Marine Log - September 2007 - (Page 68)

Last word ack in late July, Massachusetts was permanently enjoined by the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts from enforcing the Massachusetts Oil Spill Prevention Act 2004. The law, which set down state requirements for manning, tank vessel design, mandatory routes, state pilotage and escort tugs, was enacted in Aug. 4, 2004 in response to an oil spill in 2003 in Buzzards Bay. The court, however, called the law unconstitutional, because the U.S. Coast Guard has regulatory authority over vessel operations in U.S. waters. The decision was the result of a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Government and joined by the American Waterways Operators (AWO), BIMCO, the Chamber of Shipping of America and INTERTANKO. On Aug. 30, the U.S. Coast Guard issued its final rule on the Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) for all of the First District navigable waterways, including Buzzards Bay, containing operational revisions that will take effect on Nov. 28, 2007. In a summary to its members, AWO, the national September 2007 Vol. 112 No. 9 Clearing up Buzzards Bay’s murky waters B organization representing U.S. tug, towboat and barge operators, says the final rule takes a three-pronged approach to navigation safety for Buzzards Bay. The rule is primarily aimed at single-hulled tank barges carrying 5,000 or more barrels of oil or other hazardous material being towed by a primary towing vessel with twin-screw propulsion. CREATION OF VESSEL MONITORING SYSTEM The first part of this three-pronged approach, says AWO, will include monitoring the use of existing recommended routes via mandatory vessel participation in the Vessel Movement Reporting System (VMRS) created by the rule. Vessels that are required to have Automatic Identification System (AIS) because of operations abroad or in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) area will be able to comply and participate in the VMRS. Regardless of whether a tug/barge combination is equipped with AIS, it must still participate in the VMRS by either installing AIS or using VHF radiotelephones. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will manage the VMRS at its Cape Cod Canal control center on behalf of the Coast Guard. In addition, the final rule changes the proposed VMRS Buzzards Bay policy so that vessels do not need to seek “approval,” but must instead “notify” the VMRS center when vessels enter or get underway in Buzzards Bay, or meet, cross or overtake other VMRS users in the area. FEDERALLY LICENSED PILOTS Secondly, a federally licensed pilot, in addition to the normal crew, will be required onboard the primary tug towing a singlehulled tank barge. The federally licensed pilot will serve as an additional navigation resource to the master and crew of the vessel. To allow for maximum operating flexibility to meet differing conditions and situations, recommended routes depicted on NOAA charts are not mandatory under the rule. Most vessels currently use the recommended vessel routes voluntarily. ESCORT TUGS Thirdly, the rule requires an escort tug in addition to the primary tug, for all single-hulled tank barges transiting Buzzards Bay. The rule does not require an escort tug for tank ships, double-hulled barges or single-hull tank barges towed by primary tugs that have twin-screw propulsion with a separate system for power to each screw. The stated purpose of this rule “is to reduce the likelihood of an incident that might result in a collision, allision, or grounding and the aftermath discharge or release of oil or hazardous material into the navigable waters of the United States.” At this time, the requirement for escort tugs is not extended to double-hull tank barges. Additionally, oil spill response vessels and barges are not exempt from these regulations. The final rule does not establish new manning or watchstanding requirements. Questions regarding the rule can be directed to Christopher Coakley, Vice President, Atlantic Region, AWO at 703-841-9300 x297; ccoakley@vesselalliance.com MARINELOG ISSN 08970491 A Simmons-Boardman Publication 345 Hudson Street, New York, N.Y. 10014 Tel: (212) 620-7200 Fax: (212) 633-1165 Website: http://www.marinelog.com Advertising Sales UNITED STATES New York Sales Office 345 Hudson St., 12th floor New York, NY 10014 Roland Espinosa Sales Manager Tel (212) 620-7225 Fax (212) 633-1165 E-mail: respinosa@sbpub.com U.S. GULF COAST Jeff Sutley Tel (212) 620-7233 Fax (212) 633-1165 E-mail: jsutley@sbpub.com WORLDWIDE Europe & Australia Representative Donna Edwards, International Sales Manager e-mail: dedwards@sbpub.com Marine Log (UK) Hillreed House, 54 Queen Street, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5AD UK Tel: +44 1403 275935 Fax: +44 1403 260633 Korea Young-Seoh Chinn JES Media International 2nd Fl. 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Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marine Log - September 2007

Marine Log - September 2007 Contents Update Inside Washington High Speed Design Heads into New Waters The National Maritime Salvage Conference & Expo Guide China Aims for the Top Azipods: Just Add Ice Rigdon Scores Newsmakers Tech News Contracts Events Website Directory InfoDirect Ml Marketplace Last Word

Marine Log - September 2007

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