Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Bryant’s Maritime Blog–24 May 2011

Headlines: DOJ – three Somalis plead guilty to piracy; Lower Mississippi River – reopened to limited traffic; USCG – New York City Fleet Week; Lake Erie – vessel pursuit training; NASA – meeting of PNT Advisory Board; SHC – meetings; DOS – meeting of Advisory Committee on International Law; BOEMRE – hydrokinetic technology testing offshore Florida; Marinette, Wisconsin – restricted area; Pamlico Sound – danger zone; FCC – hearing re licensee; NOAA & BOEMRE – coordination re offshore energy development; Senate – bill introduced re Northwest Straits; Senate – bill introduced to disallow income tax deductions for oil spill payments; ESA – new ground station in Spitsbergen; EC – Galileo satellites scheduled for October launch; EU – integration of maritime surveillance; Australia – trader fined for shipping unmarked dangerous goods; and Australia & Papua New Guinea – maritime cooperation agreements.

May 24, 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. “It is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” – William Shakespeare.

DOJ – three Somalis plead guilty to piracy

clip_image004 The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a news release stating that three Somalis pled guilty in federal court to piracy and hostage taking with regard to the US sailing vessel Quest. The hijacking of the Quest in the Indian Ocean resulted in the death of the four Americans on board. Two of the Somalis acknowledged that they served as leaders of the piracy operation. The third Somali acknowledged that he fired a rocket-propelled grenade in the course of the crime. The offense of piracy, to which they have all entered pleas of guilty, carries a mandatory life sentence. (5/20/11).

Lower Mississippi River – reopened to limited traffic

clip_image006 The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that the portion of the Lower Mississippi River (between mile markers 228 and 237) that had been closed to navigation following the sinking of three barges has been reopened to limited traffic. Northbound vessels may transit one-at-a-time. The river is still closed at that point to southbound vessels due to high water. A second news release states that resumption of limited southbound traffic is under consideration. (5/23/11).

USCG – New York City Fleet Week

clip_image007 The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it is establishing security zones and Naval Vessel Protection Zones on Upper New York Bay and the Hudson River during New York City Fleet Week which extends from May 24 through June 1. (5/23/11).

Lake Erie – vessel pursuit training

clip_image008 The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it and officers from state and local law enforcement agencies will be conducting vessel pursuit training on waters of Lake Erie near Marblehead, Ohio on May 24-26. The course will focus on improving skills and knowledge of crews operating law enforcement vessels at high speeds in various sea conditions day or night in order to pursue, stop, and board vessels that fail to yield to officers’ orders to stop. (5/23/11).

NASA – meeting of PNT Advisory Board

clip_image010 The National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board, sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will meet in Arlington, Virginia on June 9-10. Topics on the agenda include GPS modernization; interoperability with emerging Global Navigation Satellite Systems; emerging trends and requirements for PNT services; prioritization of planned GPS capabilities and services; performance standards; and future challenges. 76 Fed. Reg. 30202 (May 24, 2011).

SHC – meetings

clip_image012 The Shipping Coordinating Committee (SHC), sponsored by the Department of State (DOS), will conduct four separate open meetings in Washington, DC to prepare for upcoming sessions of the IMO. The first meeting, to prepare for an upcoming session of the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee, will be held on June 14. The second meeting, also on June 14, is to prepare for an upcoming session of the IMO Council. The third meeting, to prepare for an upcoming session of the IMO Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will be held on July 6. The fourth meeting, to be held in Arlington, Virginia on July 7, is to prepare for an upcoming session of the IMO Pire Protection Sub-Committee. 76 Fed. Reg. 30229 (May 24, 2011).

DOS – meeting of Advisory Committee on International Law

clip_image013 The Advisory Committee on International Law, sponsored by the Department of State (DOS), will meet in Washington, DC on June 6. Topics on the agenda include the Arctic region and the Law of the Sea Convention. 76 Fed. Reg. 30229 (May 24, 2011).

