GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
April 21, 2005
The meeting was held at the Honolulu Community College Maritime Training Center and had 35 attendees.
Call to Order – Kim Beasley called the meeting to order.
Hawaii Drift Card Study
Kim Beasley reported on the status of the NOAA sponsored drift card study. They have completed two years of deployments and the results are shown on the internet at: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/drifter.html
This website shows the maps indicating the location of found drift cards as well as the numbers of cards recovered. It is interesting to note that cards were recovered as far east as Maui . There has been spill history that suggests that oil spilled at Barber’s Point has more potential for heading toward Kauai . This study would seem to indicate that transportation potentials vary depending upon wind and current and eastward movement is also a possibility.
NOAA has run out of money to continue funding the project so at this time we are no longer placing cards.
Interim Guidance for the Development and Review of
Response Plans for Non-Tank vessels
LTJG Quincy Adams reported that Interim Guidance is now available for pending regulations on Non-tank vessel response plans. This guidance comes in the form of NVIC 01-05 which is meant to provide guidance to owners and operators of non-tank vessels for preparing and submitting plans for responding to a discharge, or threat of a discharge, of oil from their vessels. Until non-tanker regulations are in effect, the Coast Guard may authorize a non-tank vessel to operate without an approved vessel response plan until two years after the date of submission to the Coast Guard of a plan if the owner or operator certifies that he has ensured by contract or other means approved by the Coast Guard the availability of private personnel and equipment necessary to respond to a worst case discharge (WCD) or substantial threat of such a discharge.
Vessel Plans Must:
- Be consistent with the requirements of the National Contingency Plan and Area Contingency Plan.
- Identify the Qualified Individual (QI) having full authority to implement removal actions, and require immediate communications between that individual and the appropriate federal official and the persons providing personnel and equipment pursuant to item No. 3 below.
- Identify and ensure by contract or other means approved by the Coast Guard the availability of private personnel and equipment necessary to remove to the maximum extent practicable to a Worst Case Discharge.
- Describe the training, equipment testing, periodic unannounced drills and response actions of persons on the vessel, to be carried out under the plan to ensure the safety of the vessel and to mitigate or prevent the discharge or the threat of a discharge.
- Be updated periodically.
- Be resubmitted for approval of each significant change.
The USCG currently expects regulations to take effect on August 8, 2005 . More information can be found on the web at
<http://www.hmms-usa.com/OPA90_NTVRP.htm>
2004 Marine Casualties Summary
LCDR Rick Raksnis, Chief Prevention Dept.
Investigation Mission
• Determine root cause for accidents involving all foreign/domestic
Vessels
• Link facts to conclusions
• Recommendations may include license actions or civil penalties.
• Draft formal reports of serious accidents.
• 4 full-time: 3 part-time staff ( Maui , Hawaii )
Investigation Process Flow
• Accident Occurs
• Crew handles immediate safety issues.
• Contacts USCG via radio/cell phone Ph. 842-2606
Is the Sector Honolulu Command Center .
• CG Command Center dispatches investigator(s)
• Collect evidence, complete interviews
• Receive CG-2692 form is completed usually within 5 days.
• Further interviews, evidence gathering depending upon circumstance.
Hawaii Incidents from 2004
• 158 casualties investigated
• 41 personnel incidents – injuries beyond first aid,
incapacitated, diver accidents.
• 36 vessel maneuverability – steering, propulsion
• 32 material failures
• 29 serious incidents
• 6 deaths, all divers
It should be noted that these statistics represent the commercial casualties rather than the smaller recreational casualties which are investigated by State DLNR. For a total picture we would need to look at their statistics.
Hawaii Enforcement Actions breakdown by Category
• Violation of law/reg = 48%
• Drug Use = 21%
• Misconduct = 25%
• Incompetence = 2%
• Negligence = 4%
Questions?
Brad Rimell asked whether there was any issue with sharing investigation information between the USCG investigators and the company. Both are looking for the same information. Rick said that the USCG would be reluctant to share their information with the company until it was finished its investigation. A company may interview its employees and the USCG would welcome copies of company generated documentation. However, the USCG will also conduct its own investigation which can not be shared with the Company until the investigation is final.
Hawaii Boat Show May 21st and 22nd
More information will be coming out. All of the Safety related vendors will be housed in one tent. Safety presentations will be presented in conjunction with this program.
National Harbor Safety Committee Conference – Brad Rimell.
He just returned from the Conference which was held in LA/Long Beach. The Commandant gave the Key Note Speech. We will be given a CD on all of the materials and presentations. Fewer breakout sessions at this Conference than in previous conferences which enabled more participants to attend the various presentations.
LA/Long Beach is the busiest harbor for containerization in the U.S.
BP Shipping CEO spoke at lunch. They will be starting a construction program to take their tankers from 20 or so up to 100.
In the afternoon there were multiple presentations from various Harbor Safety Committees on participation and activities. The next day a number of presentations were made on dredging activities and invasive species and ballast water issues.
VTS presentations were made. Honolulu will start tracking large foreign vessels this year for whether or not they have AIS systems. As of April 1, they are enforcing the regulation. This can result in hefty fines. AIS systems are being back ordered due to demand. Currently no Vessel Tracking System is planned for the Honolulu area.
Wednesday wrapped up with a video on recreational boater activities made by the San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee. This was related to the commercially navigable waters within the Bay which are limited. However, San Francisco Bay is also one of the busiest recreational water areas in the U.S.
Harbor Congestion and Tug Boat Activity.
Troy announced that HOST will be reviewing and updating our SOP 3-19 related to Tug Boat use in neighbor island harbors. Since our original SOP many of the vessels have seen a great deal of improvement in propulsion capacity with the addition of bow and stern thrusters. Technology has its limitations however. Members of the Northwest Cruise Ship Association have been meeting with the Harbor Pilots to discuss what level of tug support should be appropriate for neighbor island harbors. HOST will be facilitating discussion to review the SOP and look for consensus. The Legislature has asked the State Harbors Division to review their rules as related to this issue. Hopefully, at the end of the day, the resulting SOP and the Harbor Rules will match.
International Clean Up Conference.
Normally we do a “Get the Drift and Bag-It” in September. This year is the 20th Anniversary of this program at the national level. The Conference will be held in Hawaii . There are a great many players involved in a great many different clean up efforts. One that has been successful in Hawaii is the recovery and clean up efforts directed to derelict fishing nets in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands . The Conference will be held the 19th through 24th of May at the Hilton Hawaiian Village .
GET THE DRIFT AND BAG IT
Chris Woolaway
This year the “Get the Drift and Bag” campaign was held on September 18th, 2004 . There was an incredible amount of rubbish under the kiawe on the offshore islands in the lagoon.
This year there was an effort to not only increase the areas cleaned but also to involve HOST. Charlie Perez of P & R Water Taxi volunteered the water taxi “Hapa” In thanks for their terrific support in cleaning up the Keehi Lagoon area HOST presented a Public Service Commendation P&R Water Taxi.
In addition, Keahi Birch of Matson, operating in conjunction with Greg McCartney of A&B, picked up over eight tons of rubbish from the Keehi Lagoon boat launch area. In thanks for there help HOST will also be presenting them with a Public Service Commendation.
The State and USCG were asked if they had any announcements. Hearing none, the meeting was adjourned.