MarEx eNewsletter - March 27, 2009

March 27th, 2009 Vol. 7, No. 12 The Many Faces of CMA 2009 The Connecticut Maritime Association conference, billed as one which would bring us "back to basics," turned out to be so much more. CMA attendees launch the final three quarters of 2009 in high-flying fashion. Stamford, CT: From the "git-go," this was one for the books. Smack in ... Read More>>>Back to Top MarEx Mailbag: The Mailbag is once again heavy this week as readers respond to last week's editorial. Last week, our lead piece centered on the court decision which has sidelined the Hawaii Superferry. The editorial, entitled "Striking a Balance: Mixed Message in Hawaii", struck a chord with more than ... Read More>>>Back to Top Somali Pirates Capture Two Tankers, Greek Bulk Carrier and Yacht, While Three Ships Fired On Armed pirates hijack Norwegian and Greek chemical tankers, Greek bulk carrier, and a Seychelles-registered yacht. This week and in less than twenty-four hours, two tankers were captured, a Norwegian chemical tanker, the 23,000-ton M/V BOW ASIR, had a crew of 27, and the Greek ship, M/V NIPAVIA, ... Read More>>>Back to Top MarEx March/April PRINT Edition is in Production! The latest MarEx print edition, featuring a decidedly international theme on the cover, provides unique focus on the offshore environment, LNG, safety, maritime security - and so much more. As always, you get our now familiar regular features, too! The latest edition of THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE is ... Read More>>>Back to Top Oil Rig Helicopters Problems on Worldwide Alert The recent death of 17 passengers in Newfoundland oil patch has Sikorsky Aircraft Company issuing a Bulletin on S-92A chopper. According to the Canadian government, there have been 25 reports filed with Transport Canada since 2006, involving the Sikorsky S-92A model helicopter. The most recent problem involved ... Read More>>>Back to Top America's Marine Highways Goal for new website is to provide a portal that is full of up-to-date news, information and resources regarding Short Sea Shipping or as MarAd terms it, "America's Marine Highways." The site's administrator hopes that this WEB site will evolve into a significantly useful resource not just ... Read More>>>Back to Top IHS Global Insight's Preview of the Upcoming Meeting of the G20 What to Expect from the G20 Summit. (1) Protectionism: There will be a commitment to avoid overt protectionist measures. That's the easy part. However, in practice there may be intensifying local pressure to resort to indirect protection and less obvious protectionist measures as global trade and output ... Read More>>>Back to Top Cummings Statement on Coast Guard Acquisition Improvements Cummings pleased to learn of the agreement signed today by the Coast Guard and the Integrated Coast Guard Systems team to formally remove any option for additional award term periods or the renewal of current contract award terms beyond January 24, 2011. Washington, DC: Congressman Elijah E. ... Read More>>>Back to Top Three thousand and counting as Liberia welcomes Tsakos newbuilding THE Liberian Registry has passed a major milestone in its history by registering its 3,000th vessel, the 105,400 dwt aframax tanker Ise Princess, built this year for Fairsea Enterprises SA and managed and operated by Tsakos Shipping & Trading SA of Greece. Scott Bergeron. Chief Operating Officer ... Read More>>>Back to Top SEAWAY NOTICE NO. 7 - 2009 Maximum Allowable Drafts – Montreal Lake Ontario Section In the Montreal to Lake Ontario section, the maximum allowable draft will be 80.8 dm (26' 06"), subject to favourable water elevations, effective March 31, 2009. This increase applies to all vessels. In addition, there will be zero tolerance ... Read More>>>Back to Top AMS Completes U.S. Coast Guard Audit US Coast Guard commanders conducted an on-site audit of AMS' chemical testing program on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, and issued an audit report in which they determined that "AMS' chemical testing program is in full compliance with the US Coast Guard's chemical testing regulation, 46 CFR Part 4, 5 & ... Read More>>>Back to Top Hummer Appointed to Head Maritime Administration's Northern California Gateway Office WASHINGTON: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration has named John Hummer to head its new Northern California Gateway Office in San Francisco. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Hummer served as the State of California's deputy secretary for goods movement in the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency. Read More>>>Back to Top NTSB Advisory: National Transportation Safety Board Launches to Fishing Vessel Accident in Cape May, NJ Washington, DC -- The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a go-team to participate with the U.S. Coast Guard in the investigation of a fishing vessel accident in Cape May, New Jersey. Marine investigator ... Read More>>>Back to Top NAMEPA Launches Marine Debris Poster at CMA's Shipping 2009 Wide distribution encouraged. STAMFORD, CT—March 23rd At the Connecticut Maritime Association's Shipping 2009 conference, the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) launched today its Marine Debris poster bearing a headline: "Do You Know Where Your Litter Is? Right Where You Left It" Through NAMEPA's strategic alliance ... Read More>>>Back to Top Cota's Attorneys Return Fire on NTSB Captain John J. Cota's Submissions and Comments to the NTSB's Marine Accident Draft report MarEx has received the text (.pdf) of the public version of pilot John J. Cota's detailed submission to the NTSB prior to the February 18, 2009 hearing concerning the cause of the allision ... Read More>>>Back to Top Germanischer Lloyd's Phil Essex Elected to PVA Board of Directors Members of the Associate Council of the Passenger Vessel Association have elected Phil Essex, Tonnage Coordinator, Germanischer Lloyd (USA) Inc., to serve as its representative to the PVA Board of Directors. We are delighted to have Phil join the PVA Board," said Bill Clark, PVA President. "His ... Read More>>>Back to Top MASSPORT's Port Director Again Elected "Chairman of the Board" of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) BOSTON: The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced today that Port Director Michael A. Leone was elected for a second time as Chairman of the Board of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). The appointment announcement came this week at AAPA's Annual Spring Conference, held in Washington, D.C. The Association ... Read More>>>Back to Top Maritime Administration Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of ... Read More>>>Back to Top Two U.S. Navy Vessels Collide in the Strait of Hormuz MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS): A U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship collided in the Strait of Hormuz March 20, 2009. The collision between USS Hartford (SSN 768) and USS New Orleans (LPD 18) occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time (5:00 p.m. EDT, March 19). ... Read More>>>Back to Top Maritime Education Summit at Mass. Maritime Takes Shape BUZZARDS BAY, MA – The Massachusetts Maritime Academy has released the schedule of events for the Maritime Education Summit scheduled for April 15 – 17, 2009. Summit to run concurrently with spring meeting of MERPAC, which attendees of the Summit are also welcome to attend. As previously ... Read More>>>Back to Top EMAIL UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2009 The Maritime Executive. 3200 S. Andrews Avenue, Suite 100 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

MarEx eNewsletter - March 19, 2009

March 19th, 2009 Vol. 7, No. 11 Striking a Balance: A Mixed Message in Hawaii Hawaii Superferry Suspends Operations After Court Decision – but at what cost? As Hawaii's new inter-island ferry service ceased operations this week in the wake of a state Supreme Court ruling, my first thoughts went to the hundreds – perhaps thousands – of people who would ultimately ... Read More>>>Back to Top MarEx Mailbag: The Mailbag is heavy this week as readers respond to last week's editorial. Last week, our lead piece centered on the COSCO BUSAN allision, and specifically, the DOJ's announcement of a guilty plea in the case. The editorial, entitled "COSCO BUSAN (almost) in the Rearview Mirror", struck ... Read More>>>Back to Top America's Marine Highways Goal for new website is to provide a portal that is full of up-to-date news, information and resources regarding Short Sea Shipping or as MarAd terms it, "America's Marine Highways." The site's administrator hopes that this WEB site will evolve into a significantly useful resource not just ... Read More>>>Back to Top UN Claims Somali Government Part of the Piracy Problem Despite the launch of "one of the largest anti-piracy flotillas in modern history," the clan-organized taking of vessels off the coast of Somalia will only cease when order is restored to the Horn of Africa nation, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a report released today. "There is ... Read More>>>Back to Top Maritime Administration Awards Contract to Earl Industries, LLC VA-based firm to provide layberth services for three of the agency's Ready Reserve Force vessels—Cape Ray, Cape Race, and Cape Rise. March 18, 2009: The Maritime Administration has awarded a contract to Earl Industries, LLC., of Portsmouth, Va. to provide layberth services for three of the agency's ... Read More>>>Back to Top 2008 Summary of Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Working Group Report claims ship operators also improved their compliance with ballast water requirements in 2008. • March 2009 Executive Summary The 2008 Summary of Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Management report was compiled by the Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Working Group (BWWG), comprised of ... Read More>>>Back to Top The Pirates of Puntland: Practical, Legal and Policy Issues in the Fight Against Somali Piracy New U.S. Military Orders and Government Policy in the Fight Against Somali Piracy Result in First Capture of Suspected Pirates by U.S. Forces Last month, for the first time since the U.S. Navy's engagement in the international anti-piracy force patrolling the Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters, ... Read More>>>Back to Top NC Ports Receive Diesel Emission Control Grant Retrofits planned for cargo handling equipment at Wilmington and Morehead City WILMINGTON, N.C. --- The NC State Ports Authority has been awarded a $140,000 grant for diesel emission control devices from the NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR). The