Bryant’s Maritime Blog–31 March 2011

Headlines: USCG – protection of whistleblowers in the Coast Guard; Southeastern New England – security zones; FMC – reasoned, science-based response to Japanese nuclear incident; House – bill introduced to require conveyance of Cutter STORIS; House – bill introduced for payments to natural resource trustees; Senate – bill introduced re use of dispersants; Senate – bill introduced for payments to natural resource trustees; Senate – bill introduced to amend LHWCA; Senate – bill introduced to require conveyance of Cutter STORIS; Somali Basin – suspected pirates detained for prosecution; Malaysia – tug hijacked; UK – delay regarding ship-to-ship transfer regulations; and GPO – python eats CFR.

March 31, 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.

USCG – protection of whistleblowers in the Coast Guard

The US Coast Guard issued a notice confirming that its direct final rule of December 21, 2010 amending its “Coast Guard Whistleblower Protection” regulations will come into effect on April 20 as scheduled. The amendments conform the regulations to statutory protections for all members of the Armed Forces. 76 Fed. Reg. 17783 (March 31, 2011).

Southeastern New England – security zones

The US Coast Guard is extending, through October 1, the effective period for its temporary fixed and moving security zones around certain passenger vessels in Sector Southeastern New England Captain of the Port Zone. 76 Fed. Reg. 17793 (March 31, 2011).

FMC – reasoned, science-based response to Japanese nuclear incident

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a news release calling for a reasoned, science-based response by members of the international shipping community to the nuclear incident in Fukushima, Japan. (3/30/11).

House – bill introduced to require conveyance of Cutter STORIS

Representative Young (R-AK) introduced a bill (H.R. 1220) to require the conveyance of the decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter STORIS. (3/29/11).

House – bill introduced for payments to natural resource trustees

Representative Landry (R-LA) introduced a bill (H.R. 1228) to provide for payments to certain natural resource trustees to assist in restoring natural resources damaged as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted. Representative Landry issued a press release explaining the goal of the bill. (3/29/11).

Senate – bill introduced re use of dispersants

Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bill (S. 661) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to ensure the safe and proper use of dispersants in the event of an oil spill or release of hazardous substances, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted. (3/29/11).

Senate – bill introduced for payments to natural resource trustees

Senator Vitter (R-LA) introduced a bill (S. 662) to provide for payments to certain natural resource trustees to assist in restoring natural resources damaged as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted. Senator Vitter issued a press release explaining the goal of the bill. (3/29/11).

Senate – bill introduced to amend LHWCA

Senator Isakson (R-GA) introduced a bill (S. 669) to amend the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act to improve the compensation system, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted. (3/29/11).

Senate – bill introduced to require conveyance of Cutter STORIS

Senator Begich (D-AK) introduced a bill (S. 673) to require the conveyance of the decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter STORIS. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted. (3/29/11).

Somali Basin – suspected pirates detained for prosecution

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that one of its warships disrupted a suspected pirate action group in the Somali Basin approximately 260 nautical miles northwest of the Seychelles. The skiff they were using was destroyed. The whaler was seized. The eleven individuals were transferred to the Seychelles for prosecution. (3/30/11).

Malaysia – tug hijacked

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an Incident Alert stating that a tug and barge were hijacked by about 10 men armed with knives and parangs while transiting off the east coast of Malaysia. The crew was locked in a cabin for several days before being forced into a life raft. The crew was later rescued by a passing fishing vessel. The crew reports that the tug, originally red in color, was repainted green by the pirates. The tug was last seen headed east. (3/30/11).

UK – delay regarding ship-to-ship transfer regulations

The UK Department for Transport posted the Statement of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport Mike Penning regarding the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010. Review of concerns expressed regarding the regulations has taken longer than anticipated. Therefore, the regulations will not come into force until 1 October 2011. (3/30/11).

GPO – python eats CFR

On Sunday, March 27, the Government Printing Office (GPO) announced that a 27-foot Bolivian python (an endangered species) from the National Zoo slithered into the underground vault holding the official copies of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).  Before it was incapacitated by numerous darts filled with strong sedatives, the snake managed to swallow Titles 33 and 46 of the CFR.  It took veterinarians 12 hours to extract the important documents.  In the interim, the US Coast Guard, Maritime Administration (MARAD), St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Federal Maritime Commission, and US Army Corps of Engineers had to curtail operations for lack of authority. This follows shortly behind the escape of an Egyptian cobra from Bronx Zoo on March 25. (3/27/11).

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 – March 2011

Redistribution permitted with attribution