Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 7 June 2010

Headlines: White House – comments on Gulf of Mexico oil spill response; Unified Command – enhanced effort to collect/review response solutions; Joint Investigation – roadmap; USCG – update re salvage and marine firefighting plans; Arctic Ocean – evacuation of Russian scientists; CGSIC meeting; Canada – National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy; and Shock and Awe – June 7, 1968.

Bryant’s Maritime Consulting - 4845 SW 91^st Way - Gainesville, FL 32608-8135 - USA

Tel: 1-352-692-5493 – Email: dennis.l.bryant@gmail.com – Internet: http://brymar-consulting.com

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. Bringing chaos out of order.

White House – comments on Gulf of Mexico oil spill response

The White House released President Obama’s Weekly Address. His comments were focused on the government’s response to the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (6/5/10).

Unified Command – enhanced effort to collect/review response solutions

The Unified Command issued a news release announcing an enhanced effort to collect and review oil spill response solutions from scientists, vendors, and the general public. A Broad Agency Announcement has been posted on FedBizOpps calling for submission of white papers that cover: oil sensing improvements to response and detection; oil wellhead control and submerged oil response; traditional oil spill response technologies; alternative oil spill response technologies; and oil spill damage assessment and restoration. (6/4/10).

Joint Investigation – roadmap

The USCG-MMS Joint Investigation released its Roadmap for determining the causes of the Deepwater Horizon casualty and improving the safety net for MODUs operating on the US outer continental shelf (OCS). (6/4/10).

USCG – update re salvage and marine firefighting plans

The US Coast Guard issued a revised set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) relating to salvage and marine firefighting plans for inclusion in oil spill response plans for vessels (VRP). VRPs with salvage and marine firefighting (SMFF) updates may be submitted to the Coast Guard as early as September 1, 2010 and the updated plans must be in place by February 22, 2011. Among other things, the SMFF update must include a pre-fire plan, addressing such things as training, fire safety practices, alarms, and firefighting procedures. The FAQ also acknowledges several errors in the current rules, which will be corrected in the near future. (6/4/10).

Arctic Ocean – evacuation of Russian scientists

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it is monitoring and available to assist if necessary in the evacuation of a team of 15 scientists from the Russian research Station North Pole 37. This is a temporary station located on floating ice in the Arctic Ocean about 550 miles northeast of Barrow, Alaska. A Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker has been sent from Murmansk to carry out the evacuation. The research station was intended to operate until September, but the ice became unsafe. (6/4/10).

CGSIC – meeting

The US Coast Guard Navigation Center issued a Notice stating that the 50th meeting of the Civil GPS Service Interface Committee (CGSIC) will be held in Portland, Oregon on September 20-21. (6/4/10).

Canada – National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy

The Canadian Ministry of National Defence issued a news release announcing Canada’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. One shipyard will be selected for construction of large (1,000 tonnes displacement or larger) combatant vessels and Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships. Another shipyard will be selected for construction of large non-combat vessels (such as the Joint Support Ship). Other shipyards may be engaged in building and support of smaller government vessels. (6/3/10).

Shock & Awe – June 7, 1968

I was in a state of shock and awe on June 7, 1968, when Clara, the love of my life, agreed to marry me. The ceremony took place in the Memorial Chapel at the US Coast Guard Academy, where we repeated our vows 30 years later. After 42 years, I still cannot believe my good fortune.

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 – June 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution