Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 4 May 2010

Headlines: Indian Ocean – suspected pirate mother ship destroyed; Somali Basin – suspected pirate mother ship destroyed; Indonesia – chemical tanker boarded and robbed; Sector Mobile – waterway status; Gulf of Mexico oil spill – claims procedure; MMS-USCG – safety alert re well control equipment; NOAA – fishing closed in oil-affected waters; Florida – agencies prepare for possible spill response; Corpus Christi – chief engineer pleads guilty; Nantucket Sound – Cape Wind Energy Project EA; St. Marys River – temporary safety zones; HOGANSAC meeting; St. Lawrence Seaway – maximum permissible draft; Senate – bill introduced re election to terminate certain CCFs; and UK – international long-range rescue.

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Indian Ocean – suspected pirate mother ship destroyed

The EU Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) issued a press release stating that one of its warships intercepted a suspected pirate mother ship and two skiffs in the Indian Ocean approximately 450 nautical miles east of Somalia. The eleven individuals on the vessels were taken on board the warship. The mother ship was destroyed. (5/1/10).

Somali Basin – suspected pirate mother ship destroyed

The EU Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) issued a press release stating that one of its warships intercepted a suspected pirate mother ship and a skiff in the Somali Basin between Somalia and the Seychelles. The nine individuals on the vessels were taken on board the warship. The mother ship was destroyed. (5/2/10).

Indonesia – chemical tanker boarded and robbed

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an Incident Alert stating that a chemical tanker anchored in the Port of Anyer, Java, Indonesia, was boarded at night by six robbers armed with knives. They came aboard from a small boat using ropes and grapnel hooks. The robbers threatened the watchstanders before stealing some engine spare parts. (5/2/10).

Sector Mobile – waterway status

USCG Sector Mobile issued a bulletin providing the status of waterways within the sector. The condition of all ports is currently normal. Transit restriction may occur in smaller passes due to booming. Vessels are highly encouraged to avoid spill areas. Such avoidance will reduce the need to decontaminate the hull prior to port entry. Decontamination sites are being established within the sector. MSIB 2-10 (5/3/10). Note: Another reason to avoid spill areas is the possibility of ingesting oil through the sea chest, contaminating cooling water, etc.

Gulf of Mexico oil spill – claims procedure

The Unified Command released a Fact Sheet addressing the procedures for presenting claims to BP for loss and damage caused by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (5/3/10).

MMS-USCG – safety alert re well control equipment

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) and the Coast Guard issued a joint safety alert recommending the operators and drilling contractors of offshore facilities examine all well control equipment (both surface and subsea), review all rig drilling/casing/completion practices, and take other steps to reduce the risk of a casualty or accident. (4/30/10).

NOAA – fishing closed in oil-affected waters

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release stating that it is restricting fishing for a minimum of ten days in federal waters most affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (5/2/10).

Florida – agencies prepare for possible spill response

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that Sector St. Petersburg and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection are actively preparing for possible marine pollution effects from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (5/3/10).

Corpus Christi – chief engineer pleads guilty

The Department of Justice belatedly posted a news release stating that the chief engineer of a bulk carrier pleaded guilty in federal court in Corpus Christi to failure to keep an accurate oil record book (ORB) and to obstruction of justice by providing USCG inspectors with a false sounding log and by altering a center fuel tank by installing a dummy sounding tube. (4/22/10).

Nantucket Sound – Cape Wind Energy Project EA

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) issued a notice announcing the availability of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Finding of No New Significant Impact (FONNSI) for the Cape Wind Energy Project planned for Nantucket Sound, offshore Massachusetts. 75 Fed. Reg. 23798 (May 4, 2010).

St. Marys River – temporary safety zones

The US Coast Guard has established, through August 31, four temporary safety zones on waters of the St. Marys River in the vicinity of the downstream approach to the Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan locks. The US Army Corps of Engineers will be conducting blasting and dredging as part of the lock replacement project. 75 Fed. Reg. 23589 (May 4, 2010).

HOGANSAC – meeting

The Houston/Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee (HOGANSAC) and its working groups, sponsored by the US Coast Guard, will meet in the Galveston Bay area on May 25 and May 11 respectively to discuss waterway improvements, aids to navigation, area projects impacting safety on the Houston Ship Channel, and various other navigation safety matters. 75 Fed. Reg. 23793 (May 4, 2010).

St. Lawrence Seaway – maximum permissible draft

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System issued a notice stating that, effective May 7, the maximum permissible draft for ships in the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway will be reduced to 80.0 dm (26’-3”) with the exception of inland vessels greater than 185 m in OAL for which the maximum permissible draft will be 80.8 dm (26’-6”). Notice 9-2010 (4/30/10).

Senate – bill introduced re election to terminate of certain CCFs

Senator Wyden (D-OR) introduced a bill (S. 3276) to provide an election to terminate certain capital construction funds without penalties. Senator Wyden issued a press release explaining that, if enacted into law, the bill would allow commercial fishermen who had contributed to their Capital Construction Funds (CCFs) to make a one-time withdrawal without having to re-invest it in the fishing industry. (4/28/10).

UK – international long-range rescue

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a press notice stating that a cadet was medically evacuated from a tanker in the North Atlantic approximately 250 nautical miles off the west coast of Ireland. The master originally sought advice from the United States, but when it became apparent that the cadet was suffering from acute appendicitis, prompt medical evacuation became necessary. (5/2/10).

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