News From Neptune

AUGUST 2008      OCTOBER 2008

September Blog Contents

September 26, 2008 Crash!!!

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September 25, 2008 TWIC Deadline

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration announced today that Feb. 12, 2009, is the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) compliance date for owners and operators of facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones of Honolulu, Hawaii, Prince William Sound, Alaska, Southeast Alaska and Western Alaska.

All ports in the state of Hawaii and the state of Alaska are affected by the Feb. 12, 2009, deadline including, among others: Barbers Point, Hawaii, and Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage, Kodiak and Valdez, Alaska.

Mariners may use their valid Coast Guard-issued merchant mariner’s document, license or certificate of registry, along with a valid photo ID, to be eligible for unescorted access in secure areas of any facility regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 that has a TWIC compliance date earlier than April 15, 2009. The date by which owners and operators of vessels and outer continental shelf facilities must implement access control procedures utilizing TWIC is also April 15, 2009.

Owners and operators of facilities regulated under MTSA are responsible for notifying employees of their personal responsibility to apply for and maintain a TWIC. The TWIC final rule, published Jan. 25, 2007, also requires owners and operators of MTSA regulated facilities to inform employees of the deadlines and methods for TWIC application.

“The Coast Guard continues to closely monitor and encourage TWIC enrollment by working collaboratively with owners and operators of MTSA regulated facilities and vessels as we approach compliance milestones with a steadfast commitment to protect the maritime transportation system while still facilitating commerce,” said Cmdr. David W. Murk, chief of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Cargo and Facilities Division.

The Coast Guard plans to announce additional dates for the compliance phase of the TWIC program in coming weeks. Compliance will be phased in by Captain of the Port Zones between Oct. 15, 2008, and April 15, 2009, after which all ports must be in compliance and all credentialed mariners must be in possession of a TWIC.

Workers are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible and can pre-enroll for their TWIC online at www.tsa.gov/twic. Pre-enrollment speeds up the process by allowing workers to provide biographic information and to schedule a time to complete the application process in person. The pre-enrollment process reduces the time it takes to fully enroll in the TWIC program and eliminates waiting at enrollment centers.

TWIC was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act to serve as an identification program for all Coast Guard credential mariners and personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas within a port. The program is progressing steadily; all fixed enrollment centers are open and dozens of mobile sites have been deployed nationwide. More than 514,000 workers have enrolled to date and thousands more are processed each week.

The United States Coast Guard News

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September 25, 2008 Zac Sunderland

Zac Sunderland is hoping to become the youngest person to solo-circumnavigate the globe and is off to find the trade winds and ride them as far as he can on a 4,000-mile journey to the Marshall Islands in Micronesia. Sunderland, 16, has experienced only minor issues since sailing out of Marina del Rey back in June. His adventure is expected to last about a year.

Los Angeles Times

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September 24, 2008 Irony, EPA Research Ship Spill

(AP) Norfolk, Virginia - A decommissioned EPA research ship spilled 1,400 to 1,700 gallons of diesel fuel into Virginia's Elizabeth River sending the smell of fuel wafting through Norfolk and drawing cleanup crews from several agencies. Officials were still investigating the cause of the spill from the ships Rude, pronounced "Rudy,". The Environmental Protection Agency recently purchased the ship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the spill happened at NOAA's Marine Operations Center.

The Virginian Pilot

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September 24, 2008 Coast Guard Uses 'Social Media'

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September 24, 2008 Can't Afford A Boat? Share It

After 40 years in the boating industry, Jacksonville dealer Buddy Haskell is launching a new way to sell boats. Haskell, president of Haskell Marine Inc., is a founding member of MyBoatShares, a business venture that brings prospective buyers together so they can jointly purchase a recreational boat. After identifying potential buyers through Internet marketing and participating dealerships, MyBoatShares will create a limited liability partnership for up to four owners of the same boat. The agreement spells out how the owners will take turns using the boat and pay for maintenance and storage expenses. Compared to the usual way of doing business, it's both a financial and cultural change. "Most people who own a boat are very proud of it and wouldn't share it with anybody," Haskell said. He said the vast majority of sales through Haskell Marine will continue being for sole ownership but shared ownership can attract customers to boats that would otherwise be beyond their price range. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the dollar amount of new boat and motor sales fell by 5 percent in 2007, the second straight year with a significant drop.

MyBoatShares appears to be a new approach for Northeast Florida, said Mark Zeigler, president of the Jacksonville Marine Association, a nonprofit organization of boating businesses. "I honestly don't know if there is a market out there to buy a boat with other strangers," he said. As president of Mark Zeigler Yacht Sales, he said he has drawn up agreements for friends to jointly buy boats. Given the cost of a boat and the potential for damage, he said such agreements require a high level of familiarity and mutual respect among co-owners. This month, MyBoatShares announced five Northeast Florida dealers have joined the network. They are Haskell Marine, Jacksonville Yacht Sales, and Atlantic Coast Marine in Jacksonville, Riverbend Marine in St. Augustine and Ocean Outboard Marine on Amelia Island.

The formation of MyBoatShares stemmed from conversations during the Miami International Boat Show in February, said Chief Executive Officer Glenn Enriquez. After identifying potential buyers through Internet marketing and participating dealerships, MyBoatShares will bring the group together for a face-to-face meeting. In addition to the boat sale, MyBoatShares will take care of the storage, regular maintenance and repair, inspecting the boat for damage after outings, and scheduling use of the boat. In a shared ownership, boaters won't be able to guarantee they'll always be able to use the boat whenever they want. "Will someone be disappointed every once in a while? Yes, probably," Enriquez said. "We don't think it will happen very often. That's the trade-off of paying 25 percent of the cost instead of 100 percent." Boaters willing to schedule their outings also can consider joining boat clubs such as the Jacksonville Boat Club and Freedom Boat Club of Jacksonville. The club owns the boats, and members pay a fee to be able to use a variety boats. Enriquez said compared to boat clubs, MyBoatShares is targeting clients who know what kind of boat they want and are interested in gaining some equity from boat ownership. If they enter a partnership and later decide they want to sell their share, MyBoatShares would help them find a buyer. The value of that share would depend on market conditions at the time it's sold.

The Florida Times - Union

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September 24, 2008 Boat Sales Taking A Hit

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September 19, 2008 BMW Oracle Q & A

Design & Build

Q: Why did you choose a tri over a cat?
A: While a catamaran of the same size will be faster in a narrow wind speed range, a trimaran offers better all-round performance because it is lighter and has a good volume distribution between the hulls. Obviously, not knowing the venue made all-round performance very important to us.

Q: How big a challenge was it shifting from designing a monohull to a multi?
A: We were originally set up to design AC90s and that it was what we started out concentrating on. So it was a substantial shift to focus on this boat. Partnering with VPLP has worked extremely well. They have brought leading experience and skill in designing multihulls. Our designers have also brought some nice ideas, and have learnt a lot as well.

Q: How important was sailor input in designing a boat like this?
A: A yacht like this has never been built before, so to try and imagine how to sail it required plenty of input from sailors in order to make sure that it would be competitive on the water.

Q: How big a challenge was it to design and build a boat when you did not know the race venue?
A: We had to design a boat that we knew would perform well in a wide variety of conditions and that would also allow us to make further changes in order to adapt to the venue.

Q: What impact did it have that you had to produce the boat in such a short time?
A: Our design team had to get things right from the start, and we also knew there would be limited time for further testing and development. It has been a remarkable effort by our designers and builders and a real testament to the quality of the resources available at Anacortes. We were given valuable input in drawing on BMW’s expertise in intelligent lightweight design and EfficientDynamics.

Q: Why a canting mast, won’t this be a challenge in tacking quickly?
A: Where you have a trade-off between straight line speed and maneuverability sailors generally prefer to have a fast boat.

Q: Why such a low freeboard?
A: With less weight and windage this enables the boat to be faster through more conditions. While in some circumstances a low freeboard can make a boat harder to handle our key focus has been on good all–round performance.

Testing & Performance

Q: How is the new boat performing on early tests?
A: We are very pleased with the initial handling. We will carefully increase the sailing range as we build up more experience with her. Our impressions are that the boat is very responsive and capable of being very fast.

Q: What conditions would you expect this boat to be best in?
A: With the right combination of components we expect this boat to be competitive in a wide range of conditions. It was also designed to allow for changes depending on the venue.

Q: We see your crew wearing helmets and PFDs, is this going to be standard?
A: Yes. A boat like this generates enormous loads, and when you are flying both hulls you are a long way up from the water! We are really enjoying sailing this boat, but safety always has to come first and that is why we are taking each step slowly and carefully. We will gradually increase the sailing range as we build up more experience with her.

Q: Will there be two helmsmen?
A: Yes, it is a long way from one side of this boat to the other.

Q: How many crewmembers will it have?
A: 10-20

Q: What is your schedule for further training and sailing on the boat?
A: Later this month we will ship the boat to San Diego for two months of training in warmer waters which will allow us to extend the sailing season.

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September 19, 2008 Is Russia's Navy Safe?

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September 18, 2008 WILL PIRATES ATTACK VOLVO?

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September 17, 2008 More Ike Photos

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September 17, 2008 Morning Light

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September 17, 2008 IKE Aftermath

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September 12, 2008 IKE

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September 12, 2008 HMS Bounty

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September 12, 2008 Pirates Be Damned

If pirates are a concern of yours, then the story of the Red Dragon might shine as an example if you find yourself in foreign seas looking for an operating procedure for such an encounter.

