Bryant’s Maritime Blog–23 December 2010

Headlines: White House – Asian Carp Control Strategy; National Commission – final report due on January 11; BOEMRE – increased safety measures for OCS energy development; USCG – Shipboard Air Emission Reduction Technology Report; New York – safety zone around unexploded ordinance; USCG – salvage and marine firefighting requirements; House – bill introduced re oil spill judicial relief; Senate – MARAD Authorization bill reported out of committee; Wisconsin – proposal to adopt IMO ballast water standard; Gulf of Aden – pirates thwarted by razor wire; New Zealand – Safe Seas, Clean Seas; New Zealand – Look Out; and Singapore – amendments relating to IOPP Certificate and ORB.

December 23, 2010

Bryant’s Maritime Blog
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. When all else fails, SHOUT.

White House – Asian Carp Control Strategy

The White House released the 2011 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. As noted in the accompanying Summary, the Framework outlines a series of new projects to protect the Great Lakes from possible harmful effects of entry into those waters of the Asian carp. Among other things, the Task Force plans to develop alternate trap and net designs for Asian carp and to assess the impact of steel-hulled barges on the electric barriers. (12/15/10).

National Commission – final report due on January 11

The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling issued a news release stating that it plans to release its final report on January 11, 2011. (12/22/10).

BOEMRE – increased safety measures for OCS energy development

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) issued a notice stating that it is seeking comments on its Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis regarding Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf. Comments should be submitted by January 24, 2011. 75 Fed. Reg. 80717 (December 23, 2010).

USCG – Shipboard Air Emission Reduction Technology Report

The US Coast Guard issued a notice stating that it and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are commencing a study on Shipboard Air Emission Reduction Technology for cargo and passenger vessels that operate in US waters and ports. Plans call for a survey of new and existing technology and any impediments to implementation. Comments and information should be submitted January 18, 2011. 75 Fed. Reg. 80833 (December 23, 2010).

New York – safety zone around unexploded ordinance

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it has established a temporary safety zone in Gravesend Bay in the Port of New York to keep vessels away from unexploded ordinance recently discovered on the seabed southeast of the Brooklyn end of the Verrazano Bridge. (12/22/10).

USCG – salvage and marine firefighting requirements

Stakeholders are reminded that the Final Rule relating to salvage and marine firefighting requirements for vessel response plans (VRPs) for oil will come into effect on February 22, 2011.

House – bill introduced re oil spill judicial redress

Representative Markey (D-MA) introduced the Oil Spill Victims Redress Act (H.R. 6568) to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to facilitate the ability of persons affected by oil spills to seek judicial redress. (12/21/10).

Senate – MARAD Authorization bill reported out of committee

The Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (S. 3566), as amended, has been reported out of committee and is available for consideration by the full Senate. (12/21/10).

Wisconsin – proposal to adopt IMO ballast water standard

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) issued a news release stating that it is proposing to change its requirements regarding ballast water discharges for ocean-going ships. The proposed requirements would adopt those provided for by the IMO, but would require that ocean-going ships continue to flush their ballast tanks at sea. A Feasibility Report prepared for the concluded that there is no available technology that could meet the previous WDNR standard (100 times greater than that required by the IMO) and that there would be no effective means of testing a vessel’s ballast water discharge for compliance with the previous WDNR standard. (12/21/10).

Gulf of Aden – pirates thwarted by razor wire

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that an attempt by pirates to board the cargo ship Thor Nautilus in the Gulf of Aden was thwarted through use of best management practices. The pirates were unable to penetrate the razor wire that had been fitted to the sides of the ship. (12/22/10).

New Zealand – Safe Seas, Clean Seas

Maritime New Zealand posted the December 2010 edition of its marine safety and environmental protection publication Safe Seas, Clean Seas. (12/22/10).

New Zealand – Look Out

Maritime New Zealand posted the December 2010 edition of its marine accident prevention publication Look Out. (12/22/10).

Singapore – amendments relating to IOPP Certificate and ORB

The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular reminding mariners that the Singapore Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Oil) (Amendment) Regulations 2010, giving effect to MEPC Resolutions 186(59) and 187(59), come into effect on 1 January 2011. Among other things, these amendments make changes to the IOPP Certificate and to the Oil Record Book (ORB). Shipping Circular 22/2010 (12/21/10).

Holiday break

I will be taking a break from publication of the blog/newsletter in order to spend some time with my grandsons. In the meantime, be safe and enjoy your respite.

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 – December 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution