Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Bryant’s Maritime Blog–22 February 2011

Headlines: EPA – plan to review regulations; DOT – ship recycling facility opens in Vallejo; San Pedro – bulker grounds, is refloated; USCG – 2011 Posture Statement; USCG FY 2012 Congressional Justification; Antitrust Division – MarineNet, LLC; House – bill introduced re coral reef conservation; Senate – bill introduced re OCS lessees; Senate – bill introduced re HMTF expenditures; California – air emissions from ocean-going ships; IMO – maintaining anti-piracy pressure; Gulf of Aden – fishing vessel believed hijacked; Ireland – International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft; Panama Canal – Customer Services Management System; Tokyo MOU – CIC results; UK – criminal charges for illegal export of electrical waste; UK – debate on wave power innovation; and Presidents’ Day – February 21, 2011.

February 22, 2011

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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. Remembering the future.

EPA – plan to review regulations

clip_image004 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a news release stating that it is seeking public input on a plan that will guide EPA’s retrospective reviews of its existing regulations. The goal is to determine whether the regulations should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed to make the agency’s regulatory program more effective and/or less burdensome in achieving its regulatory objectives. Comments should be submitted by March 20. (2/18/11).

DOT – ship recycling facility opens in Vallejo

clip_image006 The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a news release stating that the first ship recycling facility on the West Coast officially opened at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. (2/18/11).

San Pedro – bulker grounds, is refloated

clip_image008 The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that the bulk freighter that grounded off San Pedro has been refloated and towed to a moorage area. There have been no reports of injury or pollution. The incident is under investigation. (2/19/11).

USCG – 2011 Posture Statement

clip_image008[1] The USCG posted its 2011 Posture Statement, which includes the agency’s 2012 Budget in Brief, as well as an overview of Coast Guard programs and missions and its strategic priorities. (2/14/11). This item was brought to my attention by my good friend Norm Saunders.

USCG – FY 2012 Congressional Justification

clip_image009 The US Coast Guard posted its FY 2012 Congressional Justification. This 421-page document examines the budget request in excruciating detail. (2/14/11).

Antitrust Division – MarineNet, LLC

clip_image011 The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a notice stating that it received notification that MarineNet, LLC has been established a venture of ACL Transportation Services LLV; Ingram Barge Company; and AEP River Operations LLC for the purpose of researching, evaluating, testing, and developing a process or service to establish and support a platform for the electronic transfer of data between contracting river industry trading partners. 76 Fed. Reg. 9812 (February 22, 2011).

House – bill introduced re coral reef conservation

clip_image013 Delegate Bordallo (D-GU) introduced the Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments Act of 2011 (H.R. 738) to reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted. (2/16/11).

Senate – bill introduced re OCS lessees

clip_image015 Senator Nelson (D-FL) introduced a bill (S. 405) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to provide a requirement for certain lessees, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill is not yet available. (2/17/11).

Senate – bill introduced re HMTF expenditures

clip_image015[1] Senator Levin (D-MI) introduced a bill (S. 412) to ensure that amounts credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used for harbor maintenance. Official text of the bill is not yet available. Senator Levin issued a news release explaining the purpose of the legislation. (2/17/11).

California – air emissions from ocean-going ships

clip_image017 The California Air Resources Board (ARB) posted its presentation regarding air emission requirements for certain main engines, auxiliary engines, and auxiliary boilers for ocean-going ships, as well as use of the ISO 8178 fuel standard and proposed changes to the noncompliance fee provisions. Also posted are the Proposed 2011 Amendments to the California regulations relating to fuel sulfur and other operational requirements for ocean-going vessels within California waters and 24 nautical miles of the California baseline. (2/17/11). Note: The proposed amendments are in draft form and have yet to be approved. Once approved by the ARB, they will be officially published and opened for comment.

IMO – maintaining anti-piracy pressure

clip_image019 The IMO issued a news release stating that Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos and the Round Table of international shipping associations, OCIMF, and ITF are working to maintain anti-piracy pressure to address the escalating crisis of kidnap and ransom of seafarers off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden, in the Arabian Sea, and in the western Indian Ocean. (2/21/11).

Gulf of Aden – fishing vessel believed hijacked

clip_image021 The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that a Yemeni fishing vessel is believed to have been hijacked by pirates near Socotra Island in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel has a crew of eight. (2/18/11). Note: The general press is reporting that the US sailing yacht Quest, with four Americans on board, has been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Oman. The only official reference that I have located to date is a vague mention on a NATO site that “at 1323 UTC, 18 Feb 11, a Yacht was reported hijacked by pirates in position 18°00 N 061°02E.”

Ireland – International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft

clip_image023 The Irish Department of Transport (DoT) issued a notice advising that it has approved a number of organizations to issue on its behalf an International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (ICC). Resolution No. 40 of the Inland Transport Committee of the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Europe outlines the requirements for issue of an ICC. Some EU Member States require operators of pleasure craft operating within their territorial waters to be in possession of an ICC. Marine Notice No. 12/2011 (2/17/11).

Panama Canal – Customer Services Management System

clip_image025 The Panama Canal Authority issued an advisory stating that, on April 1, it will implement various processes of the Customer Services Management System (CSMS). The processes to be implemented are: (1) Transit Cost estimates – Proforma; (2) Service Complaints; (3) Customer Code; (4) Information Requests; and (5) Panama Canal Ship Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (PCSOPEP). As of April 1, all communication regarding the above processes shall be done through the CSMS. Advisory 03-2011 (2/21/11).

Tokyo MOU – CIC results

clip_image027 The Tokyo MOU issued a press release stating that it undertook a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on harmful substances carried in packaged form during the period September through November 2010. During this period, 589 ships were either carrying or loading covered substances. Ten detentions were recorded, as well as numerous less serious deficiencies. The most common problem areas noted were documentation (58.4%) and cargo marking, stowing, and securing (41.6%). (2/7/11).

UK – criminal charges for illegal export of electrical waste

clip_image029 The UK Environment Agency issued a news release stating that eleven defendants have been committed to stand trial as part of the biggest criminal investigation ever carried out by the Agency into illegal export of electrical waste from the UK to developing countries. (2/21/11).

UK – debate on wave power innovation

clip_image029[1] The UK House of Commons issued a news release stating that George Eustice, Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth, moved a debate in Westminster Hall on the funding of wave power innovation and technology. (2/16/11).

Presidents’ Day – February 21, 2011

clip_image030 The United States celebrated Presidents’ Day yesterday, February 21, 2011. It is one of our various Monday holidays, scheduled so as to extend the weekend. When I was a lad (don’t ask), we celebrated Washington’s Birthday on February 22, paying no attention to which day of the week it fell on in that particular year. We also noted, but did not celebrate as a national holiday, February 12, the anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. The fly in the ointment was that George Washington was actually born on February 11, 1731, according to the Julian calendar which was then utilized by Britain and its colonies. In 1752, Britain converted to the Gregorian calendar and revised the dates on a lot of things had already occurred, including Washington’s Birthday – which was changed to February 22, 1732. Just think: If we did this again everyone would be one year and eleven days younger! There is no telling what the budgetary consequences might be.

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 – February 2011

clip_image032 Redistribution permitted with attribution

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