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Safety at sea bill changes
Marine Pollution Bulletin
those of previous years showed a 61% reduction from a recent peak in 1982 when 668 km of shores were affected. The survey suggests that of the oil spilled, less is reaching Britain's shores than in the past.
Offshore Information Gathering The fifth Offshore Information Conference, organized by the Institute of Offshore Engineering in association with the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, will be held at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 25-26 September 1986. The conference is particularly intended for information scientists, market researchers, librarians and others involved in acquiring, analysing and disseminating informarion concerning the technological, economic, commercial and environmental aspects of offshore oil exploitation and marine technology. Speakers at the 1986 conference, from United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada, will address a range of topics including management information systems, geological and techno-economic information, records management, offshore accident information, decommissioning offshore structures, and the security of information. Further details may be obtained from: Arnold Myers, Institute of Offshore Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland.
UK Fishermen Learn of Norwegian Approach to Compensation Following a recent visit to Norway to discuss fisheries and offshore oil developments (Mar. Pollut. Bull 17, 236) representatives of UK fishermen's organizations have concluded that the approaches adopted by the Norwegian and UK Governments are very different and that Norwegian fishermen enjoy better provisions than their UK counterparts with regard to compensation for oil industry related losses. The Norwegian compensation scheme is administered directly by the government and has made substantially greater settlements than the UK scheme. In the UK fishermen must first submit a claim to the oil company if it is thought to be responsible for the debris encountered, whereas in Norway all claims are submitted directly to the government administered fund. In Norway claims may include a component for loss of fishing time, and have also been submitted for areas outside the Norwegian Sector. UK fishermen's representatives also noted the findings of the Fleischer Committee of Inquiry (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 17, 236) which has recommended that compensation be paid by offshore operators for loss of access to fishing grounds. The Shetland Fishermen's Association (SFA) has pointed to the importance of the adoption of this principle as the Association's case for compensation for loss of access to traditional fishing grounds off Sullom Voe has been rejected by the oil industry. It is thought that the SFA will be presenting their case again. 338
Safety at Sea Bill Changes Section 7 of the UK Safety at Sea Bill which would have made it an offence to leave, at sea, debris which might cause the loss of fishing gear (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 17, 193) has been removed during the Committee Stages of the Bill. The Bill which contains important provisions with regard to the safety of fishing vessels and their operation is expected to receive royal assent shortly.
Bomb Laden Wreck Threat The controversy over what to do about the remains of the wartime Liberty ship Richard Montgomerylooks like being resurrected again following a recent survey by the UK Department of Transport which says that the ship, grounded in the Thames Estuary in 1944, could contain around half its original 7,000 ton cargo of explosives and ammunition. The Department says that nothing should be done to disturb the wreck of the Liberty ship which ran aground a mile and a half off Sheerness in Kent during World War H. According to a recent feature in Lloyd's List (18 June 1986) by Robin Bunton, the ship could be more of a hazard than experts think. The explosives used in the bombs, TNT, does not deteriorate with exposure to salt water and remains very potent. If the ship blew up for any reason the results could be disastrous. It has been calculated that if the Richard Montgomery exploded, buildings and walls within two miles would collapse and gas and water mains fracture. Windows would crack up to seven miles away and chimneys and tiles fall. Another possible danger is that Southend on the north side of the Thames Estuary and within sight of the wreck, would be hit by a tidal wave generated by the explosion causing enormous damage. Such disasters are not unknown. The port of Halifax, Nova Scotia was destroyed in 1917 when the Mont Blanc (3,123 tons), a British ammunition ship, exploded after being in collision. The casualty rate was huge with 1,600 people killed, 8,000 injured and 20,000 made homeless. The recent local community concern over the Richard Montgomery stems from the claim that there have been at least 24 near misses by other ships (the wreck is not completely submerged). However, the government feels that the risk of removing the cargo, which by now would be under a substantial amount of silt, would be unacceptable and that the wreck, well marked with buoys, need pose no risk to passing ships.
Plans and Views for Botany Bay A draft plan of management for a proposed aquatic reserve at Towra Point, Botany Bay, has recently been prepared by the NSW Department of Agriculture's Fisheries Division. The reserve should help to conserve the flora and fauna in the area (along with important fish habitats) and the plan is designed to achieve such a goal and to stimulate discussion from interested parties. Although the closing date for receipt for comments and submissions on the plan from such parties has n o w
those of previous years showed a 61% reduction from a recent peak in 1982 when 668 km of shores were affected. The survey suggests that of the oil spilled, less is reaching Britain's shores than in the past.
