Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 22 July 2010

Headlines: White House – Stewardship of the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes; DH Joint Investigation – Wednesday session cancelled; Gulf of Mexico – air quality measurements; FMC – July 28 meeting cancelled; MARAD – MARVIEW web site; USCG – meeting of Civil GPS Interface Committee; Court – Carmack Amendment case; and I’m back.

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.

White House – Stewardship of the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes

President Obama issued an Executive Order adopting the recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and establishing a National Ocean Council to coordinate activities of the federal agencies that impact the ocean, the coasts of the United States, and the Great Lakes of North America. Among other things, coastal and marine spatial plans will be developed to improve stewardship of these areas. 75 Fed. Reg. 43023 (July 22, 2010).

DH Joint Investigation – Wednesday session cancelled

The Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team issued a notice stating that its session scheduled to Wednesday, July 21, has been cancelled as the four Transocean witnesses scheduled to testify declined to voluntarily appear at the hearing. Because the witnesses do not reside within the current geographical jurisdiction (venue) of the joint investigation, the USCG/BOEM board cannot compel them to appear. The board will confer to determine a course of action. (7/20/10).

Gulf of Mexico – air quality measurements

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release stating that it measured the air quality above the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of the oil spill. Downwind, the measurements showed hydrocarbon concentrations to be much higher than normal. (7/21/10).

FMC – July 28 meeting cancelled

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a notice stating that its July meeting, previously scheduled for July 28, has been cancelled. (7/19/10).

MARAD – MARVIEW web site

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) established a web site – MARVIEW - an integrated data-driven environment providing essential information to support the strategic requirement of the U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) and its contribution to the economic viability of the Nation. (7/20/10).

USCG – meeting of Civil GPS Interface Committee

The US Coast Guard Navigation Center issued a notice stating that the 50th meeting of the Civil GPS Interface Committee (CGSIC) will be conducted September 20-21 in Portland, Oregon. (7/21/10).

Court – Carmack Amendment case

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit followed the recent Supreme Court ruling and abandoned its previous decisions, now holding that the Carmack Amendment does not apply to a shipment originating overseas under a single through bill of lading. Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance v. Ocean World Lines, No. 08-4324-cv (2nd Cir., July 20, 2010).

I’m back

Several of my long-suffering readers noticed that there were recent gaps in my newsletter distribution. My wife and I went to the Atlanta area to visit our grandsons, but have now returned. I refudiate all rumors that I have ceased publishing. (7/21/10).

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 – July 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution