Thursday, August 4, 2011

Bryant’s Maritime Blog–4 August 2011

Headlines:

Great Lakes – proposed 2012 pilotage rates;

DWH Joint Investigation – completing its report;

BOEMRE – study of coastal archaeological sites;

Senate – bill introduced re delegation of ship inspection services;

Ireland – survey of wreck of RMS Lusitania;

UK – erroneous wiring of DP system;

UK – procedure for sale of trust ports;

UK – vessel grounding; and

Coast Guard Day.

August 4, 2011

Bryant’s Maritime Blog clip_image002
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. Remembering the future.

Great Lakes – proposed 2012 pilotage rates

clip_image004 The US Coast Guard proposes adjustments to the rates for pilotage services on the Great Lakes for the 2012 navigation season. The proposed adjustments result in an average DECREASE of approximately 4% from the current rates. Comments on the proposal should be submitted by October 3. 76 Fed. Reg. 47095 (August 4, 2011).

DWH Joint Investigation – completing its report

clip_image004[1] clip_image006 The Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team posted the following statement on its website: “The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement/U.S. Coast Guard Joint Investigation Team is working diligently to complete its report of the investigation into the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. To ensure that all evidence is properly weighed and considered, the JIT is taking additional time to finalize the report. The team is in the final stages of completing its report and expects to release it in the near future.” (8/3/11).

BOEMRE – study of coastal archaeological sites

clip_image007 The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) issued a press release stating that it is beginning a two-year comprehensive study of coastal and marine archaeological sites along the Pacific Coast of the United States. Findings from the study will be used in future environmental analyses and may trigger specific steps to mitigate potential environmental impacts associated with future construction and deployment of offshore renewable energy facilities. (8/3/11).

Senate – bill introduced re delegation of ship inspection services

clip_image009 Senator Collins (R-ME) introduced a bill (S. 1496) to amend title 46, United States Code, to prohibit the delegation by the United States of inspection, certification, and related services to a foreign classification society that provides comparable services to Iran, North Korea, North Sudan, or Syria, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill is not yet available. (8/2/11). Note: This bill does not address traditional classification surveys, but is limited to the delegation by the US Coast Guard of authority of certain classification societies to perform inspections on behalf of the Coast Guard and to issue statutory certificates, such as Load Line Certificates. Currently, five foreign classification societies (BV, DNV, GL, LR, and RINA) have been delegated such authority to act on behalf of the US Coast Guard in various circumstances.

Ireland – survey of wreck of RMS Lusitania

clip_image011 The Irish Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport issued a notice stating that dive survey work will be performed during the period 2-10 August over the wreck site of the RMS Lusitania off the south coast of Ireland. The wreck is an underwater heritage site. Other vessels are cautioned to give the Irish Light Vessel Granuaile a wide berth during this period. Marine Notice 40-2011 (7/28/11).

UK – erroneous wiring of DP system

clip_image013 The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued an Accident Report regarding its investigation of the 26 February 2011 incident in Aberdeen Harbour. A platform supply vessel (PSV) was undertaking functional trails of a newly installed dynamic positioning (DP) system while alongside. Full ahead pitch was inadvertently applied to the port and starboard controllable pitch propellers (CPPs), causing the vessel to move along the quay and make contact with two other vessels. Investigation revealed that an incorrect pitch command signal was generated by the DP system signal modules due to an error in the wiring. The error was not identified during factory tests or during pre-trial checks. (8/3/11).

UK – procedure for sale of trust ports

clip_image014 The UK Department for Transport posted a Statement that sets out the revised policy for consideration of an application for sale of a major trust port in England or Wales. The Department also posted a Guidance Note concerning the procedure for the sale of trust ports, which includes guidance on liaising with the Department, a scheme of transfer, publicizing of sale, and access to information and arrangements for inviting and considering bids. (8/3/11).

UK – vessel grounding

clip_image014[1] The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a press notice stating that one of its units noted on its Automatic Identification System (AIS) that a vessel was not using the traffic separation scheme (TSS) correctly. Attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful. The vessel ran aground. Two lifeboats and a helicopter were launched. After two hours, the vessel’s master called the Coastguard unit to report that he had managed to refloat the vessel on a rising tide. No injuries, damage, or pollution were reported. The vessel resumed its passage to Rotterdam. (8/3/11). Note: This is a curious notice, as much for what it does not say as for what it does.

Coast Guard Day

clip_image016 Today, August 4, is the 221st anniversary of the enactment of legislation establishing the Revenue Cutter Service (RCS), the forerunner of today’s US Coast Guard. While nominally intended to enforce the collection of revenue from imported cargoes, the service was engaged in multiple missions from the beginning. Over time, other agencies and functions were merged into it. In 1915, with the merger of the RCS and the Life-Saving Service, the name of the agency was changed to the United States Coast Guard. An illustrious history, and proud present, and an exciting future!

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 – August 2011

clip_image018 Redistribution permitted with attribution

No comments:

Post a Comment