Headlines:
BOEMRE – DWH report delayed;
Rhode Island – Ocean SAMP approved;
USCG – fuel switching safety alert;
House – hearing on improving Coast Guard operations;
Senate – bill introduced to restore Gulf coast ecosystems;
Senate – bill introduced to amend Marine Mammal Protection Act;
Contact Group – report of Ninth Plenary Session;
ReCAAP – Piracy Conference Report;
ReCAAP – Half Yearly Report;
CARICOM – transit of radioactive material through Caribbean Sea;
Micronesia – mariners found marooned on island; and
Andrea Doria/Stockholm collision – 25 July 1956.
July 25, 2011
Bryant’s Maritime Blog 
Bryant’s Maritime Consulting - 4845 SW 91st Way - Gainesville, FL 32608-8135 - USA
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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.
BOEMRE – DWH report delayed
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) stated that publication of the report of the investigation of the circumstances surrounding the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) marine casualty and resulting oil spill has been delayed. The report was scheduled for publication on July 27. No new publication date has been announced. The House Committee on Natural Resources issued a press release urging the Coast Guard and BOEMRE to move swiftly to issue the report. (7/22/11).
Rhode Island – Ocean SAMP approved
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release stating that it has approved the Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan (Ocean SAMP) for offshore energy development and ocean stewardship. The plan addresses, among other things, wind energy development and its relationship with the needs for transportation, fishing, and recreation. (7/22/11).
USCG – fuel switching safety alert
The US Coast Guard’s Eleventh District issued a Marine Safety Alert to increase awareness and reiterate general guidance on fuel systems and fuel switching safety in an effort to prevent propulsion losses. Proper procedures, training, and maintenance are essential for vessels to safely switch between heavy/intermediate fuel oils and marine distillates. (7/11/11).
House – hearing on improving USCG operations
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure issued a news release stating that, on July 26, the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation will conduct a hearing on “How to Improve Operations and Implement Efficiencies for the United States Coast Guard”. (7/22/11).
Senate – bill introduced to restore Gulf coast ecosystems
Senator Landrieu (D-LA) introduced a bill (S. 1400) to restore the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of Gulf Coast States, to create jobs and revive the economic health of communities adversely affected by the explosion on, and sinking of, the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill is not yet available. (7/21/11).
Senate – bill introduced to amend Marine Mammal Protection Act
Senator Brown (R-MA) introduced a bill (S. 1402) to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to increase the maximum penalty for violating that Act. Official text of the bill is not yet available. (7/21/11).
Contact Group – report of Ninth Plenary Session
The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia issued a Communique following its Ninth Plenary Session in New York. It noted, among other things, the importance of compliance by merchant shipping with the Best Management Practices and the need for owners and flag states to take responsibility to provide assistance to the crew and vessel upon its release from pirates. (7/14/11).
ReCAAP – Piracy Conference Report
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre posted the Report of the 14 April 2011 Conference on Piracy & Sea Robbery, co-sponsored by ReCAAP, the NATO Shipping Centre, and various private stakeholders. Topics addressed in the conference included: (a) trends and assessments of piracy and sea robbery in Asia; (b) regional, industry, ship owners’ and seafarers’ perspectives on piracy and sea robbery; and (c) operational experiences of participating naval forces in combating piracy and sea robbery off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. (7/22/11).
ReCAAP – Half Yearly Report
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued its Half Yearly Report, covering the period 1 January – 30 June 2011. During the period, there were 82 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. This represents an increase in the number reported during the same period in the three previous years. (7/22/11).
CARICOM – transit of radioactive material through Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) issued a press release stating that it is calling for an immediate halt to the transit of radioactive material through the Caribbean Sea. (7/20/11).
Micronesia – mariners found marooned on island
The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that a 28-foot skiff with 15 passengers has been located on the beach of an uninhabited island in the Federated States of Micronesia. The vessel had been first reported missing on June 22. An extensive air and sea search by government and private assets combed an area of approximately 18,000 square miles during a period of over 76 hours. (7/22/11).
Andrea Doria/Stockholm collision – July 25, 1956
Before
After
The Swedish passenger ship Stockholm and the Italian passenger ship Andrea Doria collided on the edge of a heavy fog bank off Nantucket on July 25, 1956. The Andrea Doria sank several hours after the collision, but not before 1660 passengers and crew were rescued. There were 46 deaths. While the exact cause of the casualty has never been determined, it appears to have been a “radar-assisted” collision, with the officers of the watch on both vessels misinterpreting the radar images and taking the wrong actions. The wreck of the Andrea Doria has become a popular, though notorious, destination for deep-sea divers. The Stockholm was rebuilt following the collision. It has gone through a number of owners and names and now sails as the cruise ship Athena. On December 3, 2008, it was attacked by pirates while transiting the Gulf of Aden, but was able to evade the attempted boarding.
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
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