Headlines: BOEMRE – leasing for wind power on Massachusetts OCS; Crescent City – tsunami damage; NOAA – Arctic Vision & Strategy; House – bill introduced re TWIC expiration date; Senate – bill introduced re CNMI submerged lands; Gulf of Aden – bulk carrier hijacked, used as mothership; India – proactive role against piracy proposed; and St. Patrick’s Day – green beer all around.
March 17, 2011
Bryant’s Maritime Blog 
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. Planck’s Constant isn’t.
BOEMRE – leasing for wind power on Massachusetts OCS
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) is extending, through April 18, the period within which to submit comments on the Request for Interest (RFI) in commercial wind energy leasing offshore Massachusetts and invitation for comments from interested and affected parties. 76 Fed. Reg. 14681 (March 17, 2011).
Crescent City – tsunami damage
The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that the tsunami from the earthquake in Japan resulted in the sinking of 16 vessels in the Port of Crescent City, California. In addition, 47 vessels remain afloat but incurred some damage. There has been significant damage to moorings and docks in the port. (3/15/11). Note: This release has been posted at a different URL than was used yesterday. The old URL has been discontinued.
NOAA – Arctic Vision & Strategy
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its Arctic Vision & Strategy. The document identifies six goals for NOAA in the Arctic region: (1) forecast sea ice; (2) strengthen foundational science to understand and detect Arctic climate and ecosystem changes; (3) improve weather and water forecasts and warnings; (4) enhance international and national partnerships; (5) improve stewardship and management of ocean and coastal resources in the Arctic; and (6) advance resilient and healthy Arctic communities and economies. (3/16/11).
House – bill introduced re TWIC expiration date
Representative Thompson (D-MS) introduced a bill (H.R. 1105) to ensure that Transportation Worker Identification Credentials held by certain maritime workers do not expire before the deadline for full implementation of electronic readers for such credentials or December 31, 2014, whichever is earlier. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted. (3/15/11).
Senate – bill introduced re CNMI submerged lands
Senator Bingaman (D-NM) introduced a bill (S. 590) to convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted. (3/15/11).
Gulf of Aden – bulk carrier hijacked, used as mothership
The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that the bulk carrier Sinar Kudus has been hijacked by pirates approximately 320 nautical miles northeast of Socotra. The hijacked ship was then used as a mothership in an unsuccessful attack on another commercial vessel. (3/17/11).
India – proactive role against piracy proposed
The Indian Ministry of Defence issued a press release stating that the increased incidence of piracy in the Indian Ocean Region is an issue of serious concern. The Ministry has proposed a proactive role under the United Nations flag to tackle the threat to maritime traffic from piracy. (3/16/11).
St. Patrick’s Day – green beer all around
Today is celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day, in memory of the priest Saint Patrick (circa AD 385-461) who chased all the lawyers (oops, I meant snakes) out of Ireland. Drink some green beer and be Irish, at least for a day. Erin Go Bragh!
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
© Dennis L. Bryant – March 2011
Redistribution permitted with attribution
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