NAUTICAL LOG

The following "M" Notices are now available at www.mcga.gov.uk/ If you have any difficulties contact 023 8032 9391 for assistance. MIN 397 (M) NORDREG, www.tc.gc.ca/ MGN 419 (M+F) Marine Flares disposal. MGN 420 (M) Piracy defence. MGN 422 (M) Overside work. Good Watch.

UPDATE : October 01, 2010. See the reports in the world news media of law enforcement and the President of Ecuador being held "hostage" by police. In the NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder this morning came news of new laws passed in Ecuador. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund and Conservation International presented to PROJUSTICIA a unit of the Ministry of Justice of Ecuador a legal brief justifying the need to create a 'Rights of Nature' for the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. English; In 2008 Ecuador became the first country to recognize nature as a subject of rights. The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador recognizes the rights of nature to be respected and restored. In 2009 the 'Organic Code of the Judicial Function' was created. This provides for the creation of special judiciaries to address claims of violation of the rights of nature. The Law authorizes its establishment by the Consejo de la Judicatura, the country's Jud...

Today came news that the actress Gloria Stewart had died at age of 100. This is the lady who played 'Rose' in her final years in Cameron's 1997 movie Titanic. It is perhaps fitting at this time of, once again, controversy about the events of that tragic night. Of all the people involved with the making of that film she was the only one actually alive at the time of Titanic's sinking. Good Watch.

This year World Maritime Day is being celebrated on September 23, 2010 at the International Maritime Organization Headquarters (IMO HQ) in London, England. In many countries around the world there is similar recognition of Seafarers - and well deserved it is. What is World Maritime Day? It is the day the United Nations (UN) through the IMO celebrates our industry's contribution towards the world's economy especially shipping. The event's date varies from year to year and differs by country but it is always celebrated during the last week of September. For us Navigators this year has a magnificent harvest full moon with Jupiter just below in the Southeast quadrant. Last night here in Miami-Dade County Florida it was spectacular, clear sky with just some patchy clouds. This is also the 'Year of the Seafarer' and World Maritime Day focuses on shipping safety, maritime security, marine environment and the work of the IMO. There will be remembrance events for those of us...

Barn Owl - not ' Oasis' however With the present design of cruise ships more like amusement parks than sea-going vessels it was bound to happen. In "The Miami Herald" there was a report this morning of a stowaway aboard the MS Oasis of the Seas at Port Everglades, FL. However instead of calling ICE as is usually done they called FWC - yes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. The stowaway was a barn owl, a protected species in Florida, which had established her territory on the ships golf course - very clearly established it too. Unfortunately the turf is artifical material laid on a solid deck and she could not excavate a burrow. Two officers Mr. Bingham from FWC and Mr. Rudolph from BSO 'worked the case' spenting some thirty minutes before she was captured via a butterfly net. Barn Owl 'Oasis ' was then escorted to Markham Park, Broward County where she was released without any charges being preferred. Mr. Bingham reports that she " f...

Chuck and Dick West From our Press Folder came news of CRUISE WEST which happens to be a part of the NAUTICAL LOG sea career history. On September 08, 2010 the Company stated it was pursuing a number of options with various parties to maintain operations, including investment, selling assets and selling the company. They suspended all new bookings and closed their reservation centre. On September 18, 2010, they ceased operations a Press Release titled Cruise West Ceases Operations stated in part; "because of the recent dip in the markets and the continued lack of economic confidence, these options have not come to fruition". It was signed by Dick West, Cruise West's Chairman and Managing Director, the full Release can be read online. In the 1960's NAUTICAL LOG was living in Canada and was offered a position as Third Officer in the SS Glacier Queen operating from Vancouver, BC. She was under the Canadian Flag and sailed on eight day cruises from Vancouver, BC to S...

USCG Sentinel-class which are based on the Netherlands Damen Stan-class USCGC opened hull view USCG Sentinel-class interior layout USN Cyclone-class In the NAUTICAL LOG Press Release folder comes news of Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, LA. The United States Coast Guard has awarded a $166.1 million option to start production of four ' Sentinel-class' Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). This latest award brings a total of eight FRCs under production at Bollinger with a value of $410.7 million. The current FRC contract contains options for up to 34 cutters and is worth $1.5 billion if they are all exercised. Recently the United States Navy limited operation of its 'Cyclone-class' coastal patrol boats stationed in Bahrain and Norfolk, VA. Any vessel operation would depend on sea state and speed restrictions. This was due to structural damage as the vessels reach the 15 year mark which is considered close to the operational limit. This is apparently not a design fault but ...

