Containership Loses Power Near New York’s Bayonne Bridge
A containership lost propulsion in a busy New York City waterway just as it was about to pass under the Bayonne Bridge on Friday night—less than two weeks after a presumed power failure caused similarly sized vessel to allide with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.The U.S. Coast Guard said it received a report that the Malta-registered APL Qingdao lost propulsion about 8:30 p.m. as it traversed the Kill Van Kull, a shipping late between New York's Staten Island and Bayonne…
Coast Guard Persues Hoax Distress Caller
The Coast Guard continues to investigate a probable hoax distress call that was received June 11, 2012, alleging a yacht explosion off Sandy Hook, N.J. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service New York received the distress call at approximately 4:20 p.m., reportedly from the master of the yacht Blind Date, stating the vessel suffered an explosion with 21 people aboard. A massive, multi-agency search took place 17 nautical miles east of Sandy Hook, and involved two Coast Guard boat crews, four Coast Guard aircraft crews, response units from New York City Police Department, Fire Department of New York City, New Jersey State Police, and Nassau County Police Department. Good Samaritan boats also participated in the 5 1/2-hour, 638-square nautical mile search.
Hoax Distress – USCG Offer Reward
Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service New York received an apparent distress call Monday, reportedly from the yacht Blind Date, stating the vessel suffered an explosion, seven people were injured and all 21 people aboard the yacht had abandoned ship into liferafts. A later call to the Coast Guard reported that three people aboard the boat had died, and that several people had 2nd and 3rd-degree burns, and that people aboard were abandoning ship into liferafts. Coast Guard search east of Sandy Hook included two Coast Guard boat crews and four Coast Guard helicopter crews, who searched approximately 638 square nautical miles. Response units from New York City Police Department…
Security Zone for Fleet Week in NY
The potential exists for unanticipated delays affecting ship movements and/or the control of vessels with little or no warning within the Port of New York and New Jersey from Tuesday, May 20, through Wednesday, May 28, 2008. "The Coast Guard encourages every boater to enjoy the Parade of Ships during Fleet Week, but we want them to be safe and respect the established safety zones," said Lt. j.g. Nasif Gordon, a Coast Guard Sector New York waterways management officer. Vessels shall not cross the parade route while naval vessels are in parade formation. All vessel traffic in the Hudson River shall transit to the west of the parade column…
Legal Matters
Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) introduced the "States Prevention of Oil Tanker Spills Act" (S. 2506), which seeks to reinstate Washington state oil tanker safety laws overturned by the Supreme Court in Intertanko v. Locke and United States v. Locke. In a press release, Senator Gorton said, "I disagree with the Court's decision, because I believe Washington State should be allowed to protect its shores as it sees fit." The Gorton legislation would reinstate the right of all states to adopt additional standards beyond existing federal requirements governing the operation, maintenance, equipment, personnel and manning of oil tankers. While the legislation would apply to all coastal states, Gorton's interest is focused on recently overturned Washington statutes.
USCG Proposes Rule to Enhance Operations During Dredging
The USCG has published a notice of proposed rulemaking for a regulated navigation area (RNA) on the Kill van Kull, Newark Bay and Elizabeth and Port Newark channels. The USCG anticipates the proposed area will enhance vessel safety during the extensive channel deepening project to be undertaken by the USACE and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The project, expected to last six years, will deepen the existing 40 ft. channel to 45 ft. · Vessels must secure permission from Vessel Traffic Service New York (VTSNY) prior to entering a work area where drill barges and/or dredges are located. · Vessels transiting work areas are required to do so at a no-wake speed. · Vessels over 300 gt and tugs with tows are prohibited from overtaking other vessels in the work area.
