Category Archives: High Seas

By Wendell Roelf (Reuters)Shipping companies sailing around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Houthi attacks on the Red Sea face tough choices over where to refuel and restock, as African ports struggle with red tape, congestion and poor facilities, companies and analysts say.

Hundreds of largevessels are reroutingaround the southern tip of Africa, a longer route adding 10-14 days of travel, to escape drone and missile attacks by Yemeni Houthis that havepushed up oilprices and freight rates.

The attacks by Iranian-backed militants have disrupted international trade through the Suez Canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, which accounts for about a sixth of global traffic.

South Africas major ports, including Durban, one of Africas largest in terms of container volumes handled, as well as Cape Town and Ngqura ports are among the worst performing globally, a World Bank 2022 index released in May found.

Even the state that Durban is in now, it is still the most advanced and largest port in Africa, so ships rerouting around the continent have very limited choices for berthing for replenishment, Alessio Lencioni, a logistics and supply chain consultant told Reuters.

Other large African deep-water ports along the Cape route, such as Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania are too ill-equipped to handle the expected traffic over the next couple of weeks, Lencioni said.

Maersk said vessels routed around the Cape will as far as possible try to fuel at origin or destination.

In case there is a need for bunkering en route, it would be decided on a case by case basis with Walvis Bay (Namibia) or Port Louis (Mauritius) being the top options, a spokesperson said.

Rough weather with high seas, common at the Cape of Storms as well as the cyclone-prone Mozambique Channel, mean ships could burn through their fuel quicker, making refueling services crucial, shippers said.

In Singapore, were delivering larger bunker volumes to vessels that will now be sailing longer voyages, a spokesperson for TFG Marine, a unit of energy trader Trafigura, said.

Bureaucracy is a concern. In September, South Africas National Revenue Service detained five bunkering vessels in Algoa Bay on suspicion of contravening the Customs and Excise Act. BP, Trafigura and Mercuria have all been hit by suspensions pending audits.

Since South Africas first ship-to-ship offshore bunkering started in Algoa Bay in 2016, there has been a sharp rise in fuel volumes and vessels using it.

A spokesperson for Heron Marine, the TFG Marine affiliate operating in Algoa Bay, said the company is working with customers to manage their bunkering requirements. Mercuria and BPBP.Ldid not immediately respond to questions.

In anticipation of more marine fuel being needed, imports are expected to rise to around 230 kilotonnes in December, analysts say.

South Africa is expecting a record high of fuel oil imports for December, because of demand for refueling linked to the Houthi crisis, Younes Azzouzi, market analyst at data and analytics specialist Kpler said.

(By Wendell Roelf, additional reporting by JonathanSaulin LondonEditing by Tim Cocks and Barbara Lewis)

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African Ports Overwhelmed By Red Sea Reroutings - gCaptain

Are you ready to embark on a chaotic pirate adventure with your friends? Party Pirates is a brand-new couch co-op game that combines the mayhem of Overcooked with the excitement of Sea of Thieves. Developed by Simplicity Games, this game guarantees laugh-out-loud moments as you and your fellow players work together to survive the treacherous waters.

Unlike other co-op games, Party Pirates removes the age-old argument of whos in charge by making everyone a captain. With up to four players, the key to success is teamwork. As the upbeat and cartoony trailer shows, non-cooperation can lead to disastrous outcomes. So, be prepared to communicate, coordinate, and collaborate with your crewmates.

Whether youre escaping from soldiers or fighting off enemies, sticking together is vital. The trailer showcases pirates sprinting onto the ship, leaving their lagging comrade behind. Hopefully, your fellow pirates will be more cohesive and supportive in your adventures on the high seas.

While Party Pirates does offer the option of playing solo, it truly shines as a multiplayer experience. Grab your friends, grab a mug of grog, and get ready for a hilarious and unforgettable time. The games release date is yet to be announced, but you can already wishlist Party Pirates on Steam.

If youre a fan of multiplayer games, dont forget to check out our list of the best multiplayer games for endless hours of fun. And if youre curious about Rares Sea of Thieves battle pass, weve got you covered with a detailed breakdown.

Stay tuned to our Google News page for more PC gaming news, reviews, and guides. And if youre looking for great deals, dont miss our PCGN deals tracker to save your hard-earned pieces of eight. Get ready for the wildest pirate adventure of your life with Party Pirates!

FAQ:

Q: What is Party Pirates? A: Party Pirates is a brand-new couch co-op game developed by Simplicity Games that combines the mayhem of Overcooked with the excitement of Sea of Thieves.

Q: How many players can play Party Pirates? A: Party Pirates supports up to four players.

Q: What is the key to success in Party Pirates? A: The key to success in Party Pirates is teamwork. All players are captains, and cooperation and communication are vital.

Q: Can Party Pirates be played solo? A: Yes, Party Pirates does offer the option to play solo, but it is best experienced as a multiplayer game.

Definitions:

Couch co-op: Couch co-op refers to multiplayer games that are played on the same screen, typically on a console, with players sitting together on a couch. Grog: Grog is a term used to refer to a type of alcoholic beverage, especially associated with pirate culture.

Suggested Related Links: Steam PCGN Google News

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Party Pirates: A Hilarious Co-op Adventure on the High Seas - Game Is Hard

On 28 November 2023, the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) issued temporary measures orders, in accordance with Regulation 33 (i.e., emergency orders) of the Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules (Polymetallic Nodules Regulations). The measures were issued with respect to an incident involving an ISA contractor, Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI), and Greenpeaces vessel, the Arctic Sunrise.

These measures and the overall conduct of the ISA Secretary-General raise some questions concerning the possible expansion of the ISAs jurisdiction. This post wishes to examine the measures issued by the ISA and its capacity to issue such measures to begin with.

Factual background

NORI, sponsored by Nauru, was granted an exploration contract in 2011 concerning Polymetallic Nodules in the deep seabed of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.

On 25-26 November 2023, NORI notified the ISA that activists of Greenpeace International had disrupted its exploration activities, which included gathering scientific and environmental data and observations. During the incident, Greenpeace activists boarded the exploration vessel MV Coco without authorization and climbed to the top of the A-frame at the stern of the vessel. In its report to the ISA, NORI claimed that the conduct of Greenpeace, and its interference in the exploration operations, had caused a significant safety risk (see here).

While claiming it is engaged in peaceful protests at sea, Greenpeace did not deny interfering with the vessels operations and disregarding requests to maintain a safe distance from the MV Coco. The Secretary-General of the ISA observed that the conduct of Greenpeaces vessel prima facie pose a serious threat to the safety of individuals present in the Exploration Area and to the marine environment.

In response, the Secretary-General issued temporary measures, which include for example maintaining a safe distance between the vessels, disembarking the MV Coco, refraining from interfering with the operation of MV Coco, and reporting to the ISA.

The ISA jurisdiction to issue temporary measures

As mentioned, the ISA issued the temporary measures in accordance with Regulation 33 (emergency orders) of the Polymetallic Nodules Regulations. The actions of the ISA raise some questions as to the capacity and jurisdiction of the ISA in this specific case.

First, while the MV Coco was engaged in the exploration of the deep seabed, which is regulated by the ISA in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the activities of the Arctic Sunrise were conducted on the High Seas, which is outside the jurisdiction of the ISA. It is true that Greenpeaces goal was to stop operations relating to the seabed, however the actual conduct breached the freedom of the High Seas (unauthorized boarding, UNCLOS, Art. 87) and related liability issues (damaging the vessel). These issues are not within the capacity of the ISA to regulate (e.g., UNCLOS, Art. 157).

Second, the situation itself and the measures taken, do not seem to fit Regulation 33. This regulation addresses the relationship between the ISA and the contractor in cases of an incident which have caused or threatens to cause serious harm to the marine environment; it does not confer upon the ISA jurisdiction with respect to third parties.

In addition, as mentioned, under Regulation 33 emergency orders can be issued to prevent, contain and minimize serious harm or the threat of serious harm to the marine environment. Despite the above observations of the Secretary-General, other than NORIs claims, there is no proof that the high standards of actual or potential serious harm to the marine environment was met in this case. Boarding the vessel and possibly damaging it does not necessarily affect the marine environment. While it may affect the safety of the vessel, it seems that there is no direct effect on the marine environment. A potential or theoretical risk does not seem to meet the standard for exercising Regulation 33.

