Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 21 May 2010

Headlines: White House – National Maritime Day; EU – European Maritime Day; Gulf of Mexico oil spill – Admiral Thad Allen to stay on as National Incident Commander; Gulf of Mexico oil spill – operational update; EPA – dispersant use; North Pacific – USCG monitors barge that lost its tow; FMC – notice of public meeting schedule; House – ports and waterways security bill introduced; EU – call for ratification of the Rotterdam Rules; EMSA – Marine Accident Review 2009; Norway – report on grounding; and UK – a guide to human behavior in the shipping industry.

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White House – National Maritime Day

The White House issued the Presidential Proclamation declaring May 20 as National Maritime Day, recognizing the importance of merchant ships and seafarers to the US economic and national security. (5/20/10).

EU – European Maritime Day

The European Union (EU) Committee of the Regions (CoR) issued a press release noting that May 20 is European Maritime Day. The CoR called for increased efforts to safeguard and protect the environmental, economic, biological, and cultural wealth of the seas. The European Presidency issued a press release stating that the EU Council of Ministers intend to create a financial instrument to develop a comprehensive maritime policy and to promote inclusion of a maritime aspect in EU security and defense policies. (5/20/10).

Gulf of Mexico oil spill – Admiral Thad Allen to stay on as National Incident Commander

The Unified Command issued a news release stating that Admiral Thad Allen will stay on as the National Incident Commander for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill after he steps down next week from his position as Commandant of the US Coast Guard. (5/20/10).

Gulf of Mexico oil spill – operational update

The Unified Command issued an Update regarding efforts to control the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil leak and to respond to the oil that has entered the water. Controlled burns of surface oil were conducted for the third consecutive day. To date, more than 7.65 million gallons of oily water have been recovered. (5/20/10).

EPA – dispersant use

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a news release stating that addressing use of dispersants on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Such use is to be continuously monitored to ensure that the benefits outweigh any negative impacts. (5/20/10).

North Pacific – USCG monitors barge that lost its tow

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it is monitoring the situation in the North Pacific off the mouth of the Columbia River where a barge lost its tow during a storm. The tug eventually retrieved the barge using an Orville Hook. The barge, containing approximately 700,000 pounds of construction material and 400 gallons of diesel fuel, remains offshore under control of the tug. (5/20/10).

FMC – notice of public meeting schedule

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued an official notice providing the schedule for the May 24 public meeting regarding NVOCC negotiated rate arrangements. 75 Fed. Reg. 28516 (May 21, 2010).

House – ports and waterways security bill introduced

Representative Thompson (D-MS) introduced a bill (H.R. 5346) to enhance homeland security in the ports and waterways of the United States, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill is not yet available. (5/19/10).

EU – call for ratification of the Rotterdam Rules

The European Parliament posted a Report on strategic goals and recommendations of the EU’s maritime transport policy until 2018. Among other things, the report calls on “Member States speedily to sign, ratify and implement the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea, known as the ‘Rotterdam Rules’, establishing the new maritime liability system. (5/5/10).

EMSA – Marine Accident Review 2009

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) posted its Marine Accident Review 2009. Decreases over the previous year were recorded both for the number of ships involved in accidents and for loss of life. The incidents of accidental pollution reached its lowest level since the EMSA began recording comparable data four years ago. The incidents of deliberate pollution were also down significantly. (5/20/10). Note: This item was brought to my attention by my good friend John Cartner of Cartner & Fiske.

Norway – report on grounding

The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) released the Report of its joint investigation with the Bahamas Maritime Authority of the grounding of a cargo ship in the Oslo Fjord on 19 November 2008. The grounding occurred when the ship failed to make a planned turn. The primary cause of the failure to make the turn was determined to be fatigue on the part of the pilot. In addition, the navigation officer was distracted with other duties. (5/20/10).

UK – a guide to human behavior in the shipping industry

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), working with maritime industry partners, has produced The Human Element – A guide to human behavior in the shipping industry. It explains how human behavior lies at the center of both the profits and the losses of the shipping industry – and what companies can do about it. (5/20/10).

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 – May 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution