Sea Technology

AUG 2012

The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community

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US Coast Guard MDA Criticized at Hearing The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Trans - portation held a hearing in July to review the implementation of federal maritime domain awareness (MDA) programs. Vice Adm. Peter V. Neffenger, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) deputy commandant for operations, testified. Vice Adm. Neffenger discussed the development of the USCG's MDA programs and how the USCG leverages and shares MDA in its day-to-day security operations. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), chair of the subcommittee, expressed disappointment in the inefficiency and duplicity of information in the USCG's MDA programs. He also pointed to the steep costs programs will require of vessel owners, such as the USCG's proposal that fishing vessels must carry AIS transponders in addition to their already required vessel mon- itoring systems. "Each of these requirements and proposed mandates are, and will be, very expensive for vessel owners. Yet it is unclear how they will benefit safety and security in our ports and wa- terways if the Coast Guard lacks the ability to properly inte- grate and analyze the data," LoBiondo said. "I am concerned that after 10 years and billions of dollars, the Coast Guard still lacks the infrastructure to sufficiently tie these disparate MDA systems into one 'common operating picture.'" Legislators Call for US Government to Examine Greenpeace Protests, Establish a US Arctic Policy Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich called for the creation of a formal U.S. strategy for the Arctic in a letter sent to President Barack Obama in July. The U.S. is the only Arctic nation lacking such a plan, the senators said. U.S. Arctic policy was last updated with the finalization of National Security Presidential Directive 66 and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 25 in 2009. The letter notes that the work done since then by NOAA, the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, have broadened this policy, but asks for a cohesive strategy outlining the nation's goals. The senators also re- quested Alaska and its Arctic Policy Group be a major player in developing this strategy. In a separate letter, Sen. Murkowski and Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) in July wrote to NOAA and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), asking what meas- ures the agencies have taken in regards to Greenpeace's planned protests of Shell Oil Co.'s (Houston, Texas) activities in the Arctic. Greenpeace is sending its ships Esperanza and Arctic Sun- rise, from which it plans to use submersibles, AUVs and 3D ice-floe profilers. The work will research the environmental effects of Shell's drilling rigs, Greenpeace said. Citing concerns over the safety of the offshore drilling op- erations and workers, marine mammals and Native Alaskan subsistence culture, the legislators called for the agencies to provide them with specific steps to address operations by out- side parties and asked if an environmental review of Green- peace's activities had been considered. When reached for comment, NOAA responded that it had not received an application for an incidental harassment au- thorization (IHA) from Greenpeace. Parties without an IHA could be liable under the Marine Mammal Protection Act if they end up harassing, hunting, capturing, killing or collecting marine mammals. 52 st / AUGUST 2012 www.sea-technology.com

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