Maritime >> Spotlight RSS Document

Status of US Ports (7/3/08)

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

No significant changes in the security status of US ports have been brought to our attention in the preceding 24 hours. For a summary of maritime security requirements in the United States, access the Port Security page of our Web site - Maritime Spotlight - Port Security.

Australia – review of coastal pilotage service

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a

media release stating that it will review the delivery of coastal pilotage services in the Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef. All stakeholders will be included in the consultations, which will begin in early July. (7/2/08).

Bill introduced re submersible vessels without nationality

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bill (

S. 3198) to amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the navigation of submersible or semi-submersible vessels without nationality. (6/25/08).

Bill introduced to exempt certain shipping from the HMT

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bill (

S. 3199) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt certain shipping from the harbor maintenance tax (HMT). The proposal, if enacted into law, would exempt cargo (other than bulk cargo) loaded at a port in the US mainland and unloaded at either another port in the US mainland or at a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System after transport solely by a coastal route or river. (6/25/08).

Block Island – collision between USCG buoy tender and ferry

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The US Coast Guard issued a

press release stating that it is responding to a collision between a Coast Guard buoy tender and a ferry carrying 257 passengers and eight crew. Damage to both vessels was minor. There were no reports of injury or pollution. The incident is under investigation. Needless to say, the Coast Guard was on the scene immediately. (7/2/08).

Columbia River – Jordan Cove LNG project

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The US Coast Guard issued a

press release stating that it has completed its Waterway Suitability Report for the proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility to be located on the Columbia River. The Report finds that additional measures will be necessary to responsibly manage the navigation, safety, and security risks associated with this project. The Report has been forwarded to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for its consideration as part of the facility licensing process. (7/2/08).

DHS – Global Maritime Information Sharing Symposium

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness (GMSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in conjunction with the Department of Justice and the US Fleet Forces Command, is sponsoring the

Global Maritime Information Sharing Symposium (GMISS) on August 20-21 at the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. (6/24/08).

EC – recovery sought for shipyard aid

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The European Commission (EC) issued a

press release stating that it has requested that Greece recover more than €230 million of allegedly illegal aid from Hellenic Shipyards. (7/2/08).

EMSA – newsletter

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) released the

June 2008 edition of its newsletter. (6/30/08).

FMC – meeting

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) will meet in a closed session in Washington, DC on July 9. Among the issues to be considered is the Export Cargo Issues Status Report.

73 Fed. Reg. 38214 (July 3, 2008).

IMO – SOLAS amendments enter into force

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The IMO issued a

news release stating that amendments to the SOLAS Convention to strengthen the fire protection arrangements on cabin balconies on passenger ships entered into force on 1 July 2008, along with other SOLAS amendments relating to the prevention of accidents involving lifeboats and protective coatings on ships. (7/2/08).

Independence Day

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

Tomorrow, July 4, 2008, marks the 232nd anniversary of the proclamation of the

Declaration of Independence by the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled. This date does not mark the actual independence of the United States. Our forebearers had to fight for that. Preservation of our independence has been a continuing struggle, sometimes involving armed conflict, but more often in small ways. Voting, serving on jury duty, paying taxes, cooperating in a civil society, and speaking up for what is right (even when it is unpopular) are also important means of preserving our independence. Proudly celebrate independence and remember those who have sacrificed to make it possible.

IRS – treatment of vessel leasing income – modification

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued temporary regulations addressing the treatment of certain income and assets related to leasing of aircraft and vessels in foreign commerce. In general, the regulations will affect United States shareholders of controlled foreign corporations that derive income from the leasing of aircraft or vessels in foreign commerce and US persons that transfer property subject to these leases to a foreign corporation. These temporary regulations come into effect immediately.

73 Fed. Reg. 38113 (July 3, 2008). In a separate but related document, the IRS proposes to make these temporary regulations permanent. Comments on this proposal should be submitted by October 1. 73 Fed. Reg. 38162 (July 3, 2008).

New Zealand – EEZ environmental effects legislation – proposed

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The New Zealand Minister for the Environment issued a

media statement reporting that the government is drafting legislation to manage the environmental effects of activities in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Proposal, if enacted, would address such things as seabed mining, petroleum activities, energy generation, carbon capture and storage, and marine farming. (6/27/08).

