Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 15 October 2010

Headlines: Unified Command – seventh bill submitted to responsible parties; Hampton Roads – search for missing Coast Guardsman; Fort Lauderdale – Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise course; BOEMRE – safety and environmental management systems; BOEMRE – Chukchi Sea Planning Area lease sale; DOL – LHWCA and recreational vessels; PHMSA – meeting re transport of dangerous goods; NOAA – IOOS proposed certification design process; MPAAC – meeting; EAB – meeting; House – bill introduced to improve oil spill preparedness; Indian Ocean – BMP allows ships to evade pirate attacks; EU NAVFOR – meeting with maritime representatives; and UK – truck drivers convicted of failure to declare dangerous goods.

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. Isn’t it quiet around the house when the goldfish dies?

Unified Command – seventh bill submitted to responsible parties

The Unified Command issued a news release stating that the Administration has submitted its seventh bill for response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, in the amount of $62.6 million, to the responsible parties. The first six bills, totaling $518.4 million, have been fully paid. (10/14/10).

Hampton Roads – search for missing Coast Guardsman

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it and local agencies are searching for a Coast Guardsman who fell overboard from a Maritime Security Response Team small boat during tactical boat operations in Hampton Roads near the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel. A second news release states that the body of the Coast Guardsman has bee recovered. (10/14/10).

Fort Lauderdale – Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise course

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that its Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise will convene the six-day Advanced Foreign Passenger Vessel Examination course in Dania, Florida on October 14. The Center increases competencies in all aspects of the cruise shipping industry, with particular emphasis on foreign passenger vessel safety standards. (10/14/10).

BOEMRE – safety and environmental management systems

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) issued its final rule requiring operators to develop and implement Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) for oil and gas and sulphur operations on the US outer continental shelf (OCS). The rule comes into effect on November 15. 75 Fed. Reg. 63609 (October 15, 2010).

BOEMRE – Chukchi Sea Planning Area lease sale

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) is seeking comments on the draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Chukchi Sea Planning Area lease sale. Public meetings will be held in Kotzebue (November 1); Point Hope (November 2); Point Lay (November 3); Wainwright (November 4); Barrow (November 5); and Anchorage (November 9). Written comments should be submitted by November 29. 75 Fed. Reg. 63504 (October 15, 2010).

DOL – LHWCA and recreational vessels

The Department of Labor is extending, through November 17, the period within which to submit comments on its proposed rule implementing recent amendments to the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) relating to exclusion of certain recreational-vessel workers from the LHWCA’s definition of “employee”. 75 Fed. Reg. 63425 (October 15, 2010).

PHMSA – meeting re transport of dangerous goods

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a notice stating that it will conduct a meeting in Washington, DC on November 17 in preparation for the upcoming session of the United Nations Sub-Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. 75 Fed. Reg. 63534 (October 15, 2010).

NOAA – IOOS proposed certification design process

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking comments on the proposed certification design process to develop standards for non-federal assets, including regional information coordination entities, to establish eligibility for integration into the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). Comments should be submitted by November 15. 75 Fed. Reg. 63441 (October 15, 2010).

MPAAC – meeting

The Marine Protected Areas Advisory Committee (MPAAC), sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will meet in Santa Barbara on November 2-3. 75 Fed. Reg. 63443 (October 15, 2010).

EAB – meeting

The Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board (EAB), sponsored by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), will meet in Coral Gables on October 29. Topics on the agenda include long-term ecosystem recovery in the Gulf of Mexico, sea level rise in south Florida, and the progress and status of south Florida ecosystem restoration. 75 Fed. Reg. 63449 (October 15, 2010).

House – bill introduced to improve oil spill preparedness

Representative Richardson (D-CA) introduced the Securing Health for Ocean Resources and Environment (SHORE) Act (H.R. 6292) to improve the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Coast Guard, and coastal States to sustain healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems by maintaining and sustaining their capabilities relating to oil spill preparedness, prevention, response, restoration, and research, and for other purposes. (9/29/10).

Indian Ocean – BMP allows ships to evade pirate attacks

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that over a period of 15 days, three merchant ships were able to evade pirate attacks through use of best management practices (BMP), including increased speed and evasive maneuvers. (10/14/10).

EU NAVFOR – meeting with maritime representatives

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that, on October 14, it hosted a meeting with maritime representatives at its operational headquarters in Northwood, UK. The meeting focused on challenges facing masters of vessels transiting pirate waters and on possible ways to improve the military’s support to merchant vessels. The representatives were advised that there will never be enough warships to blanket the high risk waters off Somalia. Ships should consider self-defense as their only defense and implement the best management practices (BMP). (10/14/10).

UK – truck drivers convicted of failure to declare dangerous goods

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a press notice stating that two truck drivers pleaded guilty to failing to declare dangerous goods when boarding a cross-Channel ferry. They were sentenced to conditional probation for a period of two years and assessed court costs of £1,500 each. (10/13/10).

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 – October 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution