Oil spill update

Efforts to capture the oil release continue round the clock. As of 14 May, oil ranging from light sheen to heavy concetration was reported throughout the area within the following coordinates: (30º00'N, 89º00'W); (28º30'N, 87º30'W); (27º30'N, 88º30'W); (28º00'N, 89º45'W). Trading vessels are recommended to monitor USCG Urgent Marine Information Broadcast on VHF 22A(157.1 MHZ) and contact their agents to ensure that the relevant approaches are clear and to inquire about locations and procedures for vessel-cleaning stations. Please see below the published trajectory for 14 May 2010.

All ports and waterways in the Morgan City Captain of the Port Zone including port Fourchon are open without restrictions, and it is the intention to facilitate movement of the traffic to the fullest extent possible throughout the oil spill response operation.Vessels are advised to make every effort to avoid pockets of heavy black oil, while ensuring safe navigation. It will greatly reduce the possibility of vessels' hulls decontamination.



The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) is reported to be open to vessels and to be free of restrictions to marine traffic. 


A safety zone is reported to be established near the entrance to the Rigolets (COTP of the port New Orleans) in the vicinity of the CSX Railroad bridge. This safety zone will protect pesonel, deflection booming and Marco V skimmers located in the area by the bridge. All vessels transiting this area are required to maintain slow speed in the vicinity of the booming to maintain a no wake zone.

Overview of oil spill due to offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon explosion : commercial navigation aspects

This post addresses the spread of the oil spill due to explosion of the offshore drill rig Deepwater Horizon and commercial navigation aspects. The incident occured on the 20th of April in the area of Missisipi Canyon Block 252 which is approx. 52 miles southeast of Venice, Lousiana. As of 6th of April, various sources report that approx. 5-10,000 or even more barrels of crude oil per day continue to be released in the sea water.

Both Oil Spill Removal Oprganizations (NaRCO and MSRC) continue to be heavily engaged in the response. Despite the large involvement, NaRCO stays alerted to meet a separate, unrelated response, and is ready to relocated resources from the gulf region if necessary. As for MSRC, they are also reported to maintain their classification in the gulf. Therefore, commercial navigation is not effected as a result of repositioning of the resources.

As of 3rd May, heavy oil concetration is reported to be migrating in the area: (28.30N 89.30W) to (20.30N 89.00W) to (30.00N 89.30W) to (29.15N 87.15W). Please see the published cumulative trajectory.

Therefore, although not necessarily, Masters are requested to report any oil impact on their vessel's hulls in e-notices of Arrivals in the "comments" section.

Refering to COPT of New Orleans, two vessel decontamination stations have been established on the Lower Missisipi River. If any sheening or presence of oil on a vessel's hull noticed, the arriving vessel shall proceed to one of the cleaning stations. Vessel's cleaning is coordinated with the New Orleans Decon Group via VHF Channel 16, throught the pilot directing the vessel's movement.

Caution : piracy expansion

On the 23rd of March, the turkish-owned m/v "Frigia", flying Malta flag, was hijacked in the Indian Ocean 1000 n.miles east of the northern coast of Somalia. The position of hijack is closer to India than Somalia and is about 400 n.miles beyond the normal EU NAVFOR operation area. The ship is reported to be heading towards one of the known pirate ports off the coast of Somalia. EU NAVFOR continues to monitor the situation.

New chineese oil polution regulation

As from today, the 1st of March, 2010, new chineese oil polution regulation becomes effective. The regulations have various requirements e.g. insurance compensation protocols and mandatory response plans as well as a requirement to contract with a pollution response contractor approved by China's Maritime Safety Administration (MSA). It is reported that an approved list of contractors has not been issued yet.

The requirement to contract with a response contractor applies to all ships carrying polluting or hazardous bulk cargoes and any other vessel beyond 10,000 GT. There are four levels of response contractors based on their ability to respond to spills of increasing size implied by the legislation.