Headlines: National Ocean Council – Regional Listening Sessions; Wilmington, NC – DHS interagency operations center; Detroit – passenger vessel loses power; CRS – DWH actions and issues; Court – contractor or sub-contractor; IMO & Djibouti – training center for repression of piracy; Somalia – pirates release bulk carrier; ReCAAP – robbers board tanker; EC – short sea shipping statistics; Gibraltar – fire in port area; Singapore – night signals for vessels crossing Singapore Strait TSS; and Hurricane season begins – June 1, 2011.
June 1, 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. The Ship of Theseus sails forever.
National Ocean Council – Regional Listening Sessions
The National Ocean Council issued a notice stating that it will host twelve Regional Listening Sessions to receive comments on the draft strategic action plans to achieve nine national priority objectives that address some of the most pressing challenges facing our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. The sessions will be held in Washington, DC (June 9); Barrow, AK (June 9); Anchorage (June 10); Chicago (June 13); Jacksonville (June 15); Honolulu (June 16); Exeter (June 27); Galveston (June 27); Ocean Shores (June 27); San Francisco (June 30); West Long Branch, NJ (June 30); and Portland, OR (July 1). (5/31/11).
Wilmington, NC – DHS interagency operations center
The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that the new DHS interagency operations center in Wilmington, North Carolina officially opened. The center brings together watchstanders from the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (5/31/11).
Detroit – passenger vessel loses power
The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the loss of power on a passenger vessel underway in the Detroit area with 143 passengers on board. There were no reports of injuries or pollution. Initial reports are that smoke was seen in the engine room, followed by a shutdown of the vessel’ main diesel engine. (5/29/11).
CRS – DWH actions and issues
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) released its report on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Highlighted Actions and Issues. The report discusses issues that have been examined by Congress and actions being taken by various federal agencies. R41407 (5/11/11).
Court – contractor or sub-contractor
The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that a company hired by a cargo owner to unload the cargo from a third party barge is a contractor. In the instant case, an employee of the unloading company was injured during the unloading. The cargo owner’s primary insurance policy provided coverage for injuries to employees of a contractor, but excluded coverage for injuries incurred by employees of sub-contractors. The court found that the cargo owner had contracted separately with the barge owner for carriage of the cargo and with the unloading company for the removal of the cargo from the barge. Bayou Steel v. National Union Fire Insurance, No. 10-30678 (5th Cir., May 31, 2011).
IMO & Djibouti – training center for repression of piracy
The IMO issued a news release stating that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Government of Djibouti for the building of a regional training center in Djibouti to promote the implementation of the Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. (5/31/11).
Somalia – pirates release bulk carrier
The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that the bulk carrier Khaled Muhieddine K has been released from pirate control off the coast of Somalia. The vessel was hijacked on 20 January 2011. The 25 crewmembers are all well. (5/31/11).
ReCAAP – robbers board tanker
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an alert stating that, at about 0129 on 30 May 2011, six robbers boarded a Singapore tanker underway approximately 30 nm east of Horsburgh Lighthouse. They stole cash and other valuables before escaping. The crew was not injured. Incident Alert 12/2011 (5/31/11).
EC – short sea shipping statistics
The European Commission issued a press release presenting recent short sea shipping statistics covering the transport of goods between ports in the EU-27 on the one hand and ports situated in geographical Europe, on the Mediterranean and Black Seas on the other hand. (5/31/11).
Gibraltar – fire in port area
The Government of Gibraltar issued a press release stating that a sullage tank on the North Mole in the Port of Gibraltar exploded and caught fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but initial reports indicate that two men were carrying out welding operations on the top of the tank at the time. A cruise ship berthed alongside the North Mole immediately put to sea. Twelve passengers on board suffered injuries. (5/31/11)
Singapore – night signals for vessels crossing Singapore Strait TSS
The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular advising owners, operators, and masters of a recent amendment to the rules for vessels navigating through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. With effect from 1 July 2011, vessels crossing the traffic separation scheme (TSS) and precautionary areas in the Singapore Strait during hours of darkness are recommended to display the night signals consisting of three (3) all-round green lights in a vertical line. Port Marine Circular 2-11 (5/31/11).
Hurricane season begins – June 1, 2011
June 1 marks the beginning of hurricane season in the North Atlantic. Preparation starts with reviewing your hurricane plan and applicable government plans. I have compiled the Hurricane and Heavy Weather Contingency Plans promulgated by the various US Coast Guard sectors. (6/1/11).
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
© Dennis L. Bryant – June 2011
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