New US Coast Guard Regs for Vessels Inbound from Most Yemeni Ports
Due to lack of effective anti-terrorism measures in many Yemeni ports USCG to impose conditions of entry into US waters. The regulations came about following a Coast Guard finding that Yemeni ports do not maintain effective anti-terrorist measures along with an assessment that Yemen presents a significant risk of introducing instruments of terror into maritime commerce. In addition, Yemen's legal regime has deficiencies in the areas of access and cargo control and designated authority oversight, the notice states. It adds that the U.S. government notified Yemen in December of "steps necessary to improve anti-terrorism measures," but hasn't heard back since.
Golar NNG Sells Vessel
Reuters notes that Norwegian liquid gas tanker group Golar LNG has agreed to sell its Golar Frost vessel for about $231 million to a part-owned project that is building a gas terminal at Livorno on the Italian coast.Golar LNG has a 16 percent stake in the project company OLT Offshore LNG Toscana S.p.a., which is building a liquid natural gas terminal (LNG) and is the buyer of the vessel. The vessel is on charter until March 2008, and all income from the vessel will be to Golar LNG's benefit until the sale is completed in June.
Gulf LNG May Get Tax Breaks
According to The Mississippi Press, there are several state and local tax incentives that Gulf LNG could seek as it proceeds with plan to construct a $600 million liquid natural gas terminal off Industrial Road. Gulf LNG, Jackson County Board of Supervisors and the Port of Pascagoula entered a sublease agreement Monday that enables the company to use 106 acres of land south of Chevron Refinery on the east side of the Bayou Casotte channel that the state leases to the Port of Pascagoula. On the state level, two tax incentives are exemptions for state corporate income tax liability and access to tax exempt bond financing. Locally, ad valorem exemptions are available.
Artificial Island Needed for Proposed LNG Terminal
According to Asbury Park Press, an investment group proposing to build an offshore liquid natural gas terminal 19 miles east of Sea Bright is preparing specific design details for the artificial island, and may make more plans public in the coming weeks. Safe Harbor and its parent company, the Atlantic Sea Island Group, propose building a 53-to-65-acre island in about 60 feet of water 13.5 miles south of Long Beach, N.Y. The island would be an offloading and storage terminal for liquified natural gas tankers, which would pump out their ultra-cold fuel for processing and delivery via undersea pipeline to the mainland. The company is starting its regulatory applications this spring, and says it could build the site by 2010.
McAllister FiFi 1 Tractor Tugs Respond to Emergency
On March 15, two restaurants, the historic Bowen’s Inn and the Lighthouse Inn caught fire on Solomon’s Island in Calvert County Maryland. The Solomon’s Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department (VFD) arrived on scene at the three alarm fire and immediately recognized the need for additional firefighting resources. Winds out of the NW were steady at 30-35 knots with gusts up to 50 knots that quickly fanned the inferno and created satellite fires. McAllister Towing’s tugs A.J. McAllister and Emily Anne McAllister were crewed and underway. Mate Tom Marstin of the Emily Anne McAllister, with 23 years of experience as a member of Solomon’s VFD, coordinated getting the tugs into position and spraying water by 13:15.
