Page 6: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2012)

Arctic Operations

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6Maritime Reporter & Engineering News Founder: John J. O?Malley 1905 - 1980 Charles P. O?Malley 1928 - 2000 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News (ISSN # 0025-3448) is published monthly by Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.118 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010. Mailed at Periodicals Postage Rates at New York, NY 10199 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send notification (Form 3579) regarding undeliverable maga- zines to Maritime Reporter/Engineering News, 118 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010. Publishers are not responsible for the safekeeping or return of editorial material. ©2011 Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. 118 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010 tel: (212) 477-6700; fax: (212) 254-6271ISSN-0025-3448USPS-016-750No. 7Vol. 74 MemberBusiness Publications Audit of Circulation, Inc.www.marinelink.com MARITIMEREPORTER ANDENGINEERINGNEWS All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.Gregory R. Trauthwein, Editor & Associate Publisher [email protected] EDITORIALIt was last month in Athens, Greece at Posidonia 2012 which provided the impetus for this month?s Ma- rine Coatings & Corrosion roundtable. For those of you who did not, could not or would not attend Posi- donia, I?m pleased to report that despite Greece?s well-publicized financial troubles, the 2012 event seemed to go off without a hitch. And despite the plethora of bad financial news emanating from both the country and the deep draft maritime sector, based on the quantity and quality of the legendary Posidonia after- hour parties, one would be hard-pressed to say the sector was suffering at all. Housed in the new Metropolitan Exhibition Center near the Athens airport, Posidonia brought out maritime companies from around the world. During the week I had the opportunity with a wide variety of companies, in- cluding several of the largest marine coatings companies. As an overview statement and as a side, I?ve been cov- ering this market for now nearly two decades, but it was in Athens in June 2012 that I?ve fully come to realize that coating manufacturer?s are arguably the most competitive group around. Most of the really good stories, per usual, came with the caveat ?I?ll tell you this, but you can?t print it,? but overall the conversations helped to set the shape and tone for a five-person ?roundtable? which covers many of the burning questions of the day, from the effects of Ballast Water Treatment Systems technology and Greenhouse Gas Emission controls on ma- rine coatings, to VOC limits and PSPC for Cargo Oil Tanks; to emerging work through the IMO on a Polar Code and the ban of biocidal antifouling paint in polar regions. Insightful responses to five topical questions begins on page 30. For regular readers of our pages, the cover might seem a bit out of character, but given the proliferation of soft- ware solutions across the maritime sector, and the ever widening use of high capacity, high speed comms from ship-to-shore, the matter of Maritime Cyber Security is fast climbing the maritime security ?to do? list. CDR Emil A. Muccin, USMS and an assistant professor in Nautical Science/Marine Transportation at the United States Merchant Marine Academy contributes an authoritative look at the new definition of ?Survival at Sea,? highlighting some dangers and precautions when creating and maintaining your shore-to-ship connections.The Arctic The overriding theme for this edition, which is hard to fully embrace topically due to the heat wave that has been sweeping the U.S. this summer, is the Arctic. It seems today you cannot throw a stick without hitting someone who is conducting or considering business opportunities above the Arctic Circle. But as we have writ- ten here many times before ? (and I?m sure many more times to come) ? establishing safe and efficient ma- rine operations in the Arctic are fraught with as many questions as answers; as many challenges as solutions. While much attention rightfully is paid to the energy riches to be discovered, Dennis Bryant writes this month(starting on page 12) regarding Arctic Shield 2012 , which is the U.S. Coast Guard?s largest assemblage ever ? from July through October ? as the USCG seeks first-hand experience on everything from security maneuvers to oil spill response and remediation. Two pages after Bryant?s article is an insightful piece from a Blank Rome trio which discusses the opportunities and challenges in step with the Arctic Sea Ice Retreat , highlighted bythe current status and likely direction of the Law of the Sea Treaty, which remains unsigned by the U.S. and has proven to be a divisive lightning rod of an issue in U.S. maritime circles. The cornerstone of this month?s coverage, however, is a report from the Pacific Northwest, where MR roving reporter Raina Clark pays a visit to the Vigor Industrial executive team for a comprehensive report on how Vigor has been a central player and leader in the reinvigoration of the region?s maritime business. It has pivotal role in one of the year?s most compelling stories, Shell Oil?s hunt for oil and gas on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf in the waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off of northern Alaska. While Vigor?s Arctic endeavors are com- pelling ? including the its acquisition and major investment in Alaska Ship & Drydock ? its big picture ef- fect on the industry and the economy is best encapsulated in a quote from its CEO, Frank Foti , who has abroad background in construction and industy:?Industrial jobs matter. It is so critical that our economy is balanced. There has to be something in the region besides working at Starbucks or in an office building.? 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