Headlines:
DHS – implementing the 9/11 Commission recommendations;
Columbia River – allision under investigation;
DOJ husband pleads guilty to killing wife on cruise ship;
Senate – bill introduced to restore Gulf coast;
UNCITRAL – Sweden signs Rotterdam Rules;
EU – report on maritime employment and competitiveness;
Paris & Tokyo MOUs – Concentrated Inspection Campaign;
Hong Kong – maintenance dredging;
India – approval for accession to MARPOL Annex VI; and
Eastland sinking – 24 July 1915.
July 22, 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. Searching for the elusive Higgs bison.
DHS – implementing the 9/11 Commission recommendations
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Progress Report on implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. The report highlights progress in such areas as the expansion of information sharing and the use of risk-based transportation security strategies. (7/21/11). Note: There is no doubt that the nation is more secure than it was is September 2001. The real question is whether we are spending finite resources in a cost effective manner to get improved security without excessively wasting monies.
Columbia River – allision under investigation
The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that a tug and the barge that it was towing struck anchored piping and equipment associated with a dredge on the Columbia River near Westport, Oregon. There were no reports of injury or pollution. The incident is under investigation. (7/21/11).
DOJ – husband pleads guilty to killing wife on cruise ship
The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a press release stating that the husband of a woman who died on board a cruise ship on the high seas on July 14, 2009 pled guilty in federal court to deliberately and intentionally killing her. (7/14/11).
Senate – bill introduced to restore Gulf coast
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) issued a press release stating that she and Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) introduced a bill that calls for dedicating at least 80% of the penalties imposed as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to invest in the long-term health of the coastal ecosystem and its economies. An official copy of the bill is not yet available. (7/21/11).
UNCITRAL – Sweden signs Rotterdam Rules
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) issued a press release stating that Sweden has become the 24th State to sign the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (known as the Rotterdam Rules). The Rules have been ratified by Spain and will enter into force one year after the deposit of 20 instruments of ratification or accession. (7/21/11). Note: This item was brought to my attention by my good friend Chet Hooper of Holland & Knight LLP.
EU – report on maritime employment and competitiveness
The European Union (EU) delivered its report on maritime employment and competitiveness. It shows an increase in the recruitment of non-EU seafarers for international voyages, especially at the expense of EU ratings. The report makes recommendations in a variety of areas, including recruitment, training, and career paths. (7/20/11).
Paris & Tokyo MOUs – Concentrated Inspection Campaign
The Paris MOU and the Tokyo MOU issued a joint press release stating that their concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) for the three months beginning 1 September is intended to ensure compliance with structural safety and the Load Line Convention. The States party of the Viña del Mar Agreement, the Indian Ocean MOU, the Mediterranean MOU, and the Black Sea MOU will follow the same routine during the campaign. (7/21/11).
Hong Kong – maintenance dredging
The Hong Kong Marine Department issued a notice advising that, from 1 August and for a period of approximately five months, maintenance dredging will be carried out in the Kau Yi Chau Dangerous Goods Anchorage. Vessels in the vicinity should proceed with caution. Marine Notice 79-2011 (7/21/11).
India – approval for accession to MARPOL Annex VI
The Indian Ministry of Shipping issued a press release stating that the Cabinet gave its approval for accession to the 1997 Protocol adding Annex VI (Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution) to the MARPOL Convention. (7/21/11).
Eastland sinking – 24 July 1915
On 24 July 1915, the passenger vessel EASTLAND capsized and sank at its dock on Lake Michigan in Chicago. Of the approximately 2,600 persons on board, 844 drowned. It remains the largest loss of life from a single shipwreck in the history of the Great Lakes. The ship was launched in 1903 and immediately acquired a reputation for being tender. It was top heavy, with the center of gravity being too high, particularly when a large number of passengers congregated on the top deck. On the fatal date, the Western Electric Company had chartered the EASTLAND and two other passenger vessels to take employees and their families to a picnic in Michigan City. Legislation resulting from the Titanic disaster had recently been enacted requiring the EASTLAND and other passenger ships to install new (and heavier) lifeboats, further exacerbating its listing problem. At about 7:15 in the morning, shortly before the ship was due to get underway, it began to list to port. Despite desperate efforts by the crew to ballast the vessel, it lurched onto its side and sank at the pier. The company president and three senor company officers were indicted for manslaughter, but never tried. Legislation was later adopted mandating improvements to vessel stability.
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 – July 2011
Redistribution permitted with attribution
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment