MarEx eNewsletter - February 26, 2009

February 26th, 2009 Vol. 7, No. 8, Cold, Hard Facts: New Arctic Policy is a Paper Polar Bear The Coast Guard struggles to implement the New Presidential Arctic Region Policy without the equipment to even operate in that region; Obama's "change" promises little more. Almost exactly one year ago, and in the immediate wake of ADM Thad Allen's 2008 State-of-the-Coast-Guard address, I conducted a focused ... Read More>>>Back to Top Cheaper, Better Connectivity Puts Wind in Global Marine's Sails Switch to VSAT Cuts Connectivity Costs, Gladdens Crew It's one thing to modernize your own communications while dramatically cutting your costs. Now imagine the competitive advantage to be gained if you could do that for clients as well! At Global Marine Systems, all it took to turn ... Read More>>>Back to Top MarEx Mailbag: Readers Weigh in on Stimulus The MarEx Mailbag was heavy again. Last week's lead editorial, entitled "Obama's New Deal: Good Deal, No Deal or the Real Deal?" brought attention to the new stimulus package recently passed by Congress and the implications for a broad range of maritime interests in that bill. Not ... Read More>>>Back to Top Pirates Grab Greek Ship, but Two Navies Stop Other Pirate Attacks Greek Authorities Acknowledge Cargo Ship Captured The M/V SALDANHA, a Maltese-flagged bulk cargo ship with a crew of 22 was seized off of Somalia on February 21, 2009. The ship was transporting coal to Slovenia. During January, a Greek captain was killed by pirates ... Read More>>>Back to Top MARAD Briefs $100 Million for small shipyard grants; California Sealift Terminals wins contract; Calypso LNG drops license application •Maritime Administration Administering $100 Million in Small Shipyard Grants Under the terms of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Maritime Administration has received $100 million for the ... Read More>>>Back to Top New Study: Clean Alternative Fuels Gaining at Top Ports Study found that natural gas is currently the leading alternative fuel for goods movement at U.S. container ports, while hybrid electric vehicles are gaining popularity in Asia. BOULDER, CO: U.S. and international container shipping ports are among the world's biggest sources of air pollution and greenhouse gas ... Read More>>>Back to Top UK's MAIB Issues Report on Grounding of General Cargo Ship Incident occurred near Larne, Northern Ireland on 29 June 2008 when officer in charge of the navigation watch fell asleep. According to the UK Marine Accident Branch (MAIB), "The sole objective of the investigation of an accident under the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2005 ... Read More>>>Back to Top ASA Members Respond to Grounding of USS PORT ROYAL in Hawaii 9,600-ton, 567-foot guided missile cruiser ran aground a half-mile off Honolulu International Airport's Reef Runway after leaving port for sea trials. Washington, DC - During the morning hours of February 7, 2009 three members of the American Salvage Association (ASA) provided salvage support to the U.S. Navy's ... Read More>>>Back to Top MMA Says Connaughton to be Keynote Speaker for Maritime Education Summit BUZZARDS BAY, MA – Massachusetts Maritime Academy is pleased announce Sean T. Connaughton as the keynote speaker for the Maritime Education Summit to be held April 15 -17, 2009. Focused on Trends and Pedagogy for the Future, this innovative conference will attract participants from all segments of the maritime industry. ... Read More>>>Back to Top Russian Warship Fuel Spill No Longer Threatening Irish Coast Coast Guard says there is no immediate threat from oil spill. The fuel spill that occurred about 10 days off the coast of Ireland is no longer a threat to the coastline. Currently, it is moving at about five nautical miles a day and is being kept ... Read More>>>Back to Top Mitropoulos Urges Nigerian Government to Act on Piracy IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos stresses that urgent action was needed to assure the international maritime community of Nigeria's commitment to address the problem on a priority basis. IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos has urged the Government of Nigeria to intervene to help reduce the incidence of ... Read More>>>Back to Top Former Port Director Gearin Pleads Guilty to Clean Water Act Violation Port of Astoria Agrees to Civil Resolution Portland, OR (19 February 2009): U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut announced today the Office of the U. S. Attorney, District of Oregon, has filed an information charging Peter Gearin with one count of violating the Clean Water Act. Gearin, the ... Read More>>>Back to Top NMHA to Honor Admiral Thad Allen and Marine Artist John M. Barber Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, will receive the National Maritime Historical Society's NMHS Bravo Zulu Award, given in recognition of heroic and inspirational performance in the fine tradition of the sea services. In presenting this award, the Society salutes Admiral Allen's ... Read More>>>Back to Top MASSPORT Receives $400,000 EPA Grant Money will extend shore power at Boston Fish Pier and cut vessel emissions. BOSTON – The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced today that it has received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to install additional power stations on the Fish Pier so fishing boats ... Read More>>>Back to Top Cummings Grills Coast Guard Commandant on Civil Rights Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, in response to the release of an independent review of the Coast Guard's Office of Civil Rights and the Service's civil rights programs. MarEx readers can click HERE to read ... Read More>>>Back to Top NSRP Debuts Ship Production Panel on Electrical Technologies National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has created the Electrical Technologies Panel in response to industry and Navy needs. In response to current industry and Navy interest in attacking cost drivers in the electrical aspects of shipbuilding, the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has created the Electrical Technologies ... Read More>>>Back to Top PVA Develops Guidance Manual on EPA General Permit for Discharges Incidental to Normal Vessel Operations Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) develops Manual to help its members comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-issued General Permit for wastewater discharges incidental to normal vessel operations. The PVA Manual for Compliance with the EPA Vessel General Permit (VGP) for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation ... Read More>>>Back to Top EMAIL UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2009 The Maritime Executive. 3200 S. Andrews Avenue, Suite 100 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316