 OP ED: By Philip C. Brickman, Partner, Fowler Rodriguez Valdes-Fauli
In a 6-3 decision, the United States Supreme Court recently held that the Carmack Amendment does not apply to a shipment originating overseas under a single through bill of lading. See Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. v. Regal-Beloit Corp., 2010 U.S. LEXIS 4982 (U.S. June 21, 2010).
The plaintiff cargo ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 On July 27, 2010 President Obama signed into law the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010. The new law aims to improve the safety and security of American citizens sailing as passengers to and from the United States on large cruise vessels. The law requires large cruise vessels carrying American citizens to adopt basic reporting, safety, and security measures akin to those American ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 BP announced Monday that it has taken a pre-tax charge of $32.2 billion for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, including the $20 billion escrow compensation fund previously announced.
Lawyers are putting together civil lawsuit against BP
Seven U.S. federal judges will convene more than 2,000 miles from the Gulf's oil-smudged shores to consider which U.S. court, or courts, ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 Authorities in Louisiana don't know how long it will take to cap a well struck by a vessel off the coast, as they tried Wednesday to minimize the damage from leaking oil and gas.
A Texas company called in to called in to cap the well, Wild Well Inc., is working through the night to evaluate the condition of the wellhead and ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 Federal authorities are investigating the cause of death of a whale found stuck on the bulbous bow of Sapphire Princess yesterday morning near Juneau.
The whale, which appears to be a juvenile humpback, was discovered at about 8 a.m. while the ship was south of the Alaskan capital city, near Tracy Arm. Princess crew contacted the Coast Guard; officials from National Oceanic ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
The Senate bill unveiled yesterday by Majority Leader Harry Reid moves forward with provisions that will cost American jobs, slow economic growth and will place our energy security at risk, according to a statement by American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Jack Gerard:
"While full details of the Senate bill are not yet available, the liability provision sticks out as a jobs ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 Somali pirates have released a Turkish cargo ship that they had held since March 23.
The Maltese-flagged MV FRIGA, which has a crew of 21 sailors from Turkey and Ukraine, was hijacked approximately 1000 nautical miles east of the northern Somali coastline. The ship had been carrying fertilizer from Israel to Thailand when it was hijacked.
It was reported ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 A cruise ship passenger reportedly has been hauled off a vessel in Bermuda for allegedly arriving in the country with marijuana.
George Koumoulis, 37, of Abingdon, Md., was removed from the Norwegian Dawn on July 22 after police found 7.66 grams of marijuana
in his cabin.
On Tuesday a judge in Bermuda sentenced the cruiser to pay a ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 Canadian archaeologists have found a ship abandoned more than 150 years ago in the quest for the fabled Northwest Passage and which was lost in the search for the doomed expedition of Sir John Franklin.
The HMS Investigator, abandoned in the ice in 1853, was found in shallow water in Mercy Bay along the northern coast of Banks Island in Canada's western ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 A Japanese shipping line raised alarm Wednesday that one of its supertankers was damaged by an explosion in a possible attack in the Persian Gulf, but authorities on both sides of the tense waterway denied that any strike occurred.
The Marshall Islands flagged tanker M. STAR was traveling through the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz when the crew noticed a flash of ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 Onboard Heerema's new Deep Water Construction Vessel
Huisman and Heerema Offshore Services signed a Letter of Intent for the delivery of all mission equipment onboard Heerema's new Deep Water Construction Vessel. Huisman will design, construct and install a 4,000mt Offshore Mast Crane and a pipelay tower for both J-lay and Reel-lay operations in ultra deep water. Installation of equipment is scheduled for ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 Glen Paine, Executive Director of the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS), announced a new 5-day course designed for senior ships officers and company management.
"The course was developed for Horizon Lines, but the first four days are applicable to all mariners sailing at the management or department levels," said Paine. "Effective ship management requires training in both technical and ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 BISSO MARINE, a premier provider of energy and maritime support services, is pleased to announce the addition of John C. Baker as director of Quality and Compliance and Joe Campbell as general manager of Diving and Subsea Services.
Baker directs and manages the company's ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System and AWO RCP Safety Management System, including procedural development and auditing for compliance. ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 Wilhelmsen Ships Service is launching a new initiative to assist its tanker operator customers in adapting to new regulations regarding the testing and supplying of fire-fighting foam. The initiative, in which the company has set up a network of testing stations, follows the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) revised requirements for testing protein-based, alcohol-resistant (PB AR) foam concentrates.
In response to this ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
 Safety concept for ship handling vessels
By Captain Yves Le Chevalier, Voith Tug master
Connecting the towline forward is a maneuver that requires maximum concentration from the tug master. During this critical phase, several important factors must be taken into consideration: the concept of the tug, the ship's speed, the size of the assisted vessel, the weather conditions and ... Read More>>>Back to Top |