New Zealand – Toll ferry service acquired by government

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Office of the New Zealand Prime Minister issued a

news release stating that the ferry and rail assets of Toll New Zealand have been transferred into government ownership. The amount paid by the government to the private owner has not been released. (7/1/08).

PHMSA – storage of explosives during transportation

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a notice stating that it has reopened the comment period for its advance notice of proposed rulemaking concerning storage of explosives during transportation. A public meeting on this issue will be held in Washington, DC on August 7. Written comments should be submitted by October 1.

73 Fed. Reg. 38164 (July 3, 2008).

San Francisco Bay – oil recovery training

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The US Coast Guard issued a

press release stating that a cutter deployed its Ships Oil Recovery System (SORS) equipment in San Francisco Bay on July 2 as part of annual training. (7/1/08).

TSA – TWIC Dashboard

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued an update on the status of enrollment for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential –

TWIC Dashboard. The update shows that 361,306 maritime workers have applied for a TWIC and that 170,021 cards have been activated. (6/26/08).

TSA – TWIC enrollment – various ports

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a notice stating that enrollment of maritime workers for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) will commence in the Ports of Lafayette (July 10); Eureka (July 16); Riverhead (July 23); Lindenhurst (July 30); and Stockton (August 13).

73 Fed. Reg. 38239 (July 3, 2008).

UK – update re port security directive implementation project

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The UK Department for Transport issued an

Update on its Port Security Directive implementation project. The consultation period closes on July 11. (7/2/08).

USCG – Safety Alert – controllable pitch propeller systems

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The US Coast Guard issued a Safety Alert recommending that owners, operators, and masters of vessels with controllable pitch propeller systems understand the design and operation of the system. This includes the primary and emergency sources of power for the control system and the main system, the location and procedures for using alternate control stations, and the locations of emergency shutdowns. The Alert also includes recommendations regarding situational awareness.

Safety Alert 3-08 (7/2/08).

USCG – TWIC compliance date for Great Lakes

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The US Coast Guard issued a

press release stating that the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program compliance date for owners and operators of facilities located within the USCG Captain of the Port (COTP) Zones of Buffalo, Duluth, Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie, and Lake Michigan is October 31, 2008. This date is in addition to the October 15, 2008 compliance date for facilities located in the COTP Zones of Boston, Northern New England, and Southeastern New England. Further compliance dates will be announced in the future. A Framework of expected compliance dates will, though, provide guidance regarding this point. By April 15, 2009, all US port facilities must be in compliance and all credentialed US mariners must be in possession of a TWIC. (7/2/08).

Baltimore – stolen vehicles recovered

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a

news release stating that its officers in the Port of Baltimore recovered two stolen vehicles that were in the process of being shipped out of the country. (6/30/08).

Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal – RNA and safety zone

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The US Coast Guard has extended through August 15 the temporary regulated navigation area (RNA) and through August 9 the temporary safety zone on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville, Illinois. These measures relate to work being performed on the electrical dispersal barrier at that location.

73 Fed. Reg. 37810 (July 2, 2008).

DHS OIG – additional controls needed for ACE system

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued the redacted report of its review of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system administered by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The review concluded that CBP has made good progress in implementing controls to protect the information stored and processed on ACE. Even with these controls in place, weaknesses were found in three areas: (1) security acceptance during the system development process; (2) user account management process; and (3) [redacted].

OIG-08-64 (7/1/08).

DHS OIG – cargo container targeting

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:58:21 GMT

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued the report of its review of the Cargo Enforcement Reporting and Tracking System (CERTS) administered by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CERTS is intended to gather data on cargo examination findings and report on how efficiently examination equipment is being used. Analysis of this information can be used to improve CBP’s ability to identify high-risk cargo containers entering the United States and examination methodologies. The review found that CBP has not updated its CERTS project plan. In addition, CBP bypassed key Customs Standard Life Cycle reviews designed to ensure end-users have a properly working system and have received management’s approval to continue the project. As a result, CERTS project development was delayed and not fully available to end-users as CBP originally planned.

OIG-08-65 (7/1/08).