Curtas do Bryant´s

New York – uniform national ballast water standard advocated

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) issued a press release stating that it will work with other states to pursue a uniform national ballast water standard that will leave in place the EPA’s current standards in New York for the remainder of EPA’s current Vessel General Permit through December 2013. NYSDEC believes that the EPA proposed standards for 2013-2017 can be strengthened and NYSDEC will work with others to advocate a more protective national approach. NYSDEC also posted its recent letter granting, through December 19, 2013, an extension of the implementation date for installation of ballast water management systems meeting Conditions 2, 3, 4, and 5 of NYS’s Clean Water Act 401 Water Quality Certification. The new NYSDEC approach is discussed in detail in its letter to the EPA. (2/22/12). Note: This is indeed good news. Technology to meet the NYS standards is currently unavailable. In addition, recognition that ballast water management standards should be established at the international and national level is long overdue. New York is to be congratulated for its enlightened approach to addressing this world-wide problem.

OMB – extended review of ballast water rulemaking

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a brief notation stating that its review of the US Coast Guard draft interim final rule on standards for living organisms in ships’ ballast water discharged in US waters has been extended. No indication is provided of how long this extended review will take. (2/23/12).

UK – London Conference on Somalia

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) sponsored the London Conference on Somalia. UK Prime Minister David Cameron delivered the opening speech, calling for increased efforts to build stability and governance in Somalia. He noted that a regional center for coordinating intelligence and pursuing the leaders and financiers of piracy is being established in the Seychelles. He also called for an international task force on ransoms to set the ultimate ambition of stopping such payments to pirates. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stated that some 246 international seafarers are still being held hostage by pirates in Somalia. Elimination of piracy requires security, deterrence, and precautions. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that it is imperative that more nations step forward to prosecute pirates caught hijacking merchant vessels. She also welcomed efforts to discourage the payment of ransom to pirates. (2/23/12).

EU NAVFOR – counter-piracy operations

The EU NAVFOR issued a press release providing an overview of its counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean. International cooperation in these efforts is also discussed. (2/22/12). Fonte: Dennis Bryant.