Eastern Great Lakes News

As commercial shipping and energy activities picks up in the Arctic region, the prospect of accidental oil spills in this pristine environment remain a concern. In response, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking the lead – through the U.S. Coast Guard – to develop a subsea robotic system to map and report on spills.“Because of ice coverage and the tyranny of distance, it is difficult to get resources and assets up in the Arctic in a quick manner,” said Kirsten Trego, Executive Director of the Coast Guard’s Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research.

The US Coast Guard is seeking interested applicants for membership on the Eastern Great Lakes Maritime Security Committee and its five regional subcommittees. Applications for membership should be submitted by March 17.  76 Fed. Reg. 8765  (February 15, 2011)   (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

The U.S. Coast Guard commenced Operation Coal Shovel Dec. 15 after colder temperatures caused a rapid development of ice in the eastern Great Lakes. Originally scheduled to begin Dec. 17, Operation Coal Shovel is the ice breaking operation for the southern part of Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair/Detroit River systems, and lakes Erie and Ontario. As the 2010-2011 Operation Coal Shovel begins, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit and Canadian coast guard partners will continue our proactive attempts to identify declining waterway conditions and potentially hazardous ice conditions early.

The US Coast Guard seeks applications for membership in the Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) Eastern Great Lakes, and five regional subcommittees: Northeast Ohio Region, Northwestern Pennsylvania Region, Western New York Region, Lake Ontario Region, and St. Lawrence Region. The AMSC assists the USCG Captain of the Port Buffalo in developing, reviewing, and updating the Area Maritime Security Plan. Applications should be submitted by February 7. 73 Fed. Reg. 1363 (HK Law).

On April 26 Buffalo Industrial Diving Company, Inc. (BIDCO) of Buffalo, N.Y., completed its acquisition of A.J. Brothers Marine Construction, Inc. a fixture in the Eastern Great Lakes marine construction field. The combined assets will continue business under the name Buffalo Industrial Diving Company, Inc. The acquisition added eight tugs in various lengths up to 72 ft. and eight barges in lengths up to 150 ft. to BIDCO's existing vessel fleet. With its increased inventory of cranes, barges, vessels and other heavy construction equipment, BIDCO is poised to become a major contender in the Great Lakes marine construction arena. A.J. Brothers' former president, Wayne Miller, has joined BIDCO as vice president of marine construction and partner.