PCA Announce New Booking & Service Tariff
The Panama Canal Authority (PCA) announced the following new booking and PCSOPEP tariffs for the neopanamax vessels and modifications to other pilot related tariffs, in preparation for the upcoming opening of the neopanamax locks. Elimination of the tariff for Daylight Transit requested with less than 3 days in advanced of reserved date. All requests for daylight transit, if approved, will be assessed Tariff item #1050.0247 ($30000.00). SUBSTITUTIONS BETWEEN A BOOKED VESSEL AND NON-BOOKED VESSEL. These substitutions will not incur a charge provided they are requested at least 14 days in advance of the vessel’s booking date, instead of the previous 30 day requirement.
Non-tank Vessel Response Rules – Their Impact Examined
Long awaited, much hyped, the new rules require compliance in January. Will industry and more importantly, the response community, be ready? In September, the U.S. Coast Guard published the long awaited Non-tank Vessel Response Plan (NTVRP) and Other Response Plan regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard cites “Improved preparedness and reaction to an incident, including a worst case discharge, and improved effectiveness of shore-side and onboard response activities” as the primary benefits of the new rule. For all affected vessels, a mandatory compliance date of January 30, 2014 looms large the porthole. The regulations impact self-propelled non-tank vessels of 400 gross tons or greater that operate in navigable waters of the United States and carry any kind of oil as fuel for main propulsion.
Salvage & Marine Fire Fighting Non-Tank Vessel Response Plan Regulation Announced
The U.S. Coast Guard has published the long awaited Non-tank Vessel Response Plan (NTVRP) and Other Response Plan regulation in the federal register dated September 30, 2013. Mandatory compliance will be required of all applicable vessels by January 30, 2014. These regulations impact self-propelled non-tank vessels of 400 gross tons or greater that operate in navigable waters of the United States and carry any kind of oil as fuel for main propulsion. The NTVRP requirements for planning of response services are scaled to oil carrying capacity (i.e. risk). Thus, for small non-tank vessels with less oil carrying capacities, there are fewer functional planning requirements. The new rule requires that non-tank vessel owners operating in and out of U.S.
Offshore Design: The Future is Now
The maritime industry has an image problem. Perceived to be an aging industry, many players in the maritime niche deal daily with the very real problem of replenishing its employment ranks, from desk jobs designing and operating vessels, to those at sea and in the construction yards. While the problem is multi-faceted and without a clear solution, this article is not about problems. It's about hope and the future. Traditional industries such as maritime are often lost to the youth, as higher-profile, more glamourous opportunities are found in computing and entertainment, for example. Simply put, many bright minds are lost before the battle has begun.
Panama Canal Boosts Emergency Preparedness
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is constantly working to enhance the Canal's safety and reliability, which includes emergency preparedness. On January 1, 2005, the ACP implemented new regulations to help plan for and mitigate the effect of oil spills. Called the Panama Canal Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (PCSOPEP), its goal is to provide for the expeditious and effective reaction to an oil spill and reduce its possible impact to the Canal and the local environment. All vessels with a 400 metric ton or more of oil carrying capacity, as fuel and/or cargo, are required to submit a PCSOPEP at least 96 hours prior to arriving in Canal Waters.
