Bryant's Maritime Blog: Bryant’s Maritime Blog

Headlines: DOI – first Deepwater Exploration Plan approved; Gulf of Mexico – response to report of pollution; IMO – no restrictions on travel to Japan; Indonesia – robbers board bulk carrier; and Panama Canal – declaration of loaded containers.

March 22, 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. Planck’s Constant isn’t.

DOI – first Deepwater Exploration Plan approved

The Department of the Interior (DOI) issued a press release stating that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has approved the first Deepwater Exploration Plan under the post-Deepwater Horizon environmental review standards. Shell Offshore is being authorized to drill three exploratory wells in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 130 miles south of Louisiana, where the water depth is approximately 2,950 feet. (3/21/11).

Gulf of Mexico – response to report of pollution

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it responded to reports of a possible oil spill stretching 100 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico south of Grand Isle. Analysis indicated that the material contains only trace amounts of petroleum and is probably sediment that was carried down the Mississippi River due to high water. A second news release states that an oily substance is washing ashore on an estimated half-mile of shoreline near Elmer Island. Response resources are being marshaled. (3/21/11).

IMO – no restrictions on travel to Japan

The IMO issued a news release stating that international flight and maritime operations can continue normally into and out of Japan’s major airports and sea ports, excluding those damaged by the tsunami. (3/21/11).

Indonesia – robbers board bulk carrier

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an Incident Alert stating that eight robbers armed with long knives boarded a bulk carrier as it transited off Pulau Damar, Indonesia during the early morning hours of March 20. They departed after stealing personal belongings from the master. The crew was not injured. (3/21/11).

Panama Canal – declaration of loaded containers

The Panama Canal Authority issued an advisory clarifying the requirement for declaration of loaded containers through BAPLIE files. Advisory 6/2011 (3/16/11).