Curtas do Bryant´s

DOJ – Somali pirate pleads guilty

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a news release stating that Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse, the Somali pirate who led the hijacking of the US-flag container ship Maersk Alabama in the Indian Ocean on April 9, 2009, pleaded guilty in federal court to two felony counts of hijacking a maritime vessel, two felony counts of kidnapping, and two felony counts of hostage taking. He had also participated in two earlier hijackings. He is scheduled for sentencing on October 19. (5/18/10).

House – hearing on oil spill prevention and response measures

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a hearing on Oil Spill Prevention and Response Measures, and Natural Resource Impacts. Mr. Lamar McKay, BP America, testified concerning efforts to stop the flow of oil and to clean up the oil that has been discharged. Mr. Steven Newman, Transocean, testified concerning efforts to determine the cause of the casualty. Ms. Lisa Jackson, Environmental Protection Agency, testified concerning EPA’s work in support of the oil spill response. Dr. Jane Lubchenco, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, testified concerning NOAA’s work in support of the oil spill response. Ms. S. Elizabeth Birnbaum, Minerals Management Service, testified concerning MMS’s regulation of offshore oil and gas development. Rear Admiral Brian Salerno, US Coast Guard, testified concerning the federal government’s response to the oil spill. Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Society, testified concerning the impact of the oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Mr. Larry Schweiger, National Wildlife Federation, testified concerning the long-term and short-term impacts of the spill. Mr. Pete Gerica, Gerica Seafood, testified concerning the impacts of the spill on the seafood industry. Dr. Carys Mitchelmore, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, testified concerning the limited data available regarding the long-term effects of oil spills. Dr. Nancy Kinner, Coastal Response Research Center, testified concerning the limited research that has been done to date regarding the effectiveness and impact of dispersants. (5/19/10).

Australia – ship incident in Torres Strait

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a news release stating that a timber carrier en route from Papua New Guinea to China grounded briefly on an uncharted reef in Papua New Guinea waters. As a result of the grounding, the vessel is taking on water and may be leaking fuel oil. When the vessel entered Australian waters, the AMSA issued an intervention order directing it to anchor so that the damage can be evaluated. The evaluation has not revealed any oil entering the water from the vessel. (5/20/10).

Philippines – hijacked tug and barge recovered

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an Incident Update stating that the tug Atlantic 3 and barge Atlantic 5 which were hijacked on April 27 while off the coast of Malaysia have been recovered. They were located in a harbor on the southern coast of Mindanao, The Philippines. The six persons on board have been arrested. (5/19/10). Fonte: Dennis Bryant.