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© February 2005 by Tim Akpinar - All Rights Reserved
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legal developments in the
maritime law field.
(718) 224-9824

250-02 Northern Blvd - Suite 200
Little Neck, New York 11363

P.O. Box 620766
Little Neck, New York 11362

www.mycounsel.us
December 2007
SAN FRANCISCO, Calf. - The vessel Royal Prince struck rocks southwest of Alcatraz Island
on December 6, 2007. The Royal Prince is a ferry with the Red & White Fleet.  The ferry
sustained damage to the forward port side but did not take on water and no injuries were
reported.  Responses included a Coast Guard boat from Station San Franciso and helicopter
from Air Station San Francisco. After the ferry was removed from service, the crew conducted
soundings to ascertain that oil was not released.  Alcohol testing was administered to the
entire crew and the results came back negative. The Coast Guard launched an investigation
of the incident.
November 2007
The 900 foot container ship Cosco Busan allided with one of the towers of the San Francisco
Bay Bridge on November 7, 2007. A 100 plus foot long gash in the port side resulted. As a
result, 58,000 gal of fuel oil were spilled onto the waters of the bay. Within 2 hours of the
incident, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted mandatory alcohol testing on the ship’s personnel.
The results of the alcohol testing were negative.
September 2007
The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
announced that it will provide more
specific warning information for severe
weather. This will include
geographically specific warnings for
tornadoes, severe thunderstorms,
floods, and marine hazards starting
October 1, 2007. The new warnings
should enable forecasters to pinpoint
areas where threats are greatest.
What's New - Maritime News - Boating News - Fishing News
Marine Industry Developments - Recreational Boating - Offshore and Inland - Products & Recalls
This radar image
shows the landfall of
Hurricane Erin on
Florida in 1995. NOAA
announced that it will
provide more specific
warning information
for severe weather.

Read more below
August 2007
A failure of the main diesel engine for the bulk carrier Selendang Ayu was a central issue in
the government’s prosecution of the case. Owners for the Selendang Ayu pled guilty to
violations of the Refuse Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act after the ill-fated ship ran
aground near the Aleution Islands in December 2004. The government’s case included
assertions that the owner’s of the Selendang Ayu failed to properly maintain the main diesel
engine, which was why the head cracked in no. 3 cylinder. The Selendang Ayu sailed from
Seattle, Washington on November 28, 2004, bound for Xiamen, China with more than
60,000 tons of soy beans. During the voyage, she encountered Beaufort 7 (near gale) to
Beaufort 11 (violent storm) sea conditions. In the Bering Sea, she sustained a crack in no. 3
cylinder of the main engine. After the ship lost power, she ran aground off Unalaska Island
and spilled 340,000 gallons of bunker fuel as well as its cargo of soy beans.
What is the name of this ill-fated ship that
foundered in the Bering Sea? Read more below...
July 2007
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit disagreed with the
conclusion of the District Court that only one of the vessels in a
December 14, 2002 collision was liable for all damages. On that day,
the containership Kariba and car carrier Tricolor were on westbound
headings. The Kariba was making 16 knots, and the Tricolor, closing
the gap from behind, was making 17.9 knots. The Clary, a third ship,
was steaming north on a collision course with the Kariba. The Circuit
Court examined COLREG 13, providing that an overtaking vessel
shall keep out the way of the vessel being overtaken. The Circuit
Court examined COLREG 6 regarding safe speed and COLREGs
concerning maintaining a proper lookout. The court concluded that
Kariba was not solely to blame for her collision with the Tricolor.