Friday, November 12, 2010

Bryant’s Maritime Blog–12 November 2010

Headlines: CRS – report on DHS FY2011 appropriations; DOI – OIG report on deepwater drilling moratorium; San Diego – disabled s\cruise ship arrives in port; Great Lakes – buoy retrieval commences; OSHA – meeting re classification and labeling of chemicals; OSHA – meeting re working-walking surfaces and fall protection systems; NOAA – PEIS for recovery of Hawaiian monk seals; UN – warships alone will not end piracy; Indian Ocean – pirates hijack chemical tanker; Somali Basin – yachtsman safe after refusing to cooperate with pirates; NATO – WaterSide Security Conference; and Yarmouth Castle fire and sinking – 13 November 1965.

November 12, 2010

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Bryant’s Maritime Consulting - 4845 SW 91st 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. He who is lost, hesitates.

CRS – report on DHS FY2011 appropriations

clip_image004 The Congressional Research Service (CRS) issued a report on the FY2011 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The annual appropriations bill for this fiscal year has yet to be enacted into law. Thus, the Department (like many others) is operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) until at least December 3. The Administration has requested an appropriation of $45 billion for DHS, including $9.81 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and $9.87 billion for the Coast Guard. The budget details are illuminating. Funding for the International Cargo Screening (ICS) program would be reduced from $162 million in FY2010 to $84 million. Currently, 100% of the US-bound maritime containers being loaded at the pilot ports of Southampton (UK), Qasim (Pakistan), and Puerto Cortes (Honduras) are subject to an integrated scan (image and radiation detection) prior to loading. The program is also being implemented at the ports of Busan (South Korea) and Salalah (Oman). Under the budget proposal, scanning at the ports of Southampton, Puerto Cortes, and Busan would be limited to high-risk containers. In addition, physical operations at 54 of the 58 Container Security Initiative (CSI) ports would be phased out. Instead, targeting and selection of high-risk containers at these ports would be done at the National Targeting Center-Cargo (NTC-C) facility in the United States. Funding for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) would be reduced from $63 million to $50 million. The report expresses concern over funding for the Coast Guard’s marine safety and environmental protection programs and for management of the Rescue-21 program. R41189 (10/13/10).

DOI – OIG report on deepwater drilling moratorium

clip_image006 The Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued its Report of Investigation into circumstances surrounding the federal moratorium on deepwater drilling. The report states that senior DOI officials, in an effort to justify their decision to impose a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, misrepresented that the moratorium was reviewed and supported by a group of scientists and industry experts. When the experts expressed concern regarding the representation, the DOI officials promptly issued an apology. White House review of the draft document was also a factor in the misleading statements supporting the moratorium. (11/9/10).

San Diego – disabled cruise ship arrives in port

clip_image008 The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that two ocean-going tugs are towing the disabled cruise ship Carnival Splendor to San Diego, where passengers will be disembarked and the ship will undergo repairs. The ship lost power after a fire in the engine room on November 8. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan helped resupply the ship with nonperishable food and water. The Coast Guard also issued a photo/video release. The incident is under investigation. A subsequent news release states that the cruise ship has safely moored in San Diego. (11/11/10).

Great Lakes – buoy retrieval commences

clip_image008[1] The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that, in anticipation of the ice season, it has commenced the annual retrieval of navigation buoys on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. (11/10/10).

OSHA – meeting re classification and labeling of chemicals

clip_image010 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a notice stating that it will conduct a meeting in Washington, DC on November 30 in preparation for the 20th session of the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS). 75 Fed. Reg. 69472 (November 12, 2010).

OSHA – meeting re walking-working surfaces and fall protection systems

clip_image011 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a notice stating that it will conduct a meeting in Washington, DC on January 18, 2011 to receive testimony and documentary evidence on the Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems) proposed rule. Text of extended testimony and all documentary evidence must be submitted by December 21. The proposed rule is intended to update, revise, and reorganize the standards on walking-working surfaces and to add personal fall protection systems to the Personal Protective Equipment standard. 75 Fed. Reg. 69369 (November 12, 2010).

NOAA – PEIS for recovery of Hawaiian monk seals

clip_image013 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a notice stating that it intends to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on Recovery Actions for Hawaiian monk seals. Public comments should be submitted by November 30. 75 Fed. Reg. 69398 (November 12, 2010).

UN – warships alone will not end piracy

clip_image015 The United Nations (UN) issued a news release stating that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon submitted a report to the Security Council advising that warships alone will not end piracy in waters off Somalia. The world must fight this battle on the broadest front, focusing simultaneously on deterrence, security, and the rule of law, as well as providing economic alternatives for Somali youth. As long as piracy is so lucrative, with ransom payments adding up to tens if not millions of dollars, and other economic options so bleak, the incentives are obvious. The Security Council issued a separate news release reporting on its meeting on the problem of piracy. (11/9/10). Note: This item was brought to my attention by my good friend John Bennett of Maritime Protective Services.

Indian Ocean – pirates hijack chemical tanker

clip_image017 The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that pirates have hijacked the chemical tanker Hannibal II in the Indian Ocean 860 miles east of the Horn of Africa. The ship has a crew of 31 and is carrying a cargo of vegetable oil. (11/11/10).

Somali Basin – yachtsman safe after refusing to cooperate with pirates

clip_image017[1] The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that a South African yachtsman is safe after refusing to cooperate with Somali pirates. Pirates had hijacked the yacht and taken the yachtsman and the crew of two hostage. An EU NAVFOR warship approached the yacht when it was observed sailing suspiciously close to shore. The pirates fired on a boarding party from the warship, which then remained in the vicinity. The yacht eventually ran aground. The pirates attempted to take the three individuals ashore, but the skipper refused to cooperate. The pirates went ashore, taking the two crew members as hostages. The skipper was then taken aboard the warship. (11/8/10).

NATO – WaterSide Security Conference

clip_image019 The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) issued a news release stating that its second WaterSide Security (WSS) Conference was held in Marina di Carrara, Italy on November 3-5. It was attended by more than 120 maritime security professionals. (11/10/10).

Yarmouth Castle fire and sinking – 13 November 1965

clip_image021 The passenger ship SS Yarmouth Castle caught fire and sank on November 13, 1965 while en route from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas. Of the 376 passengers and 176 crew on board, 88 passengers and two crew died. The ship was built in 1927 with a wooden superstructure. Wood and other flammable materials were used throughout the ship. As the US Coast Guard investigation noted, the foreign-flag vessel was not subject to USCG inspection. Passenger ship construction standards were subsequently strengthened and US law was amended to provide for examination by the Coast Guard of foreign passenger vessels embarking passengers in a US port to ensure compliance with international standards.

If you have questions regarding the above items, please contact the editor:

Dennis L. Bryant

Bryant’s Maritime Consulting

4845 SW 91st Way
Gainesville, FL 32608-8135

USA

1-352-692-5493
dennis.l.bryant@gmail.com

http://brymar-consulting.com

© Dennis L. Bryant – November 2010

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