategy and a common EU ballast water sampling strategy. (4/8/10).

Great Barrier Reef – update re grounded bulker Shen Neng 1

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) issued a media release stating that a bunker barge has arrived at the grounded bulker Shen Neng 1. Lightering of the oil on the Shen Neng 1 will commence after all pollution prevention measures are in place. A second media release stated that booms have been placed around the grounded vessel. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a notice on Navigation off the coast of Queensland, explaining the usual shipping routes, the planned route of the Shen Neng 1, and the vessel’s current position. (4/8/10).

New Zealand – customs guidance for vessel departures

The New Zealand Customs Service issued guidance reminders for commercial vessel departure and for cruise vessel departure. (4/8/10).

UK – investigation of tug capsizing

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued the report of its investigation into the loss of a tug in the Port of Peterhead on 14 June 2009. The tug had two fixed-pitch propellers fitted in Kort nozzles. It had been working on construction of a new berth and breakwater, but this day was assigned to act as stern tug for an arriving barge. The towline was deployed over the tug’s stern, but no bridle wire was rigged. As the lead tug increased speed, the skipper of the stern tug was unable to control the yawing. The stern tug took a large sheer to starboard, girted, and capsized. Investigation revealed that the tug company relied too heavily on individual knowledge and experience of its skippers and did not have a formal training program, nor did it assess the skippers’ knowledge and experience. Report No. 4/2010 (4/8/10).

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