And lastly, the measures taken seem to be outside the scope of Regulation 33. The measures in accordance with Regulation 33 must be to to prevent, contain and minimize serious harm or the threat of serious harm to the marine environment. However, the measures taken in this case seem to be essentially a restraining order for Greenpeaces activists, similar to domestic criminal law, rather than relating to the protection of the marine environment. Furthermore, there is no reasonable link between these measures and the so-called immediate and urgent threat (i.e., they are not urgent measures).

Concluding remarks

International law does not prohibit protests on the High Seas. However, the freedom of the High Seas must be exercised with due regards to other states rights (UNCLOS, Art. 87). There is little doubt that Greenpeace has violated the freedom of the High Seas and other rules of international law by boarding the MV Coco unauthorized and damaging the vessel.

However, the actions taken by the ISA to address this incident do not seem to be within the scope of its jurisdiction or authority under the Polymetallic Nodules Regulations. Furthermore, the ISA exercised its jurisdiction with respect to a maritime zone or conduct that are outside its capacity altogether, thus acting ultra vires. The ISA essentially took upon itself what is an obligation of states to request the intervention of the flag state.

Questions of its capacity aside, there is no need for the ISA to intervene in this case. First, Denmark, as the flag state of MV Coco, can and should solve this issue diplomatically vis--vis the Netherlands. Denmark can also submit a claim against the Netherlands for not fulfilling its duties as the flag state to ensure that vessels flying its flag adhere to the relevant rules concerning safety at sea (UNCLOS, Art. 94).

Second, once boarded on the MV Coco, Greenpeace activists are under the jurisdiction of Denmark as the flag state (UNCLOS, Art. 91, 94). In addition, the Master of the Ship of the MV Coco can detain unlawful passengers (e.g., here). Again, the ISA has put itself in the position of the state, without having real influence or achieving real redress.

To conclude, international law and other authorities including flag states have the capacity to address offences on the High Seas. However, the ISA is not the right forum to address such issues.

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The Arctic Sunrise II Does the ISA have 'enforcement jurisdiction' on the High Seas? - EJIL: Talk!

Multiple ships from multiple cruise lines are heavily impacted by expected severe weather from the Bahamas to South Florida this weekend, with changes ranging from Wednesday, December 13 through Sunday, December 17, 2023 as the weather has developed.

In the interest of guests safety and comfort, cruise lines are cancelling ports of call and shifting routes to find the smoothest sailing to take advantage of.

Rough seas, high swells, and strong winds are causing multiple cruise ships to change itineraries this weekend. Experienced cruise travelers are very familiar with such changes, and ports of call may always be adjusted due to inclement weather that could cause hazardous navigational challenges for docking or make it unsafe for guests to walk along exposed piers or use tender boats.

Depending on the ships original itinerary, some changes have been minor, while others are more extensive. In most cases, the ships may instead spend a day at sea, where they can safely ride out poor weather while keeping guests as comfortable as possible.

Each of the following ships has itinerary updates related to this weekends expected rough weather.

Royal Caribbean Internationals 225,282-gross ton, Oasis-class Allure of the Seas was unable to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay during the current sailing, a 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise that departed Port Canaveral on Monday, December 11. Guests were refunded the port fees and any pre-paid shore excursions for missing the popular destination.

Combined with wind from the ships movement, gusts near the ship were reported as high as 55 knots (63 miles per hour / 102 kilometers per hour), and the ships captain sought shelter between small islands to keep guests more comfortable overnight.

Allure of the Seas arrived back at Port Canaveral on schedule on Friday morning, though it is likely her next itinerary a 3-night weekend getaway to Nassau and CocoCay, will also be impacted by the poor weather.

Another Royal Caribbean ship, the 139,863-gross-ton, Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas has shifted her entire weekend itinerary to avoid the stormy seas. The ship departed Port Canaveral on Thursday, December 14, on what was to have been a 4-night Perfect Day & Bahamas cruise to CocoCay and Nassau. Instead, guests were notified at embarkation that the original itinerary was no longer possible.

Were terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather your safety is our top priority, the notification read. Please know being onboard is one of the safest places because we are faster and can move out of the way of any inclement weather.

Instead of her original schedule, the ship is instead heading to Costa Maya, Mexico. Friday is a day at sea, the ship will be in Costa Maya from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday will be another day at sea while the ship heads back to Florida for debarkation as planned on Monday, December 18.