BOEMRE – hydrokinetic technology testing offshore Florida

clip_image015 The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) issued a notice stating that it intends to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) relating to an application it received for issuance of leases for installation of offshore data collection and marine hydrokinetic technology testing facilities to be located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately nine to fifteen nautical miles offshore of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Comments on the proposal should be submitted by June 23. 76 Fed. Reg. 30184 (May 24, 2011). BOEMRE also issued a press release regarding this project.

Marinette, Wisconsin – restricted area

clip_image017 The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a final rule establishing a restricted area in waters of the Menominee River at the Marinette Marine Corporation Shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. The rule comes into effect on June 23. 76 Fed. Reg. 30024 (May 24, 2011).

Pamlico Sound – danger zone

clip_image017[1] The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a final rule establishing a danger zone on certain waters of Pamlico Sound, North Carolina during live fire exercises by the US Marine Corps. The rule comes into effect on June 23. 76 Fed. Reg. 30023 (May 24, 2011).

FCC – hearing re licensee

clip_image019 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a notice stating that it is commencing a hearing proceeding to determine ultimately whether Maritime Communications/Land Mobile, LLC is qualified to be and to remain a Commission licensee, and as a consequence whether any or all of its licenses should be revoked, and whether any or all of the applications to which it is a party should be denied. Petitions to intervene should be filed by June 23. 76 Fed. Reg. 30154 (May 24, 2011).

NOAA & BOEMRE – coordination re offshore energy development

clip_image021 clip_image023 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release stating that it and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase their coordination and collaboration to ensure environmentally sound offshore energy development. Among other things, the MOU is intended to align regulatory and decision-making processes and identify the best available science to support future regulatory decisions. (5/23/11).

Senate – bill introduced re Northwest Straits

clip_image025 Senator Murray (D-WA) introduced the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S. 962) to reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits, and for other purposes. (5/12/11).

Senate – bill introduced to disallow income tax deduction for oil spill payments

clip_image026 Senator Nelson (D-FL) introduced a bill (S. 983) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to disallow a deduction for amounts paid or incurred by a responsible party relating to a discharge of oil. (5/12/11).

ESA – new ground station at Spitsbergen

clip_image028 The European Space Agency (ESA) issued a press release stating that it inaugurated a new ground station at Spitsbergen in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. It will serve primarily as a sensing station to check the timing and positioning accuracy of the Galileo satellites. (5/20/11).

EC – Galileo satellites scheduled for October launch

clip_image030 The European Commission (EC) issued a press release stating that the launch of the first two operational satellites of the EU’s Galileo global navigation satellite system is scheduled for October 20 from the Space Port in Kourou, French Guinea. Initial satellite navigation services are planned to commence in 2014 and the constellation is due for completion by 2019. The EC also posted a set of Questions and Answers regarding the European Satellite Radio Navigation Programs. (5/23/11).

EU – integration of maritime surveillance

clip_image030[1] The Council of the European Union posted Council conclusions on integration of maritime surveillance. The Council supports the further elaboration of the six steps proposed in the European Commission’s “Draft Roadmap towards establishing the Common Information Sharing Environment for the surveillance of the EU maritime domain” and supports further development of the Common Information Sharing Environment of the EU maritime domain. (5/23/11).

Australia – trader fined for shipping unmarked dangerous goods

clip_image032 The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a media release stating that a trading company was fined $2,000 for causing dangerous goods to be transported by ship without the packages being properly marked as containing dangerous goods. (5/20/11).

Australia and Papua New Guinea – maritime cooperation agreements

clip_image032[1] clip_image034 The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a media release stating that it recently signed two maritime cooperation agreements with Papua New Guinea. The first agreement promotes mutual cooperation on marine pollution preparedness and response. The second agreement concerns cooperation on improved maritime safety, including search and rescue and joint casualty management. (5/23/11).

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 – May 2011

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