Marine News, August 2005

<BODY> <div> 32 • MarineNews • August, 2005 Response for Non-Tank Vessels The Coast Guard and Marine Trans- portation Act of 2004 (MTA 2004) requires that Vessel Response Plans (VRP) now be prepared for non-tank ves- sels. Vessel types affected by the new Act are cargo ships, vehicle carriers, tugs, container ships, offshore supply vessels, bulkers, ferries, passenger vessels, chemi- cal carriers, research vessels, dredges and others. The new Act is an expansion of OPA90 jurisdiction and likewise requires non-tank vessel owners to state in their VRPs who they have contracted to respond to marine casualties involving their vessels. A marine casualty can include: grounding, sinking, stranding, explosion, fire, equipment failure, loss of control, collision or flooding. As stated in NVIC 01-05, the requirements of 33 CFR 155.240 now pertain to non-tank vessels. Court Decides on Hull Registration Case The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that a vessel hull design that merely corrects a mistake in an earlier design is not substantial. In the instant case, plaintiff boat company designed and produced a new boat. The vessel hull design was submitted to the U.S. Copyright Office for registration, but the submittal was made too late after pro- duction had started to qualify. The boat was redesigned to correct minor mistakes in the original design. The revised vessel hull design was then submitted for copy- right protection and accepted. Two other companies began producing boats the design of which was similar to that of plaintiff's redesigned boat. Plaintiff brought suit. The court held that, for the design of the second vessel hull design to be eligible for registration, the changes from the original design must be substan- tial. No evidence was submitted to show that the corrections of mistakes made in the original design were other than minor. The court cancelled plaintiff's vessel hull design registration. Maverick Boat Com- pany, Inc. v. American Marine Holdings, Inc., No. 04-11259 (11th Cir. - HK Law). SNAME: Call for Papers The eleventh propeller / shafting sym- posium is being planned by Panel M-16 (Modernization of Propulsion Shaft Sys- tems) of the Society's Technical and Research Program. This symposium will address the overall propulsion transmis- sion system of gearing, shafting, cou- plings, bearings, seals, and propellers. The symposium is planned for September 12 - 13, 2006 at the Cavalier Hotel, Vir- ginia Beach, Virginia under the auspices of the Hampton Roads Section of the Society. In order to develop the program, we would appreciate your submitting an abstract before October 14, 2005. Papers on the following subjects are particularly desired, but other topics related to propul- sion transmission systems are welcome. Main Propulsion Transmission Sys- tems, Analytic Design Procedures, Experimental Data, and Correlation of Design and Experience Related to: Propellers Fixed / Controllable Pitch Contra-rotating, Highly Skewed Overlapping, Cycloidal Ducted, Podded Units Composite and/or Metal Matrix Water Jets, Thrusters Shafting Systems Inboard / Outboard Sections Conventional / Composite Materials Shaft Alignment Hydraulic, Mechanical, and Flexible Couplings Vibration Bearings Design Materials Seals Stern tube Bulkhead Gearing Main Reduction Gear Right Angle Gear Drives • Manufacturing, Tolerances, Maintenance and Repair Metallurgical Properties Composite Materials Failure Criteria Economic Costs New Technologies for Reducing Costs Those interested in submitting an abstract should submit both a tentative title and a brief abstract, in electronic for- mat, along with telephone, fax numbers and an email address to: Mr. Kevin Prince, Panel Chairman Gibbs & Cox, Inc. 2711 Jefferson Davis Highway Airport Plaza 1, Suite 1000 Arlington, VA 22202 U.S.A. kprince@gibbscox.com Authors will be notified of acceptance by November 1, 2005 and a draft of the completed paper will be required by April 17, 2006. Circle 211 on Reader Service Card DIVERSIFIED Engine Exhaust Systems All of our cylindrical, low profile and spark arresting series engine exhaust silencers are available in limitless configurations and designed with the highest quality craftsmanship, performance, longevity and customer space constraints in mind. HARCO MANUFACTURING CO. 7700 SW 69th Ave • Portland OR 97223 800-394-7571 • Fax: 503-244-7589 www.harcomanufacturing.com email: sales@harcomanufacturing.com ENGINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS ABS Certified Bureau Veritas Qualified Circle 214 on Reader Service Card AUGUSTMN2005 4(25-32).qxd 8/1/2005 4:53 PM Page 32 </div> <span id="lblContents"></span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.digitalwavepublishing.com/" title="Digital Magazine">Digital Wave Publishing</a> </BODY>