Royal Caribbeans 155,889-gross-ton, Freedom-class Liberty of the Seas has likewise missed a visit to CocoCay on the current sailing, a 4-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise that departed Fort Lauderdale on Monday, December 11. The stop in CocoCay was to have been on Wednesday, December 13, but was not possible due to high winds.

The ship returned to Fort Lauderdale on schedule on Friday, December 15, but it is possible the next sailing a 3-night cruise that is planned to visit Nassau and CocoCay over the weekend will be severely adjusted. Guests will be notified as soon as plans are confirmed.

Carnival Cruise Lines 133,596-gross-ton Carnival Vista, which was just involved with an at-sea rescue of stranded crew members from a capsized cargo vessel, was forced to skip the scheduled stop in Grand Turk on Thursday, December 14. Instead, the ship enjoyed an extra day at sea on her way back to Port Canaveral.

There is some very windy weather around the Bahamas and part of the western Caribbean, said John Heald, Carnival Cruise Lines Brand Ambassador. Please trust the captain, trust the crew. They will keep you safe, always.

The ships arrival on Saturday, December 16 should not be impacted, but the next sailing a 6-night Eastern Caribbean sailing with visits to Nassau, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk may be adjusted with cancellations or reordering the port visits for smoother sailing.

Carnival Venezia is another Carnival cruise ship that has been forced to make an itinerary change due to the bad weather. The scheduled port of call to the cruise lines private island of Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas on December 15 was cancelled. Passengers currently onboard also report that the ship had a brief power failure shortly after departing Nassau on December 14.

The ship is sailing an eight-night Bahamas itinerary, which did have a delayed departure out of New York City and ended up remaining overnight. You can read more about the delayed departure here.

The last day of Norwegian Cruise Lines 164,998-gross-ton, Breakaway-Plus-class Norwegian Escapes current sailing has been turned into a sea day, with the call on Great Stirrup Cay cancelled.

The ship departed Port Canaveral on Saturday, December 9 for an Eastern Caribbean itinerary, visiting the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, and Tortola. Great Stirrup Cay was to have been the final port of call for the sailing, but now the ship is heading straight back to Port Canaveral.

Guests have been provided $50 of onboard credit as compensation for the missed port. The private island destination is a favorite among cruisers.

One of the most dramatic adjustments for the poor weather is Holland America Lines Nieuw Amsterdam. The ship is scheduled to return to service from a two-week dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas on Saturday, December 16, 2023, just when the worst of the weather is expected to impact South Florida.

Because of this, the cruise has now been shortened by two days and will not depart until Monday, December 18. Guests are receiving generous compensation for the dramatic adjustment, which includes cancelling most planned ports of call due to the shortened sailing time.

The boutique cruise line Margaritaville at Sea, which operates 2-night sailings to Freeport, Bahamas from Port of Palm Beach, Florida, has completely cancelled the Friday, December 15 departure of its only vessel, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.

Guests are urged to contact the cruise line directly by phone or email for updates and to rebook their sailing. Since the cruise line is a popular option for quick getaways for drive-in travelers, it should be possible for many travelers to change their plans to a different sailing date.

Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for further updates and itinerary changes as they are confirmed through the weekend.

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Severe Weather Impacting Multiple Cruise Ships - Cruise Hive

The Aeolus, a wind turbine installation vessel or lift-boat, operating near one of the wind turbine supports, at the South Fork Wind Farm, located 35-miles off Montauk, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. (Tim Martin/Special To The Day)

The American flag hangs from the back of the Rhode Island Fast Ferry Julia Leigh as it passes by the Aeolus, a wind turbine installation vessel or lift-boat, operating near one of the wind turbine supports at the South Fork Wind Farm, located 35-miles off Montauk, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. (Tim Martin/Special To The Day)

The C-Fighter, front, an off shore supply vessel, works near the Substation portion of the South Fork Wind Farm, located 35-miles off Montauk, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. (Tim Martin/Special To The Day)

The C-Fighter, left, an off shore supply vessel, works near the Substation portion of the South Fork Wind Farm, located 35-miles off Montauk, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. (Tim Martin/Special To The Day)

Two of the Monopiles, part of the South Fork Wind Farm, located 35-miles off Montauk, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. (Tim Martin/Special To The Day)

The Aeolus, a wind turbine installation vessel or lift-boat, operating near one of the wind turbine supports, at the South Fork Wind Farm, located 35-miles off Montauk, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. (Tim Martin/Special To The Day)

At 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, about two hours into a day-long, round-trip voyage celebrating the start of operations at the South Fork Wind project site, bundled-up passengers began milling around the open decks of the Julia Leigh, the high-speed ferry whose engines powered through the waters of Block Island Sound.

