News From Neptune

MAY 2009

June Blog Contents

H.R.21 Introduced in House (06.24.09) • Ships Held By Somali Pirates (06.24.09) • Real Tsunami (06.24.09) • Sailing Records (06.11.09) • Zac Sails Into Mexico (06.09.09) • Coast Guard Interview With Pilot (06.09.09) • Recreational Powerboating Association (06.03.09) • Zac Sunderland Nears Home (06.01.09)

June 24, 2009 H.R.21 Introduced in House

Title: To establish a national policy for our oceans, to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to establish a national and regional ocean governance structure, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Sam Farr, CA-17, Introduced January 6, 2009
Cosponsors: 62
Latest Major Action: June 18, 2009 House Committee / Subcommittee Actions.
Status: Subcommittee Hearings.

H.R.21 - Ocean Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act
The purpose of this Act is to secure, for present and future generations of people of the United States, the full range of ecological, economic, educational, social, cultural, nutritional, and recreational benefits of healthy marine ecosystems, by:

(1) establishing and implementing a National Ocean Policy;

(2) promoting ecologically sustainable ocean resource use and management by strengthening and empowering ocean governance on regional and Federal levels;

(3) promoting ecosystem-based approaches to management of United States ocean waters, coastal waters, and ocean resources; and

(4) establishing an ocean and Great Lakes conservation trust fund to support the purposes and policies of this Act.

SEC. 101. NATIONAL OCEAN POLICY AND PRINCIPLES.

(a) National Ocean Policy:

(1) IN GENERAL- It is the policy of the United States to protect, maintain, and restore marine ecosystem health in order to fulfill the ecological, economic, educational, social, cultural, nutritional, recreational, and other requirements of current and future generations of Americans.

(2) PRINCIPLES- The National Ocean Policy shall be implemented in accordance with the following principles:

(A) Policies, programs, and activities should minimize negative environmental impacts to ocean waters, coastal waters, and ocean resources and be conducted so that by themselves or cumulatively they do not undermine efforts to protect, maintain, and restore marine ecosystem health.

(B) Ocean waters, coastal waters, and ocean resources should be managed to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

(C) Ocean waters, coastal waters, and ocean resources should be managed using ecosystem-based management.

(D) The lack of scientific certainty should not be used as justification for postponing action to prevent negative environmental impacts. In cases in which significant threats to marine ecosystem health exist, the best of the available science should be used to manage ocean waters, coastal waters, and ocean resources in a manner that gives the greatest weight to the protection, maintenance, and restoration of marine ecosystem health.

(E) Policies, programs, and activities recognize the interconnectedness of the land, atmosphere including climate, and oceans including ocean waters, coastal waters, and ocean resources, and should recognize that actions affecting one of these, such as the climate, are likely to affect another, such as ocean resources.

(F) Potential uses of ocean waters, coastal waters, and ocean resources should be managed in a way that balances competing uses and does not undermine efforts to protect, maintain, and restore marine ecosystem health.

(b) Implementation:

(1) REQUIREMENT- To the fullest extent possible and to the extent not inconsistent with other laws, each Federal agency shall interpret and administer policies, regulations and laws in accordance with the National Ocean Policy.

(2) GUIDANCE:

(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Ocean Advisor shall develop and issue guidance, consistent with the National Ocean Policy, for the development of Federal agency regulations to implement the National Ocean Policy.

(B) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION- The National Ocean Advisor shall provide adequate opportunity for public comment and review during the development of the guidance under subparagraph (A).

(C) Agency Actions

(1) REGULATIONS:

(A) IN GENERAL- Within 2 years after the issuance of the guidance under subsection (b)(2), each Federal agency shall issue new or revised regulations as necessary to ensure consistency with the National Ocean Policy for actions undertaken, authorized, or funded by the agency that may significantly affect ocean waters, coastal waters, or ocean resources.

(B) PUBLIC COMMENT- The head of each Federal agency shall --

(i) publish proposed regulations under this subsection in the Federal Register; and

(ii) provide a period for public comment of not less than 60 days before final regulations are published under this subsection.

(2) REVIEW- Within 1 year after the issuance of the guidance under subsection (b)(2), each Federal agency, shall --

(A) conduct a review of the existing policies, regulations, and laws that apply to the agency and identify any inconsistencies that preclude the agency from fully implementing the National Ocean Policy; and

(B) submit to the Committee on Ocean Policy, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on such review that includes proposals as may be necessary to eliminate such inconsistencies.

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June 24, 2009 Ships Held By Somali Pirates

Reuters - Somali pirates freed Dutch freighter the Marathon on Tuesday, however one of the Ukrainian crew was shot dead by the pirates, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said. The 2,575-tonne Marathon, with eight Ukrainian citizens aboard, was sailing through the Gulf of Aden when it was seized on May 7.

On Monday pirates in Somalia said they had freed the seven crew members of a captured Seychelles research yacht, the Indian Ocean Explorer which was seized at the end of March near the Seychelles' island of Assumption. Here are details of some ships believed to be under pirate control and some facts about the increase in piracy:

JAIKUR-I: Seized Oct. 2, 2008 - The 21,040-tonne general cargo ship was detained after a dispute with the owners over damaged cargo. Most of the 21 crew were released last month.

MASINDRA 7: Seized on Dec. 16, 2008. The Malaysian-owned tugboat, was seized with a barge off the Yemeni coast. The tug has about 11 Indonesian crew.

SERENITY: The catamaran sailing for Madagascar from the Seychelles with three people aboard, was seized in March 2009.

INDIAN OCEAN EXPLORER: Seized March 2009. The 35-metre boat was built in Hamburg as an oceanographic research vessel. It accommodates about 12 passengers.

HANSA STAVANGER: Seized April 4, 2009. The 20,000-tonne German container vessel was captured about 400 miles off the southern Somali port of Kismayu, between the Seychelles and Kenya. The vessel had a German captain and three Russians, two Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos on board.

WIN FAR 161: Taiwanese tuna boat, seized April 6, 2009.

SHUGAA-AL-MADHI: Seized April 9, 2009, the fishing boat had 13 crew.

MOMTAZ 1: Seized April 10, 2009. The Egyptian fishing vessel was detained with 18 crew.

BUCCANEER: Seized April 11, 2009. The Italian tugboat, owned by Micoperi Marine Contractors, was carrying 10 Italians, five Romanians and a Croatian, and was seized towing two barges while travelling westbound through the Gulf of Aden.

IRENE E.M.: Seized April 14, 2009. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged Greek-owned bulk carrier was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. Its Filipino crew of 22 was unharmed.

POMPEI: Seized April 18, 2009. The Belgian dredging vessel and its 10 crew were hijacked about 370 miles from the Somali coast en route to the Seychelles. It had two Belgians, four Croatians, one Dutchman and three Filipinos on board.

ARIANA: Seized May 2, 2009. The Ariana was seized north of Madagascar en route to the Middle East from Brazil. The 24-strong Ukrainian crew were said to be unhurt. The ship, flying a Maltese flag, belongs to All Oceans shipping in Greece. A Ukrainian ship was hijacked on the same day in the Indian Ocean with a cargo including U.N. vehicles. Maritime officials were unable to confirm this seizure.

VICTORIA: Seized on May 5, 2009. The Antigua and Barbuda- flagged cargo vessel was hijacked by eight pirates in the Gulf of Aden on its way to the port of Jeddah. The 146-metre ship had a crew of 10.

CHARELLE: Seized on June 12, 2009. The 2,800-tonne cargo ship carrying about nine crew, was attacked 60 miles south of Oman. Lloyds reported the vessel was owned by shipping firm Tarmstedt International.

* PIRACY KEY FACTS:

-- In 2008 there were 293 incidents of piracy against ships worldwide, 11 percent up on the year before. Attacks off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden almost trebled.

-- In 2008, there were 111 incidents including 42 vessels hijacked in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. So far in 2009, there have been 31 successful hijackings from 143 attempted attacks. -- Nearly 20,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each year, heading to and from the Suez Canal.

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June 24, 2009 Real Tsunami

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June 11, 2009 Sailing Records

As Zac Sunderland nears his California home and becomes the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe, at least until British teen sailor Mike Perham reaches his home port, these teen sailors are accomplishing not only records, they are laying the foundations for great future adventures in a world with few heros that seek epic odysseys into our natural world.

There have been others before them, like Reid Stowe and his 1,000 Days Non-Stop At Sea which is currently on day 779 and Jon Sanders of Perth, Western Australia, who set numerous records for sailing like the first solo circumnavigation trip east to west and the double nonstop solo circumnavigation west to east via Southern Ocean. And the longest time at sea for a total of 658 days 21 hours and 18 minutes at sea, completing three non-stop solo circumnavigations, which the Guinness World Book of Records cites as the longest distance ever sailed continuously by any vessel for an astonishing 71,023 nautical miles.

We all should take note that there are people out in the world looking beyond the horizon and setting sail for something most of us would only dream about. Whether you believe in what they doing are not, they are lights that can guide us when in trouble waters.

Jon Sanders in Antarctica

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June 09, 2009 Zac Sails Into Mexico

In the windless and sweltering heat south of Acapulco in the Eastern Pacific, some 2,000 miles from homeport Marina del Rey, California, Zac writes on his blog, "I just dumped my gun and all of my bullets over the side as Mexico has a zero tolerance policy on firearms. If customs finds it they could seize my boat and throw me in jail which is not really worth the risk." Zac had hoped to arrive in Marina del Rey June 25-26, but his homecoming will occur at least a week after that.

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June 09, 2009 Coast Guard Interview With Pilot

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June 03, 2009 Recreational Powerboating Association

Los Angeles - Start Teaching Powerboating This Summer!

Here is a great opportunity for you to become one of ASA's first Certified Powerboat Instructors through
our new entity, The Recreational Powerboating Association (RPBA).

Our second Powerboat Instructor Qualification Clinic (PIQC) will be taught by Tom Knighten personally.
Tom worked for many years teaching powerboating at Chapman's and was instrumental in helping develop ASA's program through the RPBA.

Location: Blue Pacific Boating, Marina del Rey, CA

6/11/09 (Thur.) CQPH - Stern Drive (SDPI - 2103)
6/12/09 (Fri.) CQPH - Single Inboard (SIPI - 2102)
6/13/09 (Sat.) CQPH - Twin Inboard (TIPI - 2101)
6/14/09 (Sun.) Classroom Module (required)

These Powerboating IQCs are designed for individuals who want to teach our first powerboat
certification program entitled "Close Quarters Powerboat Handling (CQPH)". When you sign up for your
first Powerboat IQC, you will need to register for the Classroom Module and one of the Underway Module
for a total of $390. (You may register for additional Modules at the same time or take them sometime
in the future for $195 each).

Click to download the PDF format application, print, fill-out and fax to ASA at 310.822.4741.

Thanks for your interest in our new powerboat certification program. We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming Powerboat Instructor Qualification Clinics!

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June 01, 2009 Zac Sunderland Nears Home

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