Saturday, April 28, 2007

John Williams Boat Company to Launch “Survivor,” A Stanley 36


The new Stanley 36

Excitement is building at the John Williams Boat Company in Hall Quary, Maine. On Wednesday, May 2nd, at 11:30 AM, John “Jock” Williams and his “crew” will be launching Survivor, a Stanley 36 lobster boat. The Stanley 36 is the Flagship of the company created in the 1970’s, when Founder and CEO Jock Williams decided to leave the comforts of his job at Hinckley and start out on his own.

The day following the launching ceremony at the Hall Quary boatyard, the vessel and crew will head south to the boat’s new home on Long Island Sound. SURVIVOR is a true downeast lobster boat with a traditional pilothouse, open sides and back. A pretty boat with classic proportions, the Stanly 36 features teak cabin sides and pilothouse, complementing the black hull.

Boasting modern outfitting, such as the Mastervolt Mastervision Modular Electrical System, including a generator and air conditioning, the boat nonetheless sports traditional hardware and interior finishing. With a nod to Herreshoff styling, the interior is white with mahogany trim. The forward cabin sole is of teak and holly. Stainless steel and corian countertops provide a luxurious fell.

Survivor has a beautiful custom butterfly hatch, custom hardware and meticulously designed furniture, including a pilothouse table, settee, helm chair and stern seat. The handsomely finished cabin offers a full 6’3” of head room.

The galley is to port and the enclosed head, with shower, is to starboard. Next forward are port and starboard settees, and outboard drawers and hanging locker. In the bow there is a large comfortable V-berth with generous storage below. Additional sleeping accommodations are available either through fold-down pilot berths forward or with a pullout double in the pilothouse.

The diesel engine is YANMAR 440 with an Evolution Drive propulsion system capable of a cruising speed of 18 knots, topping at 22 knots. She carries 300 gallons of fuel in two tanks. There is also tankage for 100 gallons of water. The pilothouse, which has an impressive 6’7” of headroom, is fitted with a conveniently placed steering station, seat, and storage compartment. The three-panel windshield plus two-side windows provide excellent visibility, and the stamoid side and stern curtains provide an enclosure that can be easily lowered during periods of inclement weather.

Survivor was commissioned by an owner who tasked his brother with carefully researching boats from as many as twelve builders. From that list three were chosen for more intensive inspection. After visiting each yard, they chose Williams. “We were able to show them JAVA, a 1997 Stanley 36,” explained John Williams. “She matched their cruising and boating requirements and they just loved the lines of the boat.”

According to Williams, the Stanley 36 offers the best of both worlds: a rugged hull that gives a stable, sea kindly ride even in choppy conditions, and beautifully crafted accommodations that provide civilized cruising comforts.

For more information about the line of Stanley’s, contact John Williams Boat Company (207-244-7854, email Info@jwboatco.com or visit them on the web at www.jwboatco.com).

Monday, April 23, 2007

Record Cocaine Offload in Alameda

COAST GUARD ISLAND, ALAMEDA, CA, April 23, 2007 (USCG)

US Coast Guard Hailing Ecuadorian-flagged fishing vessel Don Juan K

The Coast Guard will offload more than 40,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $500 million from cutter Sherman here today seized by the crew in three busts near Central America in February and March.

The offload will include approximately 38,000 pounds of cocaine seized in the largest cocaine bust in maritime history.

The Ecuadorian-flagged fishing vessel Don Juan K was approached in the Pacific Ocean Feb. 19 off the coast of Mexico while allegedly offloading cocaine into "go-fast" (cigarette-style boat) boats. The fishing vessel's crew apparently set fire to Don Juan K in an attempt to destroy the evidence and flee in the go-fasts. Sherman's crew stopped the go-fasts and recovered about 900 pounds of cocaine as Don Juan K sank. The 14 crew members are being processed for further legal action.

The 330-foot Panamanian-flagged motor vessel Gatun was interdicted in the Pacific Ocean Mar. 18 off the coast of Panama while heading north toward the United States. Sherman's crew stopped and boarded the vessel and found 765 bales of cocaine weighing approximately 38,000 pounds in two shipping containers. Gatun was escorted back to Panama and its 14 crew members processed for further legal action.

Sherman's crew stopped and boarded a small stateless go-fast in the Pacific Ocean Mar. 25 off the coast of Panama following a short chase, in which, the go-fast attempted to flee at a high rate of speed. Approximately 2000 pounds of cocaine was found aboard the go-fast and its four crew members were processed for further legal action.

The Coast Guard works in close coordination with Joint Interagency Task Force South, U.S. Attorney's office, Panama Express South, DEA, FBI, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection, as well as the Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security on counter drug operations in the Pacific Ocean near Central and South America. These drug smuggling routes are some of the most active, yielding roughly 70% of the cocaine seized annually by the Coast Guard.



Source: www.BoatingChannel.com

Friday, April 20, 2007

We're Being Boarded by the Coast Guard - Now What!