Just over the horizon, the top of a spinning, 810-foot-tall, 11 megawatt-generating wind turbine that began sending electricity to the mainland power grid the day before could be spotted through the rolling waves.

As the Greenport, N.Y.-based ferry drew closer to the site and Block Island receded to a smudge, details of the first commercial-scale wind farm in federal waters swam into view about 35 miles east of Montauk Point.

As the ferry pulled closer to the working turbine, passengers unholstered phones and began shooting pictures and video of the relatively silent spinning blades.

The rotors of a second completed turbine a total of 12 such Siemens Gamesa arrays putting out a combined 132 megawatts are expected to be in place and running by early next year stood motionless near an unfinished third turbine tower.

The Aeolus, a lift-ship responsible for slotting the turbine components into circular yellow foundations, floated near the incomplete tower stem ready to add three football-field long turbine blades into place.

The mood inside the warm confines of the ferry was similar to a maritime corporate retreat, complete with guest speakers and sugar cookies embossed with an image of a wind turbine reminding snackers the project was powered through a joint venture of the Danish company rsted and Eversource.

A pair of television screens played a loop of South Fork Wind promotional videos that highlighted aspects of the work. One segment focused on the turbine component staging being carried out at State Pier in New London. A fourth package of parts left New London for the installation site this past week.

The rotating turbines send power to a nearby floating substation, that in turn funnels electricity to an onshore station in the town of East Hampton, N.Y., connected to that states electric grid.

When complete, the project is expected to power roughly 70,000 Long Island homes. The project dovetails with New Yorks plan to transition to a carbon-free electricity system by 2040. The Empire States plan is to install 9 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2035.

New Yorks nation-leading efforts to generate reliable, renewable clean energy have reached a major milestone, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a Wednesday statement. South Fork Wind will power thousands of homes, create good-paying union jobs and demonstrate to all the offshore wind is a viable resource New York can harness for generations to come.

Friendly crowd celebrates power project

The 100 or so ferry guests largely consisted of unabashed project supporters, including New York state officials and representatives of labor, climate and environmental groups.

Were coming to the completion of a project many years in the making, Jennifer Garvey, the head of the New York market for rsted, told an applauding ferry crowd. Its been an adventure.

The wind farm industry has faced challenges this year, with rsted announcing the cancellation of its large offshore Ocean Wind I and II projects in New Jersey due to problems with supply chains, higher interest rates and a failure to obtain the amount of tax credits the company wanted.

Developers in New England recently canceled power contracts for three other projects slated to deliver 3.2 gigawatts of wind power to Massachusetts and Connecticut, citing financial infeasibility.

But there was no shortage of wind power cheerleaders on the Julia Leigh.

Michael Hanson, a resident of the East Hampton, N.Y., hamlet of Wainscott, attended Thursdays trip as a member of the Win With Wind group, a grassroots organization formed several years ago to support the South Fork project.

Hanson said the group is comprised of concerned citizens anxious to find new ways to power their community without the use of fossil fuels. He said members spend the bulk of their time working to dispel misconceptions about the wind project through letter-writing campaigns, interviews with the news media and speaking at public forums.

Its just incredulous to me that people dont support this, Hanson said. (Wind power is) so simple and clean and reliable and its flowing right now.

Hanson, 57, said sections of the East Hampton area see their populations quadruple during the busy summer months, putting a strain on existing power systems.

The wind power will mean we wont need another natural gas system put in, he said.

Win With Wind member David Posnett said climate change is his overarching reason for supporting the wind project.

Its the number one problem facing the globe, whether youre poor, rich, on the left or right, he said. And this is one little step in the right direction. Its exciting to me that someone will turn on a switch in East Hampton this evening and a small percentage of that power will be coming from this turbine.

The project has faced sharp criticism from fishermen over inadequate compensation for lost fishing grounds and from some environmental organizations worried how such a project may affect marine life. Labor unions and business groups have come out firmly in favor of the work.

