MarEx Newsletter - December 28, 2007

December 28, 2007 | Vol. 5, No. 52 In this issue: New Year's Resolutions From the MarEx Managing Editor President Bush Signs Marine Highway Legislation Long Island Sound Pilots Inch Closer to Long-Awaited Rate Increase Cosco Busan Pilot Voluntarily Deposits License South Korean Oil Spill 20 Percent Worse Long-range identification and tracking of ships - SOLAS amendment enters into force on 1 January 2008 NOAA and VT Halter Marine Launch Third Fisheries Survey Vessel TWIC/MTSA Policy Advisory Council to Provide Additional Guidance to Address MTSA & TWIC Issues Experts to Discuss Turning Vessel Operations "Green" The Government of Canada Assists Georgian College to Build World-Class Marine Simulator and Research Centre AAPA Hails Milestone in Funding for Port Security IBIA Advises Members of Changes to EU Distillate Sulphur Limits SAFETY ALERT HMRMS 04-07 -- Navigation in Restricted Visibility Justice Department Will Not Appeal Stolt-Nielsen Decision Northern Lights' 50th Anniversary New Year's Resolutions From the MarEx Managing Editor Future of MarEx Managing Editor to hinge on status of Bay State legislation in 2008. Read More>>>Back to Top President Bush Signs Marine Highway Legislation The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 contains provisions establishing a formal marine highway program within the federal government. Read More>>>Back to Top Long Island Sound Pilots Inch Closer to Long-Awaited Rate Increase Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) Pilots could achieve first pay increase in 25 years in January 2008; temporary fuel surcharge also expected to be extended. Read More>>>Back to Top Cosco Busan Pilot Voluntarily Deposits License The Coast Guard requested Cota deposit his federal license with the Coast Guard because the service believes he is not physically competent to maintain it. Read More>>>Back to Top South Korean Oil Spill 20 Percent Worse A probe by the Marine Accidents Inquiry Agency last week found that 12,547 kiloliters, not 10,500 kiloliters as originally estimated, were spilled by the Hebei Spirit on December 7. Read More>>>Back to Top Long-range identification and tracking of ships - SOLAS amendment enters into force on 1 January 2008 International Maritime Organization (IMO) press briefing. Read More>>>Back to Top NOAA and VT Halter Marine Launch Third Fisheries Survey Vessel Ship to be Homeported in Pascagoula, Miss; a new NOAA fisheries survey vessel, launched in Mississippi, will be able to study fish quietly without altering their behavior. Read More>>>Back to Top TWIC/MTSA Policy Advisory Council to Provide Additional Guidance to Address MTSA & TWIC Issues First two decisions by LT Fasceski of the Security Standards Branch of the Cargo and Facilities Division have been posted on Homeport. Read More>>>Back to Top Experts to Discuss Turning Vessel Operations "Green" PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2008 will host a panel of government and industry experts to discuss turning a passenger vessel business into a green business. Read More>>>Back to Top The Government of Canada Assists Georgian College to Build World-Class Marine Simulator and Research Centre Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities announces transfer of marine navigation and marine engine room propulsion plant simulators from the Government of Canada to the Province of Ontario, along with federal funding of $1,435,000 for the province to modernize these simulators. Read More>>>Back to Top AAPA Hails Milestone in Funding for Port Security FY 2008 Appropriations Bill Also Funds TWIC Card Reader Pilot Projects. Read More>>>Back to Top IBIA Advises Members of Changes to EU Distillate Sulphur Limits The 0.2 per cent sulphur limit on distillate fuel consumed by ships applies only to marine gas oils used in EU territory with a viscosity or density falling within the ranges defined for DMX and DMA grades under ISO 8217. Read More>>>Back to Top SAFETY ALERT HMRMS 04-07 -- Navigation in Restricted Visibility A USCG Safety Alert and Report developed by the Investigations Office, United States Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads. Read More>>>Back to Top Justice Department Will Not Appeal Stolt-Nielsen Decision While the Division is disappointed with the ruling, it respects the role of the court in making the factual determinations that support the decision. Read More>>>Back to Top Northern Lights' 50th Anniversary Northern Lights, a global leader in the manufacturing of marine diesel generator sets, Lugger propulsion engines and land-based diesel generators, will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2008. Read More>>>Back to Top Copyright © 2007 The Maritime Executive. 3200 S. Andrews Avenue, Suite 100 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 To Unsubscribe, click here.