Offshore Information Gathering The fifth Offshore Information Conference, organized by the Institute of Offshore Engineering in association with the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, will be held at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 25-26 September 1986. The conference is particularly intended for information scientists, market researchers, librarians and others involved in acquiring, analysing and disseminating informarion concerning the technological, economic, commercial and environmental aspects of offshore oil exploitation and marine technology. Speakers at the 1986 conference, from United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada, will address a range of topics including management information systems, geological and techno-economic information, records management, offshore accident information, decommissioning offshore structures, and the security of information. Further details may be obtained from: Arnold Myers, Institute of Offshore Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland.
UK Fishermen Learn of Norwegian Approach to Compensation Following a recent visit to Norway to discuss fisheries and offshore oil developments (Mar. Pollut. Bull 17, 236) representatives of UK fishermen's organizations have concluded that the approaches adopted by the Norwegian and UK Governments are very different and that Norwegian fishermen enjoy better provisions than their UK counterparts with regard to compensation for oil industry related losses. The Norwegian compensation scheme is administered directly by the government and has made substantially greater settlements than the UK scheme. In the UK fishermen must first submit a claim to the oil company if it is thought to be responsible for the debris encountered, whereas in Norway all claims are submitted directly to the government administered fund. In Norway claims may include a component for loss of fishing time, and have also been submitted for areas outside the Norwegian Sector. UK fishermen's representatives also noted the findings of the Fleischer Committee of Inquiry (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 17, 236) which has recommended that compensation be paid by offshore operators for loss of access to fishing grounds. The Shetland Fishermen's Association (SFA) has pointed to the importance of the adoption of this principle as the Association's case for compensation for loss of access to traditional fishing grounds off Sullom Voe has been rejected by the oil industry. It is thought that the SFA will be presenting their case again. 338
Safety at Sea Bill Changes Section 7 of the UK Safety at Sea Bill which would have made it an offence to leave, at sea, debris which might cause the loss of fishing gear (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 17, 193) has been removed during the Committee Stages of the Bill. The Bill which contains important provisions with regard to the safety of fishing vessels and their operation is expected to receive royal assent shortly.
Bomb Laden Wreck Threat The controversy over what to do about the remains of the wartime Liberty ship Richard Montgomerylooks like being resurrected again following a recent survey by the UK Department of Transport which says that the ship, grounded in the Thames Estuary in 1944, could contain around half its original 7,000 ton cargo of explosives and ammunition. The Department says that nothing should be done to disturb the wreck of the Liberty ship which ran aground a mile and a half off Sheerness in Kent during World War H. According to a recent feature in Lloyd's List (18 June 1986) by Robin Bunton, the ship could be more of a hazard than experts think. The explosives used in the bombs, TNT, does not deteriorate with exposure to salt water and remains very potent. If the ship blew up for any reason the results could be disastrous. It has been calculated that if the Richard Montgomery exploded, buildings and walls within two miles would collapse and gas and water mains fracture. Windows would crack up to seven miles away and chimneys and tiles fall. Another possible danger is that Southend on the north side of the Thames Estuary and within sight of the wreck, would be hit by a tidal wave generated by the explosion causing enormous damage. Such disasters are not unknown. The port of Halifax, Nova Scotia was destroyed in 1917 when the Mont Blanc (3,123 tons), a British ammunition ship, exploded after being in collision. The casualty rate was huge with 1,600 people killed, 8,000 injured and 20,000 made homeless. The recent local community concern over the Richard Montgomery stems from the claim that there have been at least 24 near misses by other ships (the wreck is not completely submerged). However, the government feels that the risk of removing the cargo, which by now would be under a substantial amount of silt, would be unacceptable and that the wreck, well marked with buoys, need pose no risk to passing ships.
Plans and Views for Botany Bay A draft plan of management for a proposed aquatic reserve at Towra Point, Botany Bay, has recently been prepared by the NSW Department of Agriculture's Fisheries Division. The reserve should help to conserve the flora and fauna in the area (along with important fish habitats) and the plan is designed to achieve such a goal and to stimulate discussion from interested parties. Although the closing date for receipt for comments and submissions on the plan from such parties has n o w