By Vincent Pica, Flotilla Commander, 18-06 ISR USCG Aux

[Editor's Note: Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonders where my boat is...Okay, okay, that's corny, I know. But, this is the time of year when we boaters in the North are gearing up for the new boating season -- cleaning, polishing, and, oh yes, making sure our boats can pass a Coast Guard Inspection. Right? Here's what you can expect if you're stopped by your local Coast Guard, and some tips and resources to help you pass inspection.]

(WESTHAMPTON, NY)- If you've ever seen the reflection of the blue-rotating hailing light in the reflection of your windshield, you've felt the quickening in certain parts of your body "Jeez, what did I do wrong?" The United States Coast Guard can and will board you at their discretion. They need no search warrant, no provocation, no reason other than "Good Morning, sir. My name is Officer Jones with the US Coast Guard - the Coast Guard is here to day to ensure you are in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations."

What Happens First

First, you will be impressed by their youthfulness and their polite and professional demeanor. These are highly trained Federal officers. And the very first question that they will ask you, before they even step off their vessel onto yours, is, (without reaching or touching them), "Do you have any weapons on board?"

Subtly but powerfully, the tone is set. "I am polite. I am professional. I mean business." Let's assume (and hope) that the answer to that question is "no" since I would need a lot more space than this column if the answer is "yes."

What Happens Next

The inspection that follows is driven largely by the size of the vessel with a few standard exceptions. Your actual registration needs to be aboard and current. The HIN number, like your cars VIN number, needs to be the same on your registration and on your boat (low on the starboard side of the transom.) If they don't match, someone has a lot of explaining to do. The registration numbers must be of proper size (at least 3), of contrasting color to your hull and be the most forward of any numbering or lettering on the boat.

What Happens Then?

If you have a MSD (Marine Sanitation Device, a.k.a. a head or toilet), regardless of the size of your vessel, it must conform to regulations. All the bays and creeks are No Discharge Zones so, if there is an over-board through-hull from the MSD holding tank, it must be in the locked/closed position and the key must under the control of the skipper. It can be seized closed or, lastly, the handle can be removed and it must be in the closed position. The rest is largely going to be driven by the size of your vessel:

  • How many personal flotation devices (life jackets)- at least one for everybody aboard, be in good working order and readily available.

  • Fire Extinguishers boat size dependent but all must be in working order

  • Flares boat size dependent but all must good to go, i.e., unexpired!
And so on and so forth



How to Avoid All This

Well, there are three outcomes from here. First and best, you will get a Report of Boarding and it is marked, No violations. You are good to go for the season. Secondly, your Report of Boarding is marked Written Warning about some violation that has not risen to the level of Notice of Violation. One caveat. If the boarding officer returns to the station and finds that you already have been given a warning for the same issue, your notice becomes a Violation. That is also the third outcome that could happen right at the boat a Notice of Violation is issued.

There are two general outcomes from here. If the boarding officer believes that the nature of the violation is inherently unsafe, you will be directed to follow the Coast Guard back to the dock. They are not going to allow you to keep fishing with some aspect of your boat that can lead to serious injury or death to you, your crew or other boaters. Secondly, it can take on the aspect of a driving violation. The notice is mailed to the Coast Guard hearing office in Portsmouth, VA. There, the boarding report will be reviewed by a case officer where fines, further letters of violations, etc will be issued. You will be notified by mail and you will have time (15 days) to file an appeal.

Well, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary conducts free (your favorite price) vessel exams all season long and they are not enforcement events. If your boat fails virtually the same inspection that would be conducted by the regulars, you get a report that details the deficiency and the inspector's cell phone number. He or she will tell you what you need to do. When you have this addressed, call me. I will come down and re-run the inspection. This results in a USCGAux sticker of compliance being affixed to your windshield.

Did I mention the price Free. http://www.safetyseal.net/GetVSC/

Other Safety Resources:


BTW, if you are interested in being part of USCG Forces, email me at USCGAUX2006@aol.com or go direct to MaryJo Cruickshank, who is in charge of new members matters, at FSO-PS@emcg.us and we will help you get in this thing.

Source: BoatingChannel.com

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Mississippi River Reopened to Vessel Traffic

ST. LOUIS, MO, April 17, 2007 (US Coast Guard)

As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard reopened the Upper Mississippi River from mile marker 130 to 145 to vessel traffic.


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The river was closed to vessel traffic after the Marquette Transportation Lines towing vessel John Paul Eckstein, pushing 25 grain barges, suffered mechanical problems and struck an unused dock, causing the tow to break up and 1 barge to sink.

The Coast Guard worked with U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and local maritime industry representatives to determine the most efficient and safe plan to allow the transit of delayed vessels through the previously closed portion of river.

Prior to the reopening, 21 vessels were delayed as a result of the river closure.

Multi-beam sonar aboard the Army Corp survey vessel Boyer was able to detect the sunken barge on the river bottom near river mile 142.3, approximately 1.5 miles south of the initial accident.

Sonar was also utilized to confirm the navigation channel was safe for vessel traffic. Army Corp Motor Vessel Pathfinder marked the sunken barge with bouys to ensure safe transit through the area.

The Coast Guard, Army Corp of Engineers, and local industry representatives will continue to work together to ensure the safe passage of all delayed vessels until the back log is eliminated.

The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Coast Guard