Headlines: Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – safety zone proposed; NOAA – wake effect of wind turbines; Astoria – boarding of ship arriving from Japan; GAO – better coordination needed by interagency committee on oil spill research; Singapore – testing of SSAS; Somalia – vessel released by pirates after 199 days; and SS Sultana explosion and fire – April 27, 1865.
April 27, 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. “Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.” (Steve Landesburg).
Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – safety zone proposed
The US Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent safety zone from Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan. This proposed safety zone would cover 77 miles of navigable waterways in the Chicago area and, when in effect for enforcement, is intended to restrict vessels from entering certain segments of the navigable waters of the Des Plaines River, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, branches of the Chicago River, and the Calumet-Saganashkee Channel. Because the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee may take actions at any time that create hazards for waterway users, there is insufficient time to undertake a regular rulemaking for each event. This proposed rulemaking would establish a safety zone that could be enforced when necessary by announcement from the USCG Captain of the Port. Comments on this proposal should be submitted by May 27. 76 Fed. Reg. 23524 (April 27, 2011).
NOAA – wake effect of wind turbines
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release stating that its researchers and colleagues are launching a study of the wake effect of wind turbines. The goal is to improve the efficiency of wind farms and reduce the likelihood that turbines will be damaged by the wakes of turbines located upwind. (4/26/11).
Astoria – boarding of ship arriving from Japan
The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it and the Oregon National Guard conducted a Vessel Boarding Safety Team (VBST) joint boarding of a vessel in Astoria. Before arriving at the Columbia River, the vessel had passed within the vicinity of Fukushima, Japan. The boarding found no threatening levels of radiation and the vessel was cleared to enter port.. (4/25/11).
GAO – better coordination needed by interagency committee on oil spill research
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on federal research on oil pollution prevention and response. It found that the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research, established by OPA 90, played a limited role in coordinating the 144 research projects conducted since 2003. It recommended that the Committee assume a more active role and include an evaluation of research projects in its biennial report to Congress. GAO-11-319 (4/25/11).
Singapore – testing of SSAS
The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular providing guidance on procedures for testing of the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) on Singapore-registered ships. Shipping Circular 9-2011 (4/26/11).
Somalia – vessel released by pirates after 199 days
The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating, somewhat belatedly, that the cargo ship Asphalt Venture was released on April 15 by Somali pirates. The vessel was hijacked on September 28, 2010 in the Somali Basin approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Dar es Salaam. It was held under pirate control for 199 days. (4/26/11).
SS Sultana explosion and fire – April 27, 1865
146 years ago today, the United States experienced its most significant marine casualty in terms of lives lost. On that day the steamship Sultana exploded and caught fire. An estimated 1,800 of the approximately 2,400 passengers and crew died after one of the ship’s boilers exploded. The ship had just left Vicksburg en route St. Louis. It was carrying numerous Union Army veterans home, many recently released from Confederate prisons. As a result of this tragedy, inspection standards for steamships were strengthened.
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 – April 2011
Redistribution permitted with attribution
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