Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary News

U.S. Carbofin S.p.A., an Italian domiciled company that owned and operated the M/T Marigola was sentenced to pay an overall criminal penalty of $2.75 million for knowingly falsifying the vessel’s oil record book in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), announced the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. During 2013 and 2014, on numerous international voyages, senior members of the crew of the M/T Marigola directed the installation and use of a so-called “magic hose” to dispose of sludge, waste oil and oil-contaminated bilge water directly into the sea bypassing required pollution prevention equipment.

As part of its “Our Marvelous Oceans” partnership with Marine Conservation Institute, Holland America Line has created a new program that highlights and educates guests and crew about marine protected areas around the world. Developed with the team at Marine Conservation Institute, the program will educate guests and crew through on-board presentations by shipboard personnel. Topics will cover what a marine protected area is and how to visit one without causing harm to the habitat and wildlife. This information can be enhanced through participation in featured shore excursions. “The goal of this partnership is to promote marine protected areas around the world — especially in those regions where our ships sail.

1801- Treaty of peace with France was ratified on this date, thereby ending the "Quasi-War," in which cutters of the Revenue Marine had rendered outstanding service. 1880- Date of a terrific gale on the New Jersey coast. Six vessels came ashore with 47 persons on board all but two survived. Nineteen USLSS crewmen won Gold Life-Saving Medals during the rescue of the persons aboard the wrecked George Taulane. 1943- A U-boat torpedoed the transport USS Dorchester off the coast of Greenland. Two of her escorts, CGCs Comanche and Escanaba, responded. The crew of Escanaba used a new rescue technique when pulling survivors from the water. This "retriever" technique used swimmers clad in wet suits to swim to victims in the water and secure a line to them so they could be hauled onto the ship.

NOAA Capt. David A. Score assumed command of the agency’s Marine Operations Center-Atlantic in Norfolk, Va., which manages the day-to-day operations of the nine research and survey ships in NOAA’s Atlantic fleet. Each year these NOAA ships conduct dozens of missions to assess fish and marine mammal stocks, conduct coral reef research, collect seafloor data to update nautical charts, and explore the ocean. Capt. Score served most recently as commanding officer of NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, which conducted key research missions during the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill response, including missions to detect subsurface oil and study marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. Score relieves Rear Adm. (select) Michael S. Devany, who has served as the center’s commanding officer since June 2009.

1801- Treaty of peace with France was ratified on this date, thereby ending the "Quasi-War," in which cutters of the Revenue Marine had rendered outstanding service. 1880- Date of a terrific gale on the New Jersey coast. Six vessels came ashore with 47 persons on board all but two survived. Nineteen USLSS crewmen won Gold Life-Saving Medals during the rescue of the persons aboard the wrecked George Taulane. 1943- A U-boat torpedoed the transport USS Dorchester off the coast of Greenland. Two of her escorts, CGCs Comanche and Escanaba, responded. The crew of Escanaba used a new rescue technique when pulling survivors from the water. This "retriever" technique used swimmers clad in wet suits to swim to victims in the water and secure a line to them so they could be hauled onto the ship.

On May 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule designating the state waters within the boundaries of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary ("Sanctuary") as a "no discharge zone" (NDZ). The rule takes effect on June 19, 2002. The Florida Keys Water Quality Protection Committee, Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County and Governor Jeb Bush supported the designation in the form of resolutions in 1999 and 2000. EPA concluded that the Sanctuary contains unique marine ecosystems that are a State and national treasure of high ecological, educational, aesthetic, recreational and commercial value. The rule applies to state waters only…

Ship Assessed $565,796 for Coral Damage The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a News Release stating that a ship was assessed a total of $565,796 for coral damage caused by anchoring in a no-anchor zone in the Dry Tortugas Ecological Reserve of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. On the total, $100,000 was to pay for response and natural resource damage assessment, with the remainder for further monitoring and restoration. Source: HK Law

NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will conduct an emergency response drill in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary April 19-21, 2005, and is asking for assistance from local residents to help ensure its success. The goal of the drill is to improve the agency’s ability to protect the environment of the Florida Keys and the public in case of a major incident. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The scenario for NOAA’s first “Safe Sanctuaries” drill involves the hypothetical grounding of the M/V Portsmith Trader, an 800-foot cargo vessel carrying 270,000 gallons of fuel, at Elbow Reef off Key Largo. In the scenario, the grounding injures coral reef habitat and submerged historical artifacts, and an oil spill threatens other resources.

All American Marine Inc. launched a 56 x 21 ft. catamaran, built under contract for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The high-speed patrol vessel has been assigned to operate in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and its Tortugas Ecological Reserve off the Southern coast of Florida. The vessel will serve as a long-range law enforcement patrol boat in the lower Keys. The patrol vessel is owned and maintained by NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program in the Florida Keys. Daily vessel operations will be administered by FKNMS law enforcement officers. The boat offers accommodations for four officers and can comfortably endure long patrols.

All American Marine Inc., launched a 56 x 21 ft. catamaran built under contract for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The high speed patrol vessel has been assigned to operate in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and its Tortugas Ecological Reserve off the Southern coast of Florida. The vessel will serve as a long-range law enforcement patrol boat in the lower Keys. The patrol vessel is owned and maintained by NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program in the Florida Keys. Daily vessel operations will be administered by FKNMS law enforcement officers. Law enforcement in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a cooperative partnership between NOAA and the State of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Oak Brook, Ilinois will pay nearly $1 million for damages to seagrass and other resources in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Justice Department and the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today. The $969,000 settlement reached on behalf of NOAA and the State of Florida is the largest ever obtained for damages to seagrass in the sanctuary. The funds, combined with an earlier $618,485 settlement obtained from co-defendant Coastal Marine Towing, will help restore the injured areas and reimburse NOAA for response costs. "We are thrilled with the settlement," said Sharon Shutler, attorney for the NOAA General Counsel for Natural Resources.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Miami is monitoring the progress of the Isarstern, a 529-ft. tanker disabled and adrift off the coast of Marathon, Fla. The Isle of Man-flagged ship was en route Houston from Quebec, Canada when it suffered an engine casualty about 13 miles off Florida around 2 a.m. The ship has lowered its anchor to both slow its rate of drift and anchor if it drifts into shallow waters. The vessel is currently 5 miles south of Sombrero Light and 2 miles outside of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It is slowly drifting east-northeast, parallel to the FKNMS boundary, presenting no immediate threat to the sanctuary. A commercial salvage vessel from Tampa, Fla., is on its way to rendezvous with the tanker and is expected to arrive around 7 a.m. tomorrow.

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Oak Brook, Ill., will pay nearly $1 million for damages to seagrass and other resources in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Justice Department and the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced. The $969,000 settlement reached on behalf of NOAA and the State of Florida is the largest ever obtained for damages to seagrass in the sanctuary. The funds, combined with an earlier $618,485 settlement obtained from co-defendant Coastal Marine Towing, will help restore the injured areas and reimburse NOAA for response costs. "We are thrilled with the settlement," said Sharon Shutler, attorney for the NOAA General Counsel for Natural Resources.

historic steps through the International Maritime Organization to create the first U.S. and collisions from large international ships. square nautical miles and is one of only five such areas in the world. Starting Dec. 1, ships greater than 164 ft. in length transiting the zone will be held to internationally accepted and enforceable rules. areas within the zone altogether and abide by three no-anchoring areas within the zone. the Florida Particularly Sensitive Sea Area and address, these protective measures. More than 40 percent of the world's commerce passes through the Florida Straits each year. since 1997. resources while simultaneously supporting shipping and economic growth. Secretary of Commerce Samuel W. the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C. from U.S.