Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 12 August 2010

Headlines: NIC – fifth bill sent to responsible parties; MARAD – America’s Marine Highway grant availability; NOAA – coral reef conservation grant guidelines; NTSB – recommendations to USCG on use of cell phones; USCG – summary of Maritime Labour Convention, 2006; SLSDC – Milwaukee earns award for increase in tonnage; House – bill introduced to establish National Commission; Court – LHWCA “last exposure” rule; and Singapore – update on UN Security Council sanctions re Iran.

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. Please avoid interrupting me with facts.

NIC – fifth bill sent to responsible parties

The National Incident Command (NIC) issued a news release stating that it sent the fifth bill, totaling $167.9 million, to BP and other responsible parties for response and recovery operations relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (8/11/10).

MARAD – America’s Marine Highway grant availability

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued a notice stating that grant funding is available for projects under the America’s Marine Highway program. Eligible include new waterborne transportation services or expansions of existing services operating between US ports or between US ports and ports in Canada in the Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Seaway. Grant applications must be received by 5 pm ET, August 27. 75 Fed. Reg. 49017 (August 12, 2010). In conjunction with the Federal Register notice, MARAD issued a news release announcing the selection of marine highway corridors and an initial eight projects and six initiatives along with the corridors that will be eligible for federal assistance under the program.

NOAA – Coral reef conservation grant guidelines

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) posted its revised Grant Program Implementation Guidelines for the Coral Reef Conservation Program. The revised guidelines are effective immediately. 75 Fed. Reg. 48934 (August 12, 2010).

NTSB – recommendations to USCG on use of cell phones

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a news release stating that it has issued two recommendations to the US Coast Guard regarding use of cell phones and similar wireless devices while operating vessels. The NTSB is investigating two marine accidents (in Charleston and San Diego) where crewmembers on Coast Guard patrol boats involved in collisions had been using cellular telephones while underway to engage in text-messaging activities or conversations that were unrelated to vessel operations or the mission at hand. The NTSB recommends that the Coast Guard develop and implement national and local policies on use of cell phones and other wireless devices on its vessels. The NTSB also recommends that the Coast Guard issue a safety advisory to the marine community promoting awareness of the risk posed by use of cell phones and other wireless devices while operating vessels and encourage the voluntary development of operational policies to address the risk. The NTSB has not yet determined the probable causes of the accidents that it is currently investigating. (8/11/10). The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it issued guidance to its personnel on July 16 prohibiting use of these devices by operators of Coast Guard boats. It is reviewing the NTSB recommendations. (8/11/10).

USCG – summary of Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

On August 24, 2009, the US Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) hosted an informational meeting to discuss the content of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The Coast Guard has now made available its summary of the MLC 2006. (8/10/10).

SLSDC – Milwaukee earns award for increase in tonnage

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) issued a news release stating that the Robert L. Lewis Pacesetter Award has been presented to the Port of Milwaukee for its 22% increase in international tonnage during the 2009 navigation season. (8/11/10).

House – bill introduced to establish National Commission

Representative Cassidy (R-LA) introduced a bill (H.R. 6094) to establish the National Commission on Outer Continental Shelf Oil Spill Prevention. Official text of the bill is not yet available. (8/10/10).

Court – LHWCA “last exposure” rule

The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the award of benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). It found that the “last exposure” rule applied even though the insurer in this instance was a state entity standing in the place of a private insurance company that had become insolvent. Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association v. Director, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, No. 09-60509 (5th Cir., August 10, 2010).

Singapore – update on UN Security Council sanctions against Iran

The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular providing an update on United Nations (UN) Security Council economic sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran. (8/11/10).

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 – August 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution