Bryant’s Maritime Blog–13 January 2011

Headlines: FMC – special monitoring requirements for certain alliance agreements; USCG – report on 2008 loss of Alaska Ranger; Massachusetts – bulker and fishing vessel collide; Morgan City – pollution recovery operations begin; USCG – advance notice of arrival on the OCS; USCG – guidelines for US vessels operating in high-risk waters; CBP – quarterly interest rates; House – bill introduced re HMT; House – bill introduced to expand Gulf of the Farallones NMS; House – bill introduced to prohibit offshore leasing; ReCAAP – 2010 Annual Report; and Ireland – fog signals terminated.

January 13, 2011

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. Keep misbehaving.

FMC – special monitoring requirements for certain alliance agreements

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued an Order establishing special monitoring requirements for certain global alliance agreements. The Order requires the New World Alliance, the Grand Alliance, and the CKTH Alliance to provide the FMC with expanded monthly monitoring reports, in lieu of the previously required quarterly monitoring reports. The Alliances are also required to provide notice of planned changes in capacity, whether temporary or permanent in duration, when the planned change will have the effect of changing the pro forma weekly capacity for an individual string in the amount of 5% or more. (1/11/11).

USCG – report on 2008 loss of Alaska Ranger

The US Coast Guard released the report of its Formal Investigation into the loss of the uninspected fish processing vessel Alaska Ranger, which sank in the Bering Sea on 23 March 2008 with the loss of four lives and one person missing and presumed dead. The immediate cause of the casualty was found to be a breach in the watertight envelope of the hull and progressive flooding of the engine room and other spaces at the stern of the vessel. The exact initiating event that created the source of the flooding remains unknown, but was probably related to the vessel’s poor material condition and may have been related to the Kort nozzle struts which may have created excessive local stresses. The report also expresses concern that vessels involved in the commercial fishing industry remain uninspected while experiencing high casualty rates. (1/12/11).

Massachusetts – bulker and fishing vessel collide

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it responded to a collision in waters off Hull, Massachusetts between a bulk carrier and a fishing vessel. There have been no reports of injury or pollution, but the fishing vessel sustained extensive damage to its bow. The fishing vessel, with its three crewmembers has been towed safely to port. The incident is under investigation. (1/12/11).

Morgan City – pollution recovery operations begin

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it has commenced pollution recovery operations resulting from the April 2010 sinking of a Mobile Inland Drilling Unit (MIDU) in the Charenton Navigational Canal near Morgan City, Louisiana. Recovery operations are being funded by the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) after the company that had an approved salvage plan for the MIDU announced they were suspending operations. (1/11/11).

USCG – advance notice of arrival on the OCS

The US Coast Guard issued a final rule requiring floating facilities, mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs), and vessels planning to engage in OCS activities to submit an advance notice of arrival to the USCG National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) at least 96 hours prior to the expected arrival. The regulation comes into effect on February 14. 76 Fed. Reg. 2254 (January 13, 2011).

USCG – guidelines for US vessels operating in high-risk waters

The US Coast Guard issued a notice announcing release of Maritime Security (MARSEC) Directive 104-6 (Rev 5). This directive, which is designated Sensitive Security Information (SSI) and not subject to public release, only applies to US vessels subject to the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) on international voyages through or in designated high-risk waters. 76 Fed. Reg. 2402 (January 13, 2011).

CBP – quarterly interest rates

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a notice stating that, effective January 1, the interest rates for overpayments of customs duties will be 2% for corporations and 3% for non-corporations. The interest rate for underpayments will be 3%. 76 Fed. Reg. 2404 (January 13, 2011).

House – bill introduced re HMT

Representative Boustany (R-LA) introduced the Realize America’s Maritime Promise Act (RAMP Act) (H.R. 104) to ensure that amounts credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used for harbor maintenance. (1/5/11).

House – bill introduced to expand Gulf of the Farallones NMS

Representative Woolsey (D-CA) introduced a bill (H.R. 192) to expand the boundaries of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and for other purposes. (1/5/11).

House – bill introduced to prohibit offshore leasing

Representative Pallone (D-NJ) introduced a bill (H.R. 261) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the leasing of any area of the outer Continental Shelf for the exploration, development, or production of oil, gas, or any other mineral. Official text of the bill is not yet available. (1/11/10).

ReCAAP – 2010 Annual Report

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre published its Annual Report for 2010. It states that incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia reported to ReCAAP during 2010 totaled 164 (consisting of 133 actual incidents and 31 attempted incidents). This is a 60% increase over 2009, when 102 total incidents (82 actual and 20 attempted) were reported. (1/12/11).

Ireland – fog signals terminated

The Commissioners of Irish Lights issued a news release stating that, effective January 11, their last nine remaining fog signals will no longer operate. The Commissioners have been closing fog signals on a case-by-case basis for over 20 years. Fog signals will no longer be considered an aid to navigation. (1/11/11). Note: While I agree that most mariners rely on electronic aids most of the time, the lowly fog signal was an aid of last resort. Now they are taking that away. Sad!

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 – January 2011

Redistribution permitted with attribution