Authority will use the funds to ... Read More>>>Back to Top Consolidated Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) to Become a Reality Previous regulations, allowed for up to four credentials to a mariner: a Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD), a Merchant Mariner's License (License), a Certificate of Registry (COR), and STCW Endorsement. Coast Guard says consolidated credential will reduce number of credentials a mariner will need and also eliminates redundant burdens and government ... Read More>>>Back to Top U.S. SEAWAY CORPORATION Receives First Year of Infrastructure Renewal Funding The 10-year program will be the first time in the Seaway's history that a coordinated effort to repair and modernize the U.S. Seaway infrastructure has taken place. Thursday, March 12, 2009: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) will initiate its planned 10-year ... Read More>>>Back to Top Kistefos Submits a Revised Proposal to Trico Marine Board Proposal Asks Stockholders to Increase Board to Nine and Elect Two Experienced Nominees as Part of Effort to Reverse Trico's Startling Loss of Stockholders Value. Kistefos Confident There are No Jones Act Issues; Asks Board to Set Aside Legal Maneuvers and Focus on Reversing the Company's Poor Operating Performance Read More>>>Back to Top Relationship between the MMC and TWIC After April 15, 2009 you are required to hold a valid TWIC in order to serve under the authority of your merchant credential. A TWIC is not required in order to apply for or receive a document of continuity. March 18, 2009: The Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) ... Read More>>>Back to Top Winston & Strawn Issues Environmental Department Client Briefing Briefing addresses a US Environmental Protection Agency proposed rule that would require large sources of greenhouse gas emissions to provide annual reports of their greenhouse gas emissions. In a move that is widely viewed as a precursor to comprehensive federal climate change legislation, on March 10, 2009, ... Read More>>>Back to Top Wheelabrator® Preservation Line: An environmentally-sound solution to blasting and painting needs Burlington, Ontario – (March 17, 2009) – In August 2006, the installation of a Wheelabrator® Preservation Line complemented the new Delta Steel facility opening in Morgan City, Louisiana. As a provider of components for oil rig platform applications and ... Read More>>>Back to Top Safe Voyage Magazine (Spring 2009) Ready for Download Free publication aims to enhance quality and safety, ashore and aboard. "Safe Voyage® - Working Together is a free electronic magazine provided by QSE Solutions. In each issue of Safe Voyage® you will find articles written by maritime industry leaders and fellow colleagues, including information about helpful ... Read More>>>Back to Top 2009 Seaway Handbook Amendments Available Industry can produce a printed copy of the Seaway Handbook by simply printing the individual PDF files found on our web site (or found on the DVD). Please note that as of 2009, the Seaway Handbook is distributed via DVD and via our www.greatlakes-seaway.com web site. We ... Read More>>>Back to Top Hawaii Superferry Ceases Operations After State Supreme Court Ruling Hawaii's innovative inter-island ferry is forced to shut down because high court rejects state law that allowed the firm to operate while environmental study was being conducted. In the wake of the court ruling, Hawaii Superferry issued the following Statement to the media: * * * ... Read More>>>Back to Top AAPA 'Spring Conference' To Feature U.S. Rep. Jane Harman & Key Transportation, Port Officials U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. Don T. Riley, Pennsylvania DOT Sec. Allen D. Biehler, former U.S. DOT Sec. Rodney Slater (now a partner with Patton Boggs LLP), U.S. Department of Homeland Security's assistant administrator of the Grant Programs Directorate, W. Ross Ashley, and ... Read More>>>Back to Top United States - Mexico: Mexico Strikes Back with Tariff Hikes in U.S. Truck Dispute IHS Global Insight Perspective: Mexico's tariff retaliation on U.S. imports heralds a major trade-policy challenge to U.S. President Barack Obama, testing his vague position on the North American Free-Trade Agreement. Significance: In a retaliatory move, Mexico announced tariff hikes on U.S. imports yesterday, raising the spectre of ... Read More>>>Back to Top Maritime Education Summit at Mass. Maritime Takes Shape BUZZARDS BAY, MA – The Massachusetts Maritime Academy has released the schedule of events for the Maritime Education Summit scheduled for April 15 – 17, 2009. Summit to run concurrently with spring meeting of MERPAC, which attendees of the Summit are also welcome to attend. As previously ... Read More>>>Back to Top "Rope Yarns" Tribute to: RADM Thomas E. Burke, USMS, MNS '39, MMA '82 (H) The Friends of Massachusetts Maritime Academy cordially invite you and your spouse to join in a gala evening to pay tribute to our long time friend and distinguished graduate, Rear Admiral Thomas E. Burke, USMS. The Friends of Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a social organization comprised mostly ... Read More>>>Back to Top EMAIL UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2009 The Maritime Executive. 3200 S. Andrews Avenue, Suite 100 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316