Environment

Flag states will be issuing international energy efficiency (IEE) certificates for newbuildings ordered after January 1, 2013 for delivery after July 1, 2015 to confirm that these vessels meet forthcoming IMO environmental guidelines.

The Portuguese Maritime Administration is host to an experimental offshore wind project that “may be the start of an offshore energy revolution.”

The ISRR is pleased to report that the parties working on the Rena salvage operations are preparing to pump the remaining fuel oil from the vessel.

In addition, 42 of the 88 containers that have gone missing have been found, and will be "raised from the sea bed as soon as pollution prevention work has been completed."

The Liberian Registry issues a press release in reference to the grounding of the containership Rena off the coast of New Zealand, which occurred October 5th.

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Dr. Klein of Germanischer Lloyds reflected with the ISRR staff on the viability of natural gas and offshore wind as practical, affordable, and green energy sources to supplement traditional fuel sources, and their prospects for job creation and maritime business. He was in New York hosting a successful US and Canada GL committee meeting.

The Marshall Islands Registry has made it clear that the Deepwater Horizon was always properly crewed as a Dynamically Positioned Vessel (DPV) even though one form, the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate, referred to the vessel as a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) without dynamic positioning, during the registration process in 2004.

India's environment minister Jairam Ramesh has announced intent to adopt the International Maritime Organization bunker convention in light of the bunker spill caused by a collision near the Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

Adoption of the IMO convention would provide India with guidance related to how to manage the consequences of incidents such as this spill.

The US Department of Transportation has approved plans for the development of at least ten newbuildings and Marine Highways.

Clay Maitland of the Marshall Islands Registry addresses flag issues related to the Deepwater Horizon accident.