H.O.S.T. MEMBERSHIP MEETING
April 20, 2006
INTRODUCTIONS
Robin Bond is traveling to the Harbor Safety Conference. Brad Rimell will facilitate the meeting. There were approximately 35 people in attendance.
AGENDA ITEM #1 Call to Order
Brad called the meeting to order.
AGENDA ITEM #2 LT Jason Brianas, Chief Engineer – Navy Ship Environmental Controls
Ship Characteristics
Lt. Brianas showed the engineering plant layout and gave a general description of the USS Paul Hamilton layout and design.
Waste Processing
Solid Waste Management
The ship has two Solid Waste Shredders. One for plastic and one for metal. They also have two Compress Melt Units (CMU). This is used to heat and compress plastic mixture into dense product for long term storage. These machines have a 30:1 compression ratio which smashes the plastic into storage “pancake” shaped dense plastic waste stream units. In addition they have two Large Pulpers which shred and compact paper products.
Oily Waste Collection/Transfer System (OWS)
This system receives, processes and disposes of oily waste. It is made up of two separate systems. One system is the collection system. The other is the oily waste transfer system.
Oily wastewater goes to storage and then to the oily water separator. This contains a number of Coalescence Interceptor plates that separate the oil from the water. They can then pump the separated waste streams to segregated storage. Redundant sensors monitor the process.
Sewage and Waste Water System.
They have about 40 toilets onboard and about 280 crew members. They have a Vacuum, Collection, Holding, and Transfer System (VCHT) This essentially controls the grey and black water streams in three modes. Import – transfer – and holding.
Recycling Program
Plastic and Aluminum Containers are recycled back in port. The revenues from this activity are donated to the recreational fund as an incentive to encourage recycling.
Future Technologies
They are looking to improve the CMUs by reducing parts to make it more reliable. It will be pneumatic instead of electric. Also will be self-cleaning.
In addition, they are looking at improved technologies for hull cleaning which serves not only to maintain ships speed but also to keep microorganisms under control by filtering out the debris cleaned off the bottoms.
For more information on Navy environmental efforts please feel free to look us up on the web at <http://navyseic.dt.navy.mil/>
AGENDA ITEM #3 Jeff Wolters – Co-Manager of the Whale Sanctuary – Humpback Whale Season Update 2005 – 2006
Jeff opened by complimenting HOST and offering brochures on his subject.
Marine Wildlife Basics – The Hawaii Humpback Whale Sanctuary was established to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaii . They emphasize outreach, education and research as key conservation strategies. They really are not a regulatory agency but rather work with other groups like NOAA Fisheries, DLNR, DAR, and the USCG to try to move the mission forward. NOAA has a new office in Hawaii with a department that focuses on marine mammals. This primarily includes Whales, Turtles and Monk Seals.
Collisions – Peak season for whales is January through March. They tend to congregate in the shallower waters of 100 meters or less. In terms of collisions calves are an issue. Calves surface more often and are smaller. A collision with an adult male could be a bad deal for the boat. Adults can be as long as 40 feet and can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs.
This year they have had seven confirmed collisions. Six of these were self-reported.
To avoid collisions they recommend placing a look-out especially during peak season. There is a 100 yard approach rule. If you find yourself within 100 yards they recommend that you go into neutral and use sound seamanship to determine the safest way to avoid a collision. Safe for the whales and safe for the mariners.
If you do happen to be in a whale collision, please report it so that they can follow up on the incident and learn as much as possible. Contact the NOAA Hotline phone number 1-888-256-9840.
Entanglements – This season we have had at least 5 confirmed entanglements. They have teams trained to untangle whales and this year they had 2 successful un-entanglements. If you see an entangled whale and can report it to the NOAA Hotline number that would be great. If you can give them a GPS position or, even better yet, track the whale from a distance until the response team can show up on scene, This would be a great help. It is the general public that typically reports entanglements.
Wildlife Viewing Guidelines – Please stay at least 100 yards away from whales and 50 yards away from other mammals such as dolphins and Monk seals. Please don’t encroach on breeding activities or whales with calves. Be aware of peak season and the concentrations of up to six thousand whales in the south Maui area off of Lahaina. Keep a watch out. They generally recommend lower speeds as this will reduce the effects of a collision to both the whales and the vessels.
AGENDA ITEM #4 Cape Flattery and Casitas Groundings Update – Lt. Brian Johnson, Investigation Division, Sector Honolulu
M/V Cape Flattery Grounding
Key Findings of facts.
- The Pilot Station is not located on the Navigational Charts. Several days prior to the visit the ship’s Master received an e-mail identifying the location of the Pilot Station.
2. The Ship did not stop at the Pilot Station but proceeded to head into the harbor at about 6 knots.
3. Because the ship is not supposed to enter the harbor at night, the pilot saw no need to hurry out to the vessel prior to daylight. The ship entered at twilight.
4. When the pilot first saw the vessel it was proceeding across the channel and apparently heading into danger. He radioed the vessel to warn the ship’s Master. The Master replied “that he would be careful”.
5. The Pilot arrived at Barber’s Point Harbor and boarded the tug Mamo, which was not displaying the appropriate navigation lights to indicate that a Pilot was on board. The Mamo took the Pilot out to meet the Cape Flattery .
6. The Pilot warned the Master by radio that he should alter course to starboard, towards deeper water and out to sea, because the ship was in danger of going aground.
7. The Master of the Flattery ordered a 10-degree course change to port. The ship then steadied on a course of 065 degrees at a speed of six knots.
8. At 06:47 the Mamo was alongside the M/V Cape Flattery and the Pilot stepped aboard.
9. Upon entering the bridge, at 06:53 by the ships log, the Master asked the Pilot “what is happening with my boat?”. The Pilot responded by ordering, “full astern Captain, you’re aground.”
Conclusions
- The master of the Flattery was negligent in not stopping to pick up the Pilot.
2. The Master failed to act on the radio messages sent by the Pilot.
3. The lack of vessel traffic control facilities at Barbers Point Harbor, limits the abilities of the Hawaii State Department of Transportation – Harbors Division, the responsible State agency, to track the arrivals and departures of vessels in that area.
4. Radio communication in the vicinity of Barbers Point may not be adequate for the frequency and type of vessel traffic in the port.
5. The tug Mamo was not lighted in accordance with rule 29 of the Navigation Rules.
Recommendation Safety Actions
1. The Hawaii Department of Transportation, Harbors Division, should consider expanding the vessel traffic control services within the Barber’s Point harbormaster’s office to provide better control and awareness of large commercial vessel movements.
2. Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd. should consider changing its policy of having the Third Officer leave the bridge to escort a Pilot during arrivals to port and thereby ensure an adequate forward watch is set on the bridge during the special sea detail.
3. The Hawaii Pilot’s Association and the tug operators should take steps to ensure compliance with the requirement to display the proper light configuration when engaged in pilotage duties.
4. The Hawaii Pilot’s Association should review methods of transmission (radio power) and the current procedures that their Pilots use to receive and send communications regarding vessel arrivals.
The Pilots Association had been trying to place a Pilot Boat at the Deep Draft Harbor for years. This has now been accomplished at least to the satisfaction of the Pilots Association.
For a copy of the report you can go to http://www.uscg.mil/ccs/cit/cim/foia/foia.htm.
M/V Casitas Grounding
The Facts can be reported now but the Findings are not finished yet. The Facts are as follows:
1. M/V Casitas was a 145 ft. 270 GT multi-service vessel.
2. The vessel was contracted by NOAA to conduct clean up of marine debris from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands .
3. There were 6 crew and 17 NOAA workers aboard. The Master, 1st Mate, 2nd Mate, and Chief Engineer all had the proper licenses.
4. The vessel was carrying approximately 32,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
5. At 00:15 hours on July 2, 2005 , the vessel ran hard aground on the northern side of Pearl & Hermes Reef resulting in a significant marine casualty and a total constructive loss of the vessel valued at $1,200,000. No injuries were reported and pollution was minimal.
At this time the findings are still under review by USCG headquarters.
AGENDA ITEM #5 Heavy Weather& Tsunami Plan – LCDR Todd Offutt
Sector Honolulu is currently trying to update the “Heavy Weather” Plan. The USCG would like to solicit input on Preparation, Response and Recovery. The focus of this plan is to provide guidance to the Hawaii maritime community on how to be prepared for a hurricane and tsunami. The remoteness of Hawaii means that we have to be more prepared than many other areas in mainland coastal communities.
The case histories of Hurricane Iniki and Iwa have taught us how important it is to be prepared. Especially Iniki which changed course dramatically in the last six hours just prior to landfall. People went to bed thinking one thing and were awakened at 4:30 in the morning to an entirely different reality. Kauai was hit head on and recovery took weeks if not longer for some basic needs. All communications on Kauai were down. There was some communication between Oahu and Hawaii by HAM radio. After seven weeks only 35% of Kauai had electricity.
It is important that we realize that a plan that looks to be implemented over a period of days wasn’t really ready for a storm that changed so dramatically in the short hours just prior to landfall.
Lessons learned.
- Take the hurricane warning seriously.
- 81% of the people on Kauai were not able to live in their home afterwards.
- Conventional communications is the first to go.
- Have a business continuity plan.
Some of the other Plans that Sector Honolulu is working on include the
Air Sea Disaster Plan
Marine Fire Fighting and Salvage Plan
Maritime Terrorism Plan
and the now completed Area Plan for Oil Spill Response
HOST SOP 10-98
The USCG is currently working with HOST on updating the 10-98 SOP developed by HOST. They are working to incorporate the HOST SOP into the Heavy Weather Plan. This work is not yet complete. If you would like to review the current plan go the USCG web site at the USCG District 14 Website.
Announcements.
Safety and Health Conference
The Governors Ninth Annual Pacific Rim Safety and Health Conference. This will be held on May 10 – 12 at the Sheraton Waikiki. The maritime community is encouraged to attend. This is sponsored by the ASSE Hawaii and HIOSH. For more information go to <http://assehawaii.org/pacrim/PacRim_2006.htm>
2006 Navy Earth Day Fair
The 2006 Navy Earth Day Fair will be held Friday and Saturday, April 21st & 22nd at The Mall at Pearl Harbor . It will include Free Games, Activities, Prizes and a Coloring Contest. It is being sponsored by Navy Region, NAVFAC and NEX. Many Educational Exhibits will present.
Closing Remarks
Brad Rimell thanked everyone for coming and asked for any suggestions for future meeting topics.
Hearing no further comments he adjourned the meeting.
NEXT MEETINGS
Executive Board Meeting:
May 11th, 3:00 pm , Hawaii Yacht Club located in the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor .
General Membership Meeting:
June 15th , 2:00 pm , Honolulu Community College Marine Training Facility.