Bryant’s Maritime Blog–1 July 2011

Headlines: OFAC – reinsurer fined for Iranian sanction violations; OFAC – Libyan sanction regulations; BOEMRE – reorganization of Title 30, CFR – corrections; USCG – qualification for STCW endorsement as OICNW; NTSB – report on small passenger vessel/USCG response boat collision; USCG – hurricane and heavy weather contingency plans; EPA – controlling the invasive sting bug; EMSA – ship recycling workshop; New Zealand – Lookout!; UK – vessel traffic monitoring and information system; and Declaration of Independence Day – July 4.

July 1, 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. Searching for the Higgs bison.

OFAC – reinsurer fined for Iranian sanction violations

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a notice stating that a reinsurance company has remitted $59,130 to settle liability for apparent violations of the Iranian Transactions Regulations that occurred in July and August 2005. The apparent violations consist of two reinsurance claim payment to a P&I Club for losses arising from vessel operations of the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC). The base fine amount was reduced due to, among other things, voluntary disclosure by the reinsurance company and remedial measures adopted to prevent a recurrence. (6/29/11).

OFAC – Libyan sanction regulations

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) promulgated regulations implementing the economic sanctions against Libya established by Executive Order 13566 of February 25, 2011. The regulations come into effect immediately. 76 Fed. Reg. 38562 (July 1, 2011).

BOEMRE – reorganization of Title 30, CFR – corrections

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) issued correcting amendments to its October 4, 2010 final rule reorganizing Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The corrections come into effect immediately. 76 Fed. Reg. 38555 (July 1, 2011).

USCG – qualification for STCW endorsement as OICNW

The US Coast Guard issued a notice advising of the availability of Office of Vessel Activities (CG-543) Policy Letter 11-07 amending its policy concerning qualification for a STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW). The policy is effective immediately. 76 Fed. Reg. 38671 (July 1, 2011).

NTSB – report on small passenger vessel/USCG response boat collision

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its report on the collision between a small passenger vessel and a US Coast Guard response boat in Charleston Harbor on December 5, 2009. The report states that the probable cause of the collision was the inadequate lookout by crewmembers of both vessels, combined with their high speed (both traveling in excess of 20 knots) in nighttime conditions. MAB-11/02 (6/30/11).

USCG – hurricane and heavy weather contingency plans

The list of Coast Guard Hurricane and Heavy Weather Contingency Plans has been updated, through the kind efforts of my friend David White of the Virginia Maritime Association, to include the updated Maritime Severe Weather Contingency Plan and MSIBs from Sector Hampton Roads. (6/30/11).

EPA – controlling the invasive stink bug

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a news release stating that it approved, for emergency use, two insecticides for control of the invasive stink bug. (6/30/11). Note: This is not a maritime issue, but piqued my interest. I, for one, was previously unaware of this particular invasion.

EMSA – ship recycling workshop

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) issued a notice stating that it conducted a Ship Recycling Workshop in Lisbon on 278-28 June. (6/30/11).

New Zealand – Lookout!

Maritime New Zealand posted the June 2011 edition of its safety periodical - Lookout. This edition focuses on the hazards posed by mariner fatigue. (6/30/11).

UK – vessel traffic monitoring and information system

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has begun a consultation about updating the Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System to align it with recent amendments to the EU directive on this matter. Comments should be submitted by August 11. (6/30/11).

Declaration of Independence Day – July 4

This Monday, July 4, 2011, marks the 235th anniversary of the publication of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia (July 4, 1776). It is not the 235th anniversary of the independence of the United States, because what we on this side of the pond call the Revolutionary War had just begun. Even October 19, 1781, when British Major General Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American General George Washington and French Lieutenant General de Rochambeau at the Battle of Yorktown, was not the end of the fighting. The independence of the United States was officially established by the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, when the Kingdom of Great Britain recognized the United States of America as a separate nation. In a larger sense, though, the independence of the United States is contested every day – and not just in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. While it is appropriate that we set aside one day each year to celebrate our independence, it is also necessary to dedicate ourselves daily to live up to the principles on which this great nation was founded. We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, [and] that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

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 – July 2011

Redistribution permitted with attribution