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Verne Gifford News

14 Jan 2016

NAMEPA to Host ‘Pathways to Sustainability’

North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) will hold its Environmental Intelligence in Shipping Conference on “Pathways to Sustainability” on Februar 5, 2016 at SeaRiver Maritime in Spring, Texas. The conference is designed to be a guide for navigating through the myriad of regulations leading to compliance. The maritime industry faces continual regulatory change as it strives to reduce its impact on the marine environment. NAMEPA members, in particular, are committed to “Save our Seas”, but this approach is not without its hurdles. Complex regulations require support to insure understanding and competence and to devise an appropriate strategy for each company. Discussion topics will include Global Projections for Shipping, Regulatory Outlook and Legal Hot Spots.

12 Feb 2009

99% of Towing Operators Are Properly Licensed

The Eighth Coast Guard District recently completed Operation Big Tow, a three-month long effort designed as a result of a collision between a cargo vessel and a loaded oil barge on the Mississippi River that spilled more than 282,000 gallons of #6 fuel oil to spill into the river. Operation Big Tow was designed to ensure vessel operators were properly licensed for their respective vessel's size, type and route. An initial investigation into the July 23, 2008 collision that closed nearly 100 miles of river near New Orleans revealed that a crewmember operating the Mel Oliver, an uninspected towing vessel (UTV) pushing the barge was improperly licensed. UTVs are towing vessels 26 ft or longer and must be under the direction of a licensed master.

05 Jul 2006

Rain Helps Clean Up Efforts

Rains delayed clean up crews working in the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Although clean up crews were temporarily forced out of the water by the rainfall and safety concerns, the amount of rain falling is actually helping the clean up operation in the long term. “The rain is flushing the oil out of the hard to reach shoreline areas back into the water. But with the clean boom we repositioned yesterday, that oil is going into our collection areas,” said Cmdr. Verne Gifford, Executive Officer of the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur. A recreational boating safety zone is still in effect. The zone is to the entrance to the Bayou D’Inde (light 115) and the southern tip of Cypress Point development…

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