Tag: US

Coast guards are the maritime workhorses of coastal states, intent on protecting their sovereign rights to fisheries and petroleum resources, while also safeguarding lives and the environment. In an Arctic Klondike, this institution – which often operates in the shadow of national navies – does the heavy lifting. Yet, striking the right balance on fleet structure, investments, and Arctic presence in times of budget austerity is no easy task for Arctic coastal states. Maritime activity levels in the Arctic are increasing, compared to low levels throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. It is not the number of trans-arctic voyages, but the number of ships with a destination in the Arctic itself that has predominately increased. This comes as a result of an increase in the transport of goods to and from the Arctic, and from an increase in cruise ship tourism offering “Arctic Cruises”. Similarly, exploratory drilling in Greenlandic, Alaskan or North Norwegian waters, and record yielding fish stocks in the Barents Sea and North Sea, contribute to this trend. As activity increases, the need for an active management of the maritime domain increases as well. When fisheries grow in volume, so does the need for fisheries inspections and research ...

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 established rigorous regulatory and liability controls to protect and clean up the marine environment from oil spills, including extensive provision to prevent the circumstances under which oil spills occur. OPA 9O increased federal authority to respond to oil spills and compensate for damage when spills occur in the United States. OPA 90 also requires owners and operators of evidence sufficient financial responsibility to cover potential liabilities under OPA 90. The US Pollution Risks publication by the UK P&I Club compiles summaries of all the Federal and state requirements on liability, COFR requirements and vessel contingency plan requirements. Legal Briefings provide an overview of certain laws and regulations. While every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy, it is only a guide and not a substitute for formal legal advice. This summary document was compiled by the UK Club's environmental team ledby Dr. Chao Wu and is one of a continuing series of publications which shares the legal expertise within the Club with its Members.  You can read more by clicking below In the outbreak, I was frank with you propecia before and after has changed my existence. It has become much more fun, and ...

NOAA, NASA and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have joined together to support three demonstration projects that will lay the foundation for the first national network to monitor marine biodiversity at scales ranging from microbes to whales.  The projects, to be funded at approximately $17 million over the next five years, subject to the availability of funds, will demonstrate how a national operational marine biodiversity observation network could be developed. Such a network would serve as a marine resource management tool to conserve existing biodiversity and enhance U.S. biosecurity against threats such as invasive species and infectious agents. The three demonstration marine biological observation networks will be established in four locations: the Florida Keys; Monterey Bay and the Santa Barbara Channel in California; and on the continental shelf in the Chukchi Sea in Alaska. Marine biodiversity is a key indicator of ocean health and critical to sustaining natural resources such as fisheries. The three projects, selected from 19 proposals, will be established in different marine environments in U.S. waters to integrate existing observations ranging from satellite observations to DNA sampling and fill data gaps with new observations. This joint effort supports the U.S. National Ocean ...

Three Colombian citizens pleaded guilty for conspiring to transport more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine on board "go-fast boats" from the north coast of Colombia

Lloyd's Register Energy has released its findings from a major oil and gas survey conducted to assess the impact of innovation and investment by operators in America, Europe and Asia. The Technology Radar survey, launched at the start of the year, takes the pulse of technical innovation in the sector and looks ahead to the future investment drivers. The survey revealed the investment drives to be: Safety improvements (45%) Improving operational efficiency (44%) Reducing costs (43%) Accessing new reserves (29%) Increasing asset lifespan (27%)   Lead participants in the survey include commentary from UK Onshore Operations Group, Woodside Energy, Enertech, Maersk Drilling, TouGas Oilfield Solutions, Horton Wison Deepwater, Royal Dutch Shell, GE Oil & Gas, and also Douglas-Westwood, National Energy Technology Laboratory (US), and the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security. The Technology Radar survey is one of the largest polls on the issue of technology and innovation in the oil and gas industry. It takes in to account respondent's opinions and their business strategies in the near term (before 2020); the medium term (the years before and after 2020); and the longer term (from 2025 and beyond). Technology Radar survey is based on five research questions: Which technologies ...

GTT (Gaztransport & Technigaz) announced the signing of an agreement with Conrad Shipyard for the future production of LNG membrane tanks using GTT's technology. The signing of an agreement initiates the process of training and preparing Conrad Shipyard, a major US shipbuilder, to offer GTT's membrane containment technologies for LNG storage, transportation, and fuel tanks. The training process will include the construction of a membrane tank model to exhibit Conrad Shipyard's manufacturing and installation expertise. The successful construction of the model tank will demonstrate to both regulatory agencies and classification societies the shipyard's skills and experience in the production of sophisticated membrane technologies. This partnership demonstrates the continued commitment of both GTT North America and Conrad Shipyard to the development of the LNG fuel market in the US, including small and mid-scale LNG infrastructure to support development of this nascent market. Earlier in the year, Conrad and Bristol Harbor Group International (BHGI), a naval architecture and marine engineering firm, developed a concept design for a 4,200 cubic meter LNG bunker barge, adapting BHGI's proven 35,000 bbl, oil barge platform technology to include two LNG cargo tanks fitted with GTT's proprietary Mark III Flex Containment System technology. The use of GTT ...

Marine Atlantic joins Green Marine, the largest voluntary environmental program for the maritime industry in North America

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced a $324.6 million loan guarantee for TOTE Shipholdings and Saltchuk Resources for their Marlin Class vessels. The two new Marlin Class vessels, which will be the world's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered containerships, will serve the Puerto Rico trade and will be complete in 2015 and 2016. This financing is made available under the Title XI Loan Guarantee Program. TOTE and Saltchuk qualified for this loan as the new ship build is an advancement in shipbuilding technology and being constructed at a U.S. shipyard. The new containerships are being built at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, California. The Marlin Class vessels set new standards for environmental responsibility, reducing a number of air emissions including particulate matter, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. "This financing from the U.S. Department of Transportation and MARAD enables TOTE to invest in modern technology that will create jobs, reduce our impact on the environment, and ensure a safer and healthier workplace for our employees" stated Anthony Chiarello, President and CEO of TOTE. More than 600 skilled workers will be employed by General Dynamics NASSCO for the construction of the two Marlin Class vessels. Both vessels are currently being ...

USCG conducted an investigation into the circumstances involving the allision between the USNS 1st LT Harry L. Martin and the John Mathews Bridge

President Obama has taken action to build the foundation for a clean energy economy, tackle the issue of climate change and protect our environment