"Whilst transiting through the Gulf of Aden, we had three people on watch at all times as during the previous few weeks the Somalian pirates had been very active. Whilst in a position of approximately 13 degrees North and 53 degrees East, we saw a large dhow change course at eight miles from us and head towards us. At four miles, they stopped and launched six fast boats with about three people in each towards us. This certainly got the heart racing and adrenalin pumping.

On arrival, they were surprised to find eight people in flak jackets with guns awaiting their arrival and decided that they would do better to wait for an easier, less prepared target. Six hours later a merchant vessel came under fire in the same location and 24 hours after that three ships were also hijacked in the same area and are at the time of writing all off the Somalian coasts awaiting ransom negotiations."


The Red Dragon

For the complete story visit Sail-World.

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September 12, 2008 How To Tie a Bowline

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September 11, 2008 Small Marine Business and Fishing Guide Relief Act of 2008

S. 3377 is to amend title 46, United States Code, of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to waive the biometric transportation security card requirement for certain small business merchant mariners, and for other purposes. See a brief description of TWIC here.

Mr. COLEMAN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, and Mr. LIEBERMAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE:`Small Marine Business and Fishing Guide Relief Act of 2008'

SEC. 2. WAIVER OF BIOMETRIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CARD REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN SMALL BUSINESS MERCHANT MARINERS.

(a) In General- Section 70105 (b)(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended--

   (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting `and serving under the authority of such license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariners document on a vessel for which the owner or operator of such vessel is required to submit a vessel security plan under section 70103(c) of this title' before the semicolon;

   (2) by striking subparagraph (D); and

   (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs (D), (E), and (F), respectively.

(b) Report- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to Congress a report that contains the following:

   (1) A list of the locations that provide service to individuals seeking to obtain or renew a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariners document under part E of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code.

   (2) An assessment of the feasibility of accepting applications for licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariner documents described in paragraph (1) and any applicant biometrics required therefor at the Transportation Worker Identification Credential enrollment facilities or mobile enrollment centers of the Department of Homeland Security.

   (3) An assessment of the administrative feasibility of verifying that an individual has obtained a biometric transportation security card issued under section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, and is serving under the authority of a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariners document described in paragraph (1) on a vessel for which the owner or operator of such vessel is not required to submit a vessel security plan under section 70103(e) of such title to provide such individual a refund of any fees paid by such individual to obtain such biometric transportation security card.

   (4) An assessment of the administrative feasibility of verifying that an individual has obtained a biometric transportation security card described in paragraph (3) and is serving under the authority of a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariners document described in paragraph (1) on a vessel described in paragraph (3) to provide such individual a credit towards the renewal of such license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariners document that is equal to the amount of fees paid by such individual for such biometric transportation security card.

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September 2, 2008 38th Annual Newport International Boat Show

If you have a passion for boating then there’s only one place to be from September 11 - 14, 2008, and that's the 38th Annual Newport International Boat Show. The Newport International Boat Show is the place to see the largest selection of boats and boating products in the Northeast. The Newport Boat Show will feature new sailboats and powerboats, and thousands of products and services from both domestic and international exhibitors. There will be more than 850 exhibitors with over 700 boats ranging in size from 16 to 85 feet on display. Friday, September 12 is Military Day with admission being half price for this select group with a valid ID. Thursday, September 11 is VIP day with an admission price of $27. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, admission is $18. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. For more information call (401) 846-1115 or visit: Newport Boat Show.

2008 Show Dates:
September 11-14
Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 10 AM to 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM to 5 PM

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September 2, 2008 MacSailing and iNavX

If you use Apple products such as a Mac, iPod, or iPhone then you should check out the forum at MacSailing. Here you will find the lastest news on Apple products and boating. For instance, Apple has approved iNavX 1.0.2 for release in the App Store. iNavX brings NOAA RNC raster United States waters marine charts to the iPhone or iPod Touch. With iNavX you can use the iPhone's built in location services (GPS, cell tower, wifi) to plot your position in real-time on the marine chart. Using the iPhone's or iPod Touch's WiFi connection, iNavX can act as a repeater for popular marine navigation software that supports NMEA data over TCP/IP such as MacENC or other MS Windows marine navigation applications (Coastal Explorer, Expedition, GpsGate). This includes GPS, AIS receivers & transponders, and Instruments (Depth, Speed, Wind, etc.). In addition to real-time chart plotting, iNavX supports waypoints, track log, and measuring bearing/distance.

Also check out these zoomable overlay NOAA Charts of the entire US coastline on Google maps from the folks who developed GeoGarage:GeoGarage NOAA.

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