University of Greenwich, Kent/the former Royal Naval College on River Thames This morning NAUTICAL LOG received information and a Press Release covering a project of the University of Greenwich, Kent, England, website (www2.gre.ac.uk/). Named SAFEGUARD it is a study of how passengers react to an emergency aboard ship. The University Fire Safety Engineering Group is researching evacuation on three types of passenger vessels. The SAFEGUARD Partners are using Royal Caribbean International, Colorline and Minoan Lines to conduct their research Here at NAUTICAL LOG we were most interested in the exercise conducted in RCCL's MS Jewel of the Seas . Having served as a Safety Officer in Florida based cruise ships for many years we have become increasingly concerned with their complexity.( see our Post 'BIGGER IS BETTER - NOT' ). The vessels have become overblown floating amusement parks carrying thousands of passengers, now known as guests, in typical amusement park style. They a...

Once again Broward County Florida was in the news this morning. The incident can act as a reminder that all boat captains and particularly charter boat captains should know the Maritime Laws. Many seafarers including NAUTICAL LOG wish to be buried at sea. Broward County homicide detectives (BSO) went into action when a body was found floating off Fort Lauderdale, FL. When everything had been investigated it turned out to be a 'burial-at-sea' improperly performed. The remains had been taken out in a chartered boat, MY Mary B III, by the family. The chartered boat captain should have been familiar with the maritime law that applies to 'burial-at-sea' prior to accepting such a charter. Broward County detectives (BSO) are conferring with the USCG before reaching any conclusion on whether any burial laws were violated. We shall not deal with the religious burial issues here. Firstly it is legal to bury a body at sea, secondly the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA...

In the State of Florida new boating restrictions have been proposed. In order to protect the manatees boaters in Broward County will have to slow down. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed the restrictions in July 2010 in the first review of the County's manatee protection zones in 17 years. A committee of Broward boaters and environmentalists reviewed the State's proposals and issued a report in August 2010 which agreed with most of them. The 10 member committee which acts as an advisory board seconded the State's proposed requirement for seven-day-a-week speed reduction zones on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) during the winter months rather than the current week-end only restrictions. It also supported increased restrictions on the Hillsboro Canal. There is public support for speed restrictions on the ICW and not to eliminate the current Summer restrictions. As to the Boating Industry the usual split decision, just as there is for Compulso...

Following "M" Notices have been issued and can be downloaded from www.mcga.gov.uk/ The Administrator's number is 023 8032 9391 in case of any difficulty. MIN 394 (M+F) MGN 214 (M) MGN 417 (M+F) MGN 418 (M) Good Watch.

Unlike the other Posts in NAUTICAL LOG this Post is an opinion written in the 'first person'. It is subject to all Copyright Laws and may not be quoted or republished in any form without written permission of the author. However short sentences may be used in any 'comment' sent to NAUTICAL LOG . NAUTICAL LOG is a Blog that as it says in the heading is about Nautical things in particular and Life in general. Sometimes however an event occurs which so effects our lives that one feels moved to write and in the first person - such was 9/11. On that dreadful morning in 2001 I was in the kitchen preparing my breakfast when I caught remarks from the Florida Room television. When I saw the picture I quickly got my hearing aid and breakfast forgotten sat down to watch. So it was that I saw the second plane impact the South Tower of the World Trade Center. All of us know only too well what happened next as the Twin Towers collapsed and it seemed all of Lower Manhattan was des...

"Red Duster" MN Blazer crest Today September 03, 2010 in many parts of the world there are celebrations for Merchant Navy Day. Officially recognised in United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada memorial services are held for those lost at sea. Here in Coral Gables, FL it is just NAUTICAL LOG but no less are all the "lads" remembered particularly those that see the "Red Duster" keeps flying. Today especially we wish all seafarers, Good Watch.