Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Bryant’s Maritime Blog–30 November 2010

Headlines: Somali Basin – pirates hijack container ship; Indian Ocean – pirate attack off west coast of India; Indian Ocean – pirates attacking further east; DOJ – Somali sentenced for attack against USN warship; USCG – electronic versions of navigation publications onboard US vessels; Houston-Galveston – advance notice of LNG transfers; Port Canaveral – grounded barge refloated; Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – safety zone; Calumet River – safety zone for movie filming; and UK – engine room fire on ferry.

November 30, 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.

Somali Basin – pirates hijack container ship

clip_image004 The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that pirates have hijacked the container ship Albedo with its crew of 23 in the Somali Basin approximately 900 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. Including the Albedo, pirates are now holding 22 vessels with 521 hostages. (11/29/10).

Indian Ocean – pirate attack off west coast of India

clip_image004[1] The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an Incident Alert stating that the crude oil tanker Guru Gobind Singh was attacked by suspected Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean approximately 336 nautical miles west of Mormugao (Goa). The pirates fired at the tanker, causing minor damage. The master increased speed and undertook evasive maneuvers. Pirates broke off the attack. The pirates were operating from the previously hijacked MT Polar, now being used as a mothership. (11/25/10).

Indian Ocean – pirates attacking further east

clip_image005 The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that the freighter Medi Chennai utilized best management practices to evade an attempted hijacking by pirates in the Indian Ocean approximately 880 nautical miles east of Port Victoria, Seychelles. This attack is the furthest east of any reported attack by suspected Somali pirates and getting worryingly close to the Chagos Archipelago, home of Diego Garcia. (11/26/10).

DOJ – Somali sentenced for attack against USN warship

clip_image007 clip_image005[1] The Department of Justice issued a news release stating that a Somali citizen, detained in the Indian Ocean following an attack on the USS Ashland on April 10, 2010, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. On August 6, he pled guilty to attacking to plunder a vessel, engaging in an act of violence against persons on a vessel, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. In a separate case, the Somali pled guilty to an attack on a merchant vessel in November 2008. In that case, the parties agreed to a 25 year sentence. (11/29/10).

USCG – electronic versions of navigation publications onboard US vessels

clip_image009 The US Coast Guard issued a Policy Letter regarding electronic versions of navigation publications onboard US vessels. It provides that, pending future regulatory guidance, US vessels may maintain required navigation publications (such as the Light List and Coast Pilot) in an electronic format on the vessel so long as it is reasonably accessible to the crew. A back-up copy must also be maintained on the vessel. “Publications”, as defined in this policy, does not include nautical charts. (11/26/10).

Houston-Galveston – advance notice of LNG transfers

clip_image009[1] The USCG Sector Houston-Galveston issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin requiring all waterfront facilities within the Sector to notify the Captain of the Port (COTP) at least four (4) hours in advance of transfers of cargo involving liquefied natural gas (LNG). MSIB 16-10 (11/15/10).

Port Canaveral – grounded barge refloated

clip_image009[2] The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that a 144-foot long barge broke free from its tow and grounded near the entrance to Port Canaveral. The barge was subsequently refloated. There were no reports of injury or pollution. The incident is under investigation. (11/29/10).

Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – safety zone

clip_image010 clip_image012 The US Coast Guard issued a notice stating that it will enforce the safety zone on the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal from Mile Marker 296.1 to Mile Marker 296.7 daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on December 6 through December 11 and from December 13 through December 18. This action is necessary to protect mariners from hazards associated with the US Army Corps of Engineers’ startup testing of the new dispersal barrier IIB, which is intended to help control the spread of aquatic nuisance species that have the potential of devastating the waters of the Great Lakes. 75 Fed. Reg. 73966 (November 30, 2010).

Calumet River – safety zone for movie filming

clip_image013 The US Coast Guard issued a temporary final rule restricting vessels from a portion of the Calumet River near Chicago between 7:00 a.m. on December 11 through 7:00 a.m. on December 12. This closure is intended to restrict vessel traffic due to filming of a movie involving high speed boat chases and other dangerous stunts on the water. 75 Fed. Reg. 73960 (November 30, 2010).

UK – engine room fire on ferry

clip_image015 The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a press notice stating that two lifeboats were dispatched after the ferry Stena Pioneer, with 46 people on board, reported a fire in the engine room while the vessel was 12 miles offshore. The fire was extinguished and the ferry safely berthed at Fleetwood. (11/27/10).

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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