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Video - Amazing Ocean

This is not law related, or even Hawaii related, but this video was pretty captivating.

Report Details Cruise Ship Environmental Impacts

The Congressional Research Service issued a report on the environmental impacts of the cruise industry.

Thanks to Dennis Bryant, Esq. for the find.

Exxon Valdez Case - Transcript of Oral Argument

The oral argument for the Exxon Valdez punitive damages case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday is available, here.  My earlier post on this case is here.

At issue is whether maritime law allows for punitive damages to be awarded in light of case law from the 1800's and the Clean Water Act.  The oral argument is usually a poor indicator in predicting how the case will turn.  The transcript is interesting for it runs the gamut of shipboard operations, the extent which a shipowner is liable for torts committed by their ship captains, and the various factors important to inform a punitive damages award (i.e. use of the Clean Water Act civil/criminal penalty structure as a factor in determining the excessiveness of a punitive damage award).

Port Security in the News - Things Better Since 9/11?

Remarking on the state of port security in the U.S. following 9/11, the Secretary of Homeland Security recently said that major advances in port security have been made, making special mention of TWIC's, security plans, increased CBP presence and port security grants.  Asserting that naysayers expressing concerns about port security show their "intellectual laziness,"  the Secretary took steps to assuage much of the criticisms in this area.

But what about the threat of small boats to America's strategic interests?  Maritimeterrorism raises some flags.

Coast Guard has New Regs for Vessels from Indonesia

The Coast Guard announced a new policy imposing security restrictions on vessels arriving from certain Indonesian ports deemed to have inadequate security measures in place.  These restrictions impose certain security measures to be used when the vessels visit U.S. ports.  The Indonesian ports listed below do have the requisite security measures in place:

PT Terminal Petikemas Surabaya, Banjarmasin Port, PT Pertamina Unit Pemasaran III Jakarta,  Pertamina Unit,  Pengolahan V Balikpapan, Senipah, Terminal Total E&P Indonesia, Balikpapan, Caltex Oil Terminal Dumai, Pelindo II Conventional Terminal, Jakarta, Jakarta International Container Terminal, PT Pupuk Kaltim Bontang, PT Badak Bontang, PT Indominco Mandiri Bontang, Pertamina Unit Pengolahan II Dumai, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia, Cabang Dumai, Semarang International, Container Terminal, Belawan Multi-Purpose Terminal and PT Multimas Nabati Asahan.

If a vessel visited another Indonesian port within its last five port calls, it is required to have the enhanced security measures denoted in the rule.

More on the Ecology of Hawaii's Ocean Waters

Lots of ocean ecology in the news this month.  This article talks about the "desert" condition of the Pacific Ocean including Hawaiian watersed in press.  The gyre article, posted here, was interesting in this vein too.