Curtas do Bryant´s

USCG – oil spill removal equipment requirements

The US Coast Guard is updating its requirements for oil-spill removal equipment associated with vessel response plans (VRP) and marine transportation-related facility response plans (MTFRP). These changes will add requirements for new response technologies and revise methods and procedures for responding to oil spills upon the waters of the United States, adjoining shorelines, and the EEZ. The amendments also revise the compliance date for updates of VRPs required by the salvage and marine firefighting regulations so that plan holders are not required to update their VRPs twice within a 12-month period. The changes come into effect on September 30. 74 Fed. Reg. 45003 (August 31, 2009).

Malta – participation in investigation of Arctic Sea incident

The Malta Maritime Authority issued a press release stating that the Russian authorities have acceded to its request to send a representative to Russia and officially participate in the investigation of recent incident involving the Maltese-flag MV Arctic Sea. (8/27/09).

Strait of Messina – new traffic separation scheme

The IMO issued a circular forwarding information received from the Government of Italy announcing establishment of a new traffic separation scheme (TSS) in the Strait of Messina. The TSS will come into effect six months after its notification to IMO. The Note Verbale advising of this action is dated 29 May 2009. SN.1/Circ.279 (6/12/09).

IMO – removal of anti-fouling coatings

The IMO issued a circular forwarding guidance on best management practices for removal of anti-fouling coatings from ships, including TBT hull paints. AFS.3/Circ.3 (7/22/09).

ReCAAP – piracy report for July 2009

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued its Report for July 2009 summarizing reports it received of incidents of piracy and armed and armed robbery against ships in Asian waters. In July 2009, eight such incident were reported, with seven being actual incidents and one an attempted incident. This compares with ten such incidents (all actual) in July 2008. (8/28/09).

DOD – combating modern piracy

The Department of Defense issued a news release summarizing the presentation of a Navy historian tracing the rise of piracy. Among other things, the historian noted that strategies used to fight pirates in the past still hold true today. One is that you can’t fight pirates with large warships. You need ships with shallow drafts that can chase the pirates close to shore. Another is that it is more efficient to hit the pirates in their shore facilities. (8/28/09). Fonte: Dennis Bryant.