Friday, November 5, 2010

Bryant’s Maritime Blog–5 November 2010

Headlines: National Commission – draft partial findings; DOJ – company sentenced to $1.75 million fine for knowing discharges; Detroit – jail term for making false distress call; FERC – Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project; OFAC – information re Somali SDNs; EU NAVFOR – surveillance and disruption of pirates; Somali Basin – two pirate action groups disrupted; Somali Basin – pirate vessel destroyed; EMSA – November newsletter; India – accession to Wreck Removal Convention; and Back to standard time – Sunday, November 7, 2010.

November 5, 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.

National Commission – draft partial findings

clip_image004 The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling posted draft partial findings prepared by its staff stating, among other things, that the national interest requires continuation and expansion of a strong offshore drilling program, but one with a better balancing of risk and with greater safety protections for human life, the environment, and the economy. (11/1/10).

DOJ – company sentenced to $1.75 million fine for knowing discharges

clip_image006 The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a new release stating that a ship operator was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $1.75 million and to remit a payment of $350,000 as community service after pleading guilty to knowingly discharging oil from one of its ships in Antarctic waters, bypassing the oily water separator. The company was also placed on probation for three years, during which time it will be required to operate under an environmental compliance plan. (11/4/10).

Detroit – jail term for making false distress call

clip_image006[1] The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that a Detroit man was convicted in federal court of making a false distress call to the Coast Guard as part of a scheme to fake his own death. Coast Guard rescue crews were diverted from actual response calls to answer this one. The individual was sentenced to 18 months incarceration, supervised release for three years, a special assessment of $100, and was ordered to pay $14,302 in restitution to the Coast Guard. (11/3/10).

FERC – Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project

clip_image008 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a notice stating that it intends to prepare an environmental assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project. Under the proposal, a plant would be constructed and operated in Cameron County, Louisiana for liquefaction and export of natural gas. Comments on this proposed project should be submitted by November 29. 75 Fed. Reg. 68347 (November 5, 2010).

OFAC – information re Somali SDNs

clip_image010 The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) posted a document, updated September 22, 2010, providing information regarding Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) listed in accordance with E.O. 13536 relating to terrorist activity in Somalia. Four of the listed individuals (Abshir Abdullahi “Boyah”; Mohamed Abdi Garaad; Farer Mohammed Mana’a; and Mohamed Sa’id “Atom”) are, according to the document, associated with piracy and/or arms shipments by boat to Somalia. (11/3/10). Note: This item was brought to my attention by my good friend Allen Black of Winston & Strawn LLP.

EU NAVFOR – surveillance and disruption of pirates

clip_image012 The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that it conducts surveillance of sensitive areas to detect the presence of suspected pirates. Friendly approaches are made to non-suspicious vessels, while suspicious vessels are investigated. Commercial maritime traffic is monitored. (11/4/10).

Somali Basin – two pirate action groups disrupted

clip_image012[1] The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that the warship SPS Galicia located and disrupted two pirate action groups in waters off the coast of Kenya. (11/4/10).

Somali Basin – pirate vessel destroyed

clip_image014 The UK Ministry of Defence issued a news release stating that the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel Fort Victoria, deployed in Somali Basin, located, boarded, and destroyed a pirate vessel found to be carrying assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Also found on board the whaler were two hand-held GPS receivers, three makeshift ladder sections, and four mobile phones. A small skiff was being towed astern. The whaler was destroyed. The nine suspected pirates were placed on the skiff and provided with oars so as to reach shore. (11/3/10).

EMSA – November newsletter

clip_image016 The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) posted its November newsletter. This edition addresses, among other things, possible changes to the agency’s mission and the recent IMO audit of the EU’s LRIT Data Centre. (11/4/10).

India – accession to Wreck Removal Convention

clip_image018 The Indian Ministry of Shipping issued a press release stating that the Union Cabinet approved the proposal to accede to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007 and to proceed with the amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 which will become necessary, consequent to the accession of the said Convention. (11/4/10).

Back to standard time – Sunday, November 7, 2010

clip_image020 Long-suffering readers are reminded that, at 2:00 a.m., local time, on Sunday, November 7, the United States goes back to standard time (from GMT-4 to GMT-5 for the Eastern Time Zone). Many nations observe daylight saving time during their summer season, but the dates for conversion between standard time and daylight saving time are not uniform and can lead to confusion, so be careful.

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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