Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 10 September 2010

Headlines: Gulf of Aden – US Marines retake ship from pirates; Somalia – pirates release hijacked tanker; New Orleans – towing company and co-owner plead guilty; DOI – OCS Safety Board report; New York – oil spill response exercise; India – productivity rewards for port workers; UK – freight traffic up slightly; UK – “killer shrimp” found in UK for the first time; and Glenn J. Winuk – A Fallen American Hero.

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Gulf of Aden – US Marines retake ship from pirates

The US Navy issued a news release stating that 24 Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force (MRF) aboard the USS Dubuque (LPD 8) operating under Combined Task Force 151 boarded and seized control of a foreign freighter that had been boarded and seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden the day before. Control of the ship has been returned to the crew, who are unharmed. The nine pirates are under the control of CTF 151, awaiting further disposition. (9/9/10). Note: This wasn’t quite the “Shores of Tripoli”, but close enough. BZ!

Somalia – pirates release hijacked tanker

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that pirates in Garacad, Somalia have released the chemical product tanker Panega and its crew of 15. The vessel was hijacked on May 11 in the Gulf of Aden. (9/9/10).

New Orleans – towing company and co-owner plead guilty

The Department of Justice issued a news release stating that the DRD Towing Company and one of its co-owners pled guilty in federal court. The towing company admitted violation of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The co-owner admitted obstruction of justice. The charges stemmed from the July 23, 2008 collision in the Mississippi River of the tanker Tintomara and a tank barge being pushed by the towboat Mel Oliver. The barge sank, discharging 282,686 gallons of oil. The operator of the towboat was not licensed. Additional details are contained in the Factual Basis underlying the pleas. (9/8/10).

DOI – OCS Safety Board report

The Department of the Interior (DOI) issued a news release stating that Secretary Ken Salazar fully supports the findings and recommendations in the report of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Safety Oversight Board. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has developed a plan for implementation of the recommendations to strengthen permitting, inspections, enforcement, and environmental stewardship. (9/8/10).

New York – oil spill response exercise

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that, in cooperation with Bouchard Transportation, it will conduct a joint oil spill response exercise in the Port of New York and New Jersey on Tuesday, September 14. (9/9/10).

India – productivity rewards for port workers

The Indian Ministry of Shipping issued a press release stating that the Central Government has approved payment of Productivity Linked Reward at 17.34% of the annual salary/wage to port workers/employees/officers for the year 2009-10. This will benefit about 61,000 port workers and officers. (9/9/10).

UK – freight traffic up slightly

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) issued a news release stating that freight traffic through UK ports was up 1% during the second quarter of 2010 as compared to the second quarter of 2009. (9/9/10).

UK – “killer shrimp” found in UK for the first time

The UK Environment Agency (EA) issued a news release stating that an invasive species of freshwater shrimp, commonly known as “killer shrimp”, has been found in the UK for the first time. The Dikerogammarus villosus, originally from Eastern Europe, is a voracious predator, killing a range of native species and crowding out competitors. (9/9/10).

Glenn J. Winuk – A Fallen American Hero

Tomorrow marks the ninth anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks in Manhattan, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. Approximately 3,000 people died as a result of those attacks. Most were dedicated firefighters and police in New York City and many were innocent victims who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. One, though, was a maritime lawyer who worked several blocks away from the World Trade Center. After the planes hit the Twin Towers and people started fleeing the area, Glenn J. Winuk, a volunteer firefighter in his hometown on Long Island, grabbed a response kit from a parked fire truck and went to the South Tower to render assistance to persons in need. His remains were identified months later through DNA analysis. He represents all that is good and true in Americans and deserves to be long-remembered. (9/10/10).

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 – September 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution