Law at the Water Line

Coast Guard Outlook 2013

2013-05-17T15:14:23Z

The United States’ exponentially-expanding arctic presence is mostly articulated through our Coast Guard. This link will take you to the digital version of Coast Guard Outlook 2013: http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/publications/coast-guard-outlook-2013-edition/ .

For what is usually a holistic look at the service, note the major emphasis on and space dedicated to the Coast Guard’s arctic ops. Also, for those of us who provide services and/or technology to DHS/USCG, the review of the Coast Guard’s cutters, boats and aircraft starting at p. 108 may be useful.

New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal Groundbreaking

2013-05-08T18:47:21Z

Verrill Dana advised MassCEC (Massachusetts Clean Energy Center) on issues involved with the development of New Bedford’s Marine Commerce Terminal, which among other heavy-load uses will serve as Massachusetts’ support base for offshore renewable energy projects. This week Gov. Deval Patrick keynoted the groundbreaking for the 28 acre facility.

Photo by Christopher W. Morris - Pictured L to R: Senator William M. Cowan, Unknown, Lt. Governor Timothy P. Murray, Governor Deval Patrick, 2nd Row: Massachusetts Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin, 3rd Row: Verrill Dana attorneys Jeffrey T. Selser and Charles Katz-Leavy

Ecochlor Receives US Coast Guard AMS Acceptance

2013-04-17T17:10:19Z

Congratulations to our client Ecochlor, Inc., which announced today that it is among the first group of companies that have received US Coast Guard Alternative Management System (AMS) acceptance for its full line of ballast water management systems. This will allow ship operators to use an Ecochlor ballast water management system in US waters to effectively manage their ballast discharges. AMS approval allows ship operators to use ballast water management systems that have been type approved outside the United States for up to five years, while the vendor of the system proceeds through the USCG type approval application process. The AMS process focuses on the biological data of foreign type-approved BWMS as well as system construction and engineering matters in order to identify any issues that might exist for ultimate type approval in the United States. It includes an extensive review of system test results and laboratory findings, including analytical procedures and methods, quality assurance and control procedures and interpretations of results.

For more details, read the original press release from Ecochlor, Inc.

Maine Wind Power Continues Move Offshore

2013-04-09T14:52:54Z

The below article describes some of the challenges facing the Statoil project, both offshore and from ashore.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Two-Maine-offshore-wind-projects-move-closer-to-fruition.html

Marine Spatial Planning References

2013-03-05T14:47:45Z

UNESCO maintains a very good website with links to U.S. and worldwide references for marine spatial planning materials/authorities.

See: http://www.unesco-ioc-marinesp.be/msp_references

Congratulations to Ecochlor, Inc.

2013-02-25T13:44:08Z

Congratulations to Ecochlor, Inc. for receiving Product Design Assessment (PDA) Approval from ABS (American Bureau of Shipping classification society) for its full range of ballast water treatment systems.

See, http://www.marinelink.com/news/ecochlor-ballast-water351922.aspx

Update on Canadian Ship Building for the Arctic

2013-02-14T19:01:09Z

$25 billion in procurement gets a lot of attention and prompts a lot of activity. See Maritime Today’s article at: http://www.marinelink.com/news/emerging-maritime-halifax351613.aspx

Education and Ocean Robotics Come Together in Gloucester Harbor

2013-02-11T14:22:23Z

Since late 2011, Verrill Dana and MOTN, the marine technology industry association to which we belong, have been working cooperatively with the city of Gloucester, Massachusetts in that historic community’s on-going effort to diversify its centuries old fishing-centric economy. Gloucester is leveraging its wonderful,, unique combination of harbor infrastructure, highly skilled marine work force, convergence of resources and partnering with area academic and governmental institutions to grow and succeed in the new maritime economy. At last week’s 2nd Annual Maritime Summit, held in Gloucester, it was abundantly clear that a big part of Gloucester’s future will be linked to advances in marine technology generally, including ocean robotics in particular. A splendid example of Gloucester’s partnering in ocean robotics is the SailBot 2013 International Robotic Sailing Regatta to be co-hosted this spring by the City and Olin College of Engineering. For details on this exciting event, please see the article below by Ruth Levine of Olin.

Marina Construction & Lease Inquiry

2013-01-11T20:36:05Z

The Town of Yarmouth, MA located in Cape Cod, is seeking non-binding responses from marina developers and/or operators interested in leasing 22.5 acres of waterfront property from the Town for the express purpose of constructing and operating a marine park. The Town seeks a public-private partnership whereby the Town completes 75% designs and obtains various environmental permits at its own expense and the Lessee pays for construction of a marina and receives a lease of up to 40 years.

The purpose of this Request for Interest (RFI) is to assess market feasibility and to solicit input in the design of the proposed marina. There will be no lease or contract awarded as a direct result of this RFI. The specifications for this Request for Interest are available at: http://www.yarmouth.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/3652 or via email to bidinfo@yarmouth.ma.us.

Responses will be accepted until February 28th.

A Ship is Not a Product Under Maritime Law

2012-11-26T21:47:00Z

Judge Eduardo Robreno, the judge who oversees the multidistrict maritime asbestos litigation in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (MDL 875), recently held a ship is not a product and, therefore, not subject to liability under traditional product liability and strict liability principles. Mack v. General Electric Company, MDL-875, No. 2:100-78940-ER, 2012 WL 4717918 (E.D. Pa. Oct. 3, 2012). Judge Robreno held that navy shipbuilders, General Dynamics, Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding and Todd Pacific Shipyards were not "product manufacturers" under maritime law. The Court explained the role of a shipbuilder is more akin to a provider of service than to a manufacturer or supplier of a product.

In holding a ship was not a product, Judge Robreno emphasized that his decision is faithful to the goals of maritime law, namely to protect workers from the perils of the sea and to protect maritime commercial activity and ship building.

Read the decision here.