Bryant's Maritime Blog: Bryant’s Maritime Blog

Headlines: Joint Investigation – Day 4 of Session 5; DOI – first OCS wind energy lease signed; Elizabeth River – oil spill from ship recycling facility; and nautical charts from the US Civil War.

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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?

Joint Investigation – Day 4 of Session 5

The US Coast Guard and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Joint Investigation into circumstances surrounding the explosion, fire, and sinking of the MODU Deepwater Horizon issued a news release stating that it completed Day 4 of Session 5 of its public hearings. Mr. Daniel Oldfather of Weatherford provided information regarding centralizers. Mr. Greg Walz of BP provided information on well design and decision-making. Mr. John Guide of BP provided information on handwritten notes regarding negative tests, organizational decision-making, and safety culture. (10/7/10). Note: Again, the hearing was not available on the internet.

DOI – first OCS wind energy lease signed

The Department of the Interior (DOI) issued a news release stating that Secretary Salazar signed the first US outer continental shelf wind energy lease with Cape Wind Associates, LLC. The lease provides for 130 wind turbines to be constructed and operated in Nantucket Sound. The turbines are expected to produce an average of 182 megawatts. (10/6/10).

Elizabeth River – oil spill from ship recycling facility

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it is responding to an oil spill into the Elizabeth River near Portsmouth, Virginia. Approximately 1,000 gallons of oil leaked from a ship being dismantled at a ship recycling facility. (10/7/10).

NOAA – nautical charts from the US Civil War

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release stating that it has compiled a collection of nautical charts, reports, and maps prepared by the Coast Survey for Union Forces during the US Civil War. (10/7/10).