Bryant's Maritime Blog: Bryant’s Maritime Blog

Headlines:

USCG – MOA with RINA;

NOAA – wind forecast improvement project;

CBP – NCAP test;

Miami – port intermodal and rail reconnection project;

House – bill introduced re OCS facility inspection fees;

Indian Ocean – pirates hijack tanker;

Australia – report on OSV/barge collision; and

UK & Ireland – aids to navigation strategy document.

July 19, 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 elusive Higgs bison.

USCG – MOA with RINA

The US Coast Guard and the Italian classification society RINA, S.p.a. entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) delegating authority to RINA to inspect certain vessels on behalf of the USCG and to issue certificates regarding Tonnage, Load Line, SOLAS Cargo Ship Safety Construction, SOLAS Cargo Ship Safety Equipment, International Oil Pollution Prevention, ISM Code (Safety Management and Document of Compliance), and Passenger Ship Safety. (7/6/11).

NOAA – wind forecast improvement project

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a news release stating that it, the Department of Energy, and two private partners have launched the Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP) to improve forecasts of winds 350 feet above the earth’s surface. Wind turbines occupy this zone and knowledge of wind speeds in the zone is important to operators of wind energy facilities. (7/18/11).

CBP – NCAP test

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a notice stating that the National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test concerning the transmission of required advance ocean and rail data through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is scheduled to begin no earlier than August 1. CBP previously announced that this test would begin no earlier than December 22, 2010. Applications for participation in the test are still being accepted. 76 Fed. Reg. 42721 (July 19, 2011).

Miami – port intermodal and rail reconnection project

The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a news release stating that Secretary Ray LaHood joined federal, state, and local leaders to break ground on the Port of Miami Intermodal and Rail Reconnection Project. A TIGER grant will help pay for restoration of rail service between the port and the Florida East Coast Rail Yard in Hialeah. The rail service was suspended in 2005 when Hurricane Wilma damaged a rail bridge. Florida Governor Rick Scott issued a news release emphasizing a related part of the overall project. (7/15/11).

House – bill introduced re OCS facility inspection fees

Representative Markey (D-MA) introduced the No Free Inspections for Oil Companies Act (H.R. 2566) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish and collect fees for inspections of Outer Continental Shelf facilities, and for other purposes. (7/15/11).

Indian Ocean – pirates hijack tanker

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release stating that the tanker JUBBA XX has been hijacked by pirates in the northern Indian Ocean. The vessel was not registered with the MSCHOA at the time of the hijacking. (7/18/11).

Australia – report on OSV/barge collision

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued the report of its investigation into the 6 October 2010 collision between an offshore supply vessel (OSV) and a barge under tow at Dampier, Western Australia. The major causes of the incident were that the skipper of the OSV was not keeping a proper lookout and that the navigation lights on the barge were not properly mounted. MO-2010-006 (7/18/11).

UK & Ireland – aids to navigation strategy document

The General Lighthouse Authorities for the UK and Ireland issued a news release announcing the launch of the strategy document “2025 & Beyond”. The document outlines how Trinity House, the Northern Lighthouse Board, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights will fulfill their shared mission of delivering a reliable, efficient, and cost effective aids to navigation service for the benefit and safety of all mariners. (7/18/11). Note: The document expresses the GLA’s continued support of enhanced Loran (eLoran) as an independent terrestrial positioning, navigation, and timing backup to the global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs).