Marisco’s “lil’ Perris” floating drydock, image: Marisco

HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) announced today their settlement with Marisco Ltd. including civil penalties of $710,000 for water pollution control violations at its ship repair and drydock facilities at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor on Oahu.

This is the largest Clean Water Act civil penalty ever levied against a ship repair facility in the United States.

EPA’s complaint against Marisco found that the company failed to implement water pollution controls as required by its Clean Water Act discharge permit at its main ship repair facility and at its separate 3,500 metric ton “Lil’ Perris” floating drydock.

During an inspection in 2008, EPA and Hawaii DOH observed storage of leaking equipment, workers washing down work areas directly into the harbor, and sandblast material from Marisco’s operations being discharged into the harbor.

The settlement, a consent decree, was lodged with the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval.

“To protect Hawaii’s precious coastal waters and coral reefs, ship repair facilities must have pollution controls in place,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Our action will help improve Oahu’s water quality by having Marisco redesign its operations to comply with federal law.”

“Our Clean Water team is committed to guarding the quality of Hawaii’s waters,” said Gary Gill, Deputy Director, Environmental Health Administration, Hawaii State Department of Health. “We work hand-in-hand with EPA to perform the tough field work necessary to protect Hawaii’s people and the island environment from pollution.”

In addition to the civil penalties, the settlement requires Marisco to use clean water to wash the drydock after paint removal and sandblasting, collect the water used for washing, and treat it to ensure that it is not discharged when the drydock is lowered into the harbor.

EPA and DOH’s actions will ensure that Marisco’s discharges meet the Clean Water Act permit effluent limits, particularly for copper and zinc. Marisco must treat and dispose the water used for washing the drydock in accordance with federal, state and local laws and ordinances.

The EPA notes these actions should result in the reduction of about 295 pounds per year of copper, 94 pounds per year of zinc, 14 pounds of solids and 8 pounds of oil and grease to the harbor waters.

For more information on environmental compliance, please click HERE.

Credit: New England Ocean Action

By Susan Olcott,

This New Year comes with new opportunities – as well as the potential for conflicts – in the open ocean.

In 2013, the US federal government will offer competitive lease sales for offshore wind farms in the waters off of Virginia, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Considering the impact these sites could have on existing ocean industries, like shipping lanes or port traffic, the need for coordination and collaboration is vital. The National Ocean Policy aims to address those concerns.

The Policy – which was adopted in 2010, with an implementation plan expected soon – provides guidance in making decisions that will protect the United States’ ocean, waterways and coastlines. More than 20 federal agencies and over 140 laws address our coasts and the ocean, often in competing and conflicting ways. The policy improves collaboration and coordination and empowers the states to have a greater say in federal decision-making.

The Policy will create an ocean atlas with information on ocean uses and resources, providing information to state, tribal and federal agencies, as well as ocean users and the public, in a transparent manner. It also recommends a hands-on process to enable stakeholders to help make smart decisions about important ocean and coastal resources.

Some regions are already moving forward toward implementation.

The New England Regional Planning Body (RBP) met in November for the first meeting of its kind. This group, along with other regionally-based groups that would be established, includes representatives from state agencies, tribes, the regional fisheries management council and local governments, and will work with stakeholders and the public to gather information and, where relevant, develop plans.

Mariners are encouraged to join in the engagement process.

In 2010, 77 percent of U.S. imports— a total of $1.9 trillion in value— arrived via ports.  Given the importance of the maritime industry on the economy, the Policy aims to maximize economic benefits while safeguarding the jobs that depend on a healthy marine environment. Access to comprehensive data can lead to better business decisions and provide companies greater regulatory certainty and efficiency that may enhance your ability to attract investors. Emerging industries, in particular, need to find locations to operate that minimize conflicts with other users.

Where do whale migration routes intersect with shipping lanes?  How will a possible wind farm location impact a local port? These are questions that the maritime industry need to know to function at their best, and the National Ocean Policy aims to provide that information.

The National Ocean Policy can also present new opportunities by reducing operational costs. For example, ports need to dredge for ships to travel safely. At the same time, sediment is needed for habitat restoration projects. Instead of incurring costs to dispose of dredged material while paying for restoration material, coordinated planning could address both of these needs with a win-win solution.

As Kathleen Broadwater, Deputy Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration, noted in a briefing held last year on the coastal economy, deep-water seaports serve as the poster child of coastal zone management in its effort to seek balance between ecological protection and economic development, and exhibit the value of coordinated management to maintain the nation’s economic vitality.

Susan Olcott lives in Brunswick, Maine and is Stakeholder Manager, Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning for the Ocean Conservancy.  For more information and to receive updates on regional planning, please contact: solcott@oceanconservancy.org.

“We are delighted that the North American Marine Environment Protection Association has awarded these groups with the respective 2012 Marine Environment Protection Awards,” said Mr. Maitland.  “Our Award categories were expanded this year to reflect the many sectors that are engaged in the important business of “Saving our Seas”.

The NAMEPA Marine Environment Protection Award is given in recognition of groups efforts on behalf of preserving the marine environment as exemplified by a commitment to a program which has specific objectives set for environmental performance and improvement, and which is innovative and goes beyond minimum environmental compliance.  Eligible candidates include members of the commercial maritime industry, government agencies, non-profit/NGOs and individuals and submissions are judged by the organization’s Board of Directors against the criteria behind the award.

The first NAMEPA Marine Environment Protection Award was presented four years ago posthumously to the founder of the MEPA movement, George P. Livanos who created HELMEPA 28 years ago due to his interest and concern for the marine environment.  In 2009, the NAMEPA Award was presented to the United States Coast Guard; the 2010 winner was liner company APL and last year cruise giant Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

And then something unbelieveable happened…

Click here to view the embedded video.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard and the North American Marine Environment Protection Association announced an agreement to co-develop and implement outreach, training and educational materials aimed at reducing maritime pollution.

Under the memorandum of understanding, signed during a ceremony at Coast Guard Headquarters last month, the Coast Guard will expand its marine environmental protection education and outreach program within NAMEPA’s strategic alliances. Furthermore, the Coast Guard will collaborate with NAMEPA to develop an elementary school curriculum that will focus on reducing marine debris.

“NAMEPA is honored to be partnering with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary in our shared goal to ‘Save our Seas’,” said Carleen Lyden-Kluss, co-founder and executive director of NAMEPA. “Through this partnership, we will be able to join forces in promoting the reduction of marine debris, and help in the education of the public about the risks associated with careless disposal of litter. It is our hope that this initial effort will be followed by future projects which serve to protect our marine environment and promote respect and care for it.”

“By partnering with NAMEPA to increase outreach efforts to students who will be future stewards the world’s ocean, we are fulfilling the Coast Guard’s maritime stewardship mission to protect our valuable marine environment.” said Vice Adm. Brian Salerno, the Coast Guard’s Deputy Commandant for Operations.

About NAMEPA…

The North American Marine Environment Protection Association was officially launched in 2007.  In keeping with the mission of MEPAs worldwide, its aim is to increase environmental awareness and motivation of the human element within shipping and land-based industries that have a vested interest in preservation of the marine environment.  Specifically, NAMEPA has the goal of educating the wider public and school communities about the critical importance of the world’s oceans to mankind and the maritime industry’s role and actions to preserve it.

Through its strategic alliances with port chaplains, industry, and marine interests, NAMEPA reaches seafarers and port communities in most ports in North America.  Additionally, NAMEPA will connect with over 3 million children with the message of protecting the marine environment through an on-line education program.

“In these times of economic pressure, rising insurance costs, and growing regulatory pressure, no shipowner, or charterer, should neglect its risk management procedures,” urged Maitland.  “One lesson of the Erika, Prestige, Cosco Busan and other recent oil spills is that the cost, to owners operators and charterers, of damage to the marine environment is by no means proportionate to the amount of oil spilled.  So-called ‘strict liability’ rules, regarding damages, mean that even if a ship’s owner or operator is not directly at fault, the facts—political and legal—are that a ship operator’s liability for environment harm will most likely be considerable, virtually unlimited, and, in the U.S., ‘strict’– that is, liability regardless of actual fault.”

Citing the need to minimize human error both on board ships and ashore, Maitland offered suggestions to the shipowning community as part of an “Orientation to environmental excellence” and the promotion of safety at all times: 

1. HIRING QUALITY PERSONNEL
2. TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH A FORMAL TEACHING SYSTEM
3. THE IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS
4. REWARDING ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE
5. COMMUNICATION
6. EMPOWERMENT
7. RESPONSIBILITY
8. RESPECT
9. INTEGRITY
10. EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE BAD HABITS, AND CORRECT MISTAKES

Maitland further urged the audience to avoid “Beancounter-ism”.

“You must also be able to assess the adequacy of your safety and environmental budgets.  This means spending money now, in order to save more later.  Your financial controls must take this into account, and since “it is all about people”, your finance staff, themselves, must affirmatively subscribe to specific quality, safety and environmental goals.   The budget process must be everyone’s business, and any inadequacies or shortfalls must be resolved before the expense of an oil spill or other loss occurs.”

The Senior Maritime Forum was sponsored by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China, along with the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.  The Forum included environmental, shipbuilding, ship finance and offshore sessions. It was held in tandem with Marintec China 2011, which attracted over 60,000 visitors to an exhibition which is one of the largest maritime events in the world.

About the North American Marine Environment Protection Association

Officially launched in 2007, NAMEPA is a maritime industry-led initiative which engages businesses, government and the public to “Save our Seas” by promoting sound environmental practices and welcomes members who share this mission. For more information, visit namepa.net.

The department urged Congress to take this step while announcing a modest increase to existing fines to reflect inflation adjustments, as required by law. The department said it is restricted from raising penalty rates beyond inflation rate increases.

The maximum civil penalty rate for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act will increase from $35,000 to $40,000 per day, while violations under the Oil Pollution Act go from $25,000 to $30,000 per day.

Michael Bromwich, director of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, said in a statement Wednesday that Congress should raise the rates “significantly.”

“The inadequacy of our civil authority hampers our ability to effectively regulate offshore activities, and renders such fines a trivial nuisance rather than an effective deterrent” he said.

The bureau has undertaken several measures to tighten offshore drilling standards since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

-By Tennille Tracy, Dow Jones Newswires

Some of the biggest names in shipping today called on the industry to take far-reaching action to create a maritime sector which is socially and environmentally responsible and profitable.

Members of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, a global coalition drawn from across the sector, launched a Case for Action analysing the global trends which will shape the future of shipping, and announced: “Our goal is to transform the global shipping industry and the wider maritime sector, establishing a new, sustainable approach as the norm.”

They called on industry leaders to:

• create a shared vision of how the industry should develop over the next 30 years;
• prepare for greater scrutiny and demands from customers and society with regard to social and environmental performance;
• build and convert ships to the highest standards of energy efficiency in anticipation of high and volatile fuel prices and demands for low-carbon performance;
• drive the development of co-ordinated, progressive legislation that rewards sustainability;
• develop innovative business models that encourage long-term investment and take into account social and environmental obligations.

Soren Stig Nielsen, Head of Sustainability, Maersk Line, said: “By creating a shared vision for sustainable growth, we can plot a new ambitious course. A course where shipping is viewed as a key enabler of responsible and sustainable economic development.”

The Sustainable Shipping Initiative brings together leaders from across the maritime sector with Forum for the Future and WWF. Its members are: ship owners and charterers BP Shipping, Cargill, Gearbulk, IMC, Maersk Line, Morgan Stanley, Rio Tinto Marine and Tsakos Energy Navigation; shipbuilders, engineers and service providers Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering and Wartsila; ABN Amro bank; RSA insurance; and the classification society Lloyd’s Register.

Tom Boardley, Marine Director at Lloyd’s Register, emphasised the importance of commercial interests working with technical expertise. “One of the real strengths of this initiative is the marriage of ship operating and ship engineering capability –  we all need to work together to help make shipping more sustainable,” he said.

Board level representatives launched the Sustainable Shipping Initiative Case for Action today at a summit chaired by Jonathon Porritt, founder director of Forum for the Future. It is designed as a resource for the entire industry and warns that companies should be ready for three key challenges over the next 30 years.

• Continued growth of free trade and strong global governance cannot be guaranteed. A decline in global trade would lead to greater competition and magnify competitive advantages. Companies should be prepared for this and work with the IMO on progressive regulation to anticipate future challenges.
• Shipping is likely to face increased scrutiny of its social and environmental performance, mirroring trends seen in other industries. Companies which can demonstrate a strong record on working conditions, fuel efficiency, prosecutions and similar factors are likely to be favoured by customers and suppliers, including ports, financiers and insurers.
• Volatile and rising oil prices will push up costs significantly while climate change is increasing pressure on shipping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Companies can gain competitive advantage by investing in energy efficiency and the transition to new fuels.

The Sustainable Shipping Initiative Case for Action explores the risks and opportunities around each of these three challenges. It also warns that companies which do nothing may face serious consequences. The US auto industry came close to collapse in 2008, partly by failing to adapt to rising oil prices, and was only saved by a $25 billion government bailout.

In the next stage of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, members will create a shared vision of an industry in 2040 which is resilient, socially and environmentally responsible and profitable, and will commit to a set of actions to achieve this. The ultimate aim is to mobilise industry support for an action plan to achieve this vision, including engineering and technical initiatives, policy proposals and marketing and communications plans.

Jonathon Porritt said: “The leaders involved in this Initiative understand that success and sustainability must go hand in hand.  These practical actions which they will help deliver will not only make their businesses more robust, but will ensure a more secure future for all of us.”

The report and further resources are available at www.forumforthefuture.org/projects/sustainable-shipping-initiative

Via Forum For the Future

“NAMEPA was conceived at just the right time,” stated Founding Chairman Clay Maitland.  “The public’s eyes were turning to the environment, while at the same time the maritime industry sought mechanisms for insuring its preservation.  These two goals were achieved in our region by the formation of NAMEPA.”

NAMEPA was predicated on the nearly 30 year old model established by George P. Livanos when he founded HELMEPA (Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association).  Today there are 7 MEPAs around the world.  While each MEPA has its own programs, they share the mission “To Save the Seas”.

“While establishing a new association has its risks,” observed NAMEPA Co-Founder and Executive Director Carleen Lyden-Kluss, “NAMEPA has had many rewards.  I am so very proud of the way our industry as supported and embraced NAMEPA.  We are gratified by the interest in membership, sponsorship of our programs, our relationships with other agencies, and commitment of our Board of Directors in their guidance of the organization.”

Since its founding, NAMEPA has produced 4 World Maritime Day Observances, including the 2009 World Maritime Day Parallel Event, four National Maritime Day Seminars, two spill response exercises, and six Environmental Intelligence in Shipping Seminars.  Through its partnership with the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA), it has distributed 12,000 copies of the American Club’s environmental crimes poster and 2000 marine debris posters to seafarers.  Along with the Sea Research Foundation it has mounted three children’s drawing competitions with this year’s contest reaching out to 500,000 schoolchildren from K-12.  NAMEPA is also in the process of producing a MARPOL/marine science educational tool for seafarers, as well as developing a marine debris teaching module for elementary students.  The latter will be tested in New Haven, CT schools this fall working with the USCG’s Sector Long Island as classroom educators.

More information on the North American Marine Environment Protection Association, including upcoming events, can be found at www.namepa.net or by visiting the North American Marine Environment Protection Association Facebook Page.

Come aboard as the VBS crew takes a cruise to the Northern Gyre in the Pacific Ocean, a spot where currents spin and cycle, churning up tons of plastic into a giant pool of chemical soup, flecked with bits and whole chunks of refuse that cannot biodegrade.