Amber Hewitt, senior director of offshore wind energy for the National Wildlife Federation, said her group works closely with the project to ensure the installation work doesnt harm the whales or dolphins that live in that part of the ocean.

She said a 5,000-meter monitoring zone has been established around the work area that includes a 2,000-meter shut-down section.

If a marine mammal enters that shut-down zone, all work stops, Hewitt said. This project has received a lot of scrutiny, above and beyond similar projects. Offshore wind is a tried-and-true, 30-year industry, and were willing to support it conditionally until theres a reason not to.

As the ferry made its return trip though choppy waters on Thursday, the offshore wind industry received another piece of good news, with the U.S. Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council approving construction of a $1.5 billion offshore wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island.

The Revolution Wind project, touted as six times as large as the South Fork Wind, is also a joint venture between rsted and Eversource, and is expected to bring a total of 704 megawatts of energy to Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The Revolution Wind pre-installation work at New Londons State Pier will involve the assembly of 65 turbines that will be shipped to two offshore wind stations in federal waters 15 nautical miles southeast of Point Judith, R.I.

In March, the Rhode Island utility rejected rsted's proposal to build Revolution Wind's second stage, 884-megawatt Revolution Wind 2, saying it would be too costly for consumers.

j.penney@theday.com

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Taking to the high seas for an up-close look at South Fork Wind - theday.com

High waves in the Caribbean and rough seas in the Pacific are anticipated by experts for this week in Costa Rica. Omar Lizano, an oceanographer at the Center for Research in Marine Sciences and Limnology (CIMAR-UCR), warns of potential dangers for beachgoers and small to medium-sized boats.

The forecasts for this week indicate that high waves will persist in the Caribbean, reaching maximums of 3.2 meters on Thursday, which may slightly decrease towards the weekend, Lizano informed.

Despite the expected slight decrease, the expert foresees that the high swell pattern will continue with maximums of up to 3.4 meters for the following week. In the North Pacific, there are very strong winds with gusts between 60 km/h and 70 km/h, posing a danger for small and medium-sized vessels in this region, stated the expert.

For the Central and South Pacific, the situation differs as CIMAR does not report such strong winds. Waves for these sectors are expected to reach up to 1.5 meters offshore. The occurrence of high waves and rough seas is attributed to the increase in winds brought by cold fronts. For instance, on Monday, the National Meteorological Institute (IMN) reported the influence of cold front No. 7.

The cold push moves over the north of Central America, generating high atmospheric pressure values in the region, informed the meteorologist. This leads to accelerated trade winds in the north and center of the national territory, recording speeds between 83 km/h in Guanacaste and 51 km/h in Pavas.

From November to January, the high swell condition mainly occurs in the Caribbean area, influenced by the north winds, explained Lizano. This year, coupled with an increase in sea level (due to the impact of El Nio), may result in flooding and erosion in some coastal sectors.

Erosions are mostly caused by waves, but, for example, the Caribbean has not experienced very high waves. So, why is there erosion? Its due to the increase in sea level generated by El Nio and global warming, emphasized the specialist.

More here:

High Waves and Rough Seas Forecast for Costa Rica Coasts - The Tico Times

The following is the Oct. 4, 2023, Congressional Research Service report, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): Living Resources Provisions.

The United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established a comprehensive international legal framework to govern activities related to the global oceans. UNCLOS often is referred to as the constitution of the oceans. The convention was agreed to in 1982 and entered into force in 1994, after the Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (commonly referred to as the 1994 Agreement) amended many of the deep-seabed resources provisions that several industrialized nations found objectionable.

In 1994, President Clinton submitted UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement as a package to the Senate for its advice and consent. To date, the Senate has not given advice and consent to accession to the convention and ratification of the 1994 Agreement. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has considered UNCLOS, most recently in the 112th Congress, when the committee held several hearings. The committee took no further action, and UNCLOS has since remained with the committee.

Measures pertaining to UNCLOS have been introduced in the 117th and 118th Congresses but have not been enacted to date. In general, introduced measures support U.S. accession to UNCLOS (e.g., H.Res. 361 and S.Res. 220 in the 117th Congress). Of relevance to living marine resources, a 117th Congress bill found that as a party to [UNCLOS], the United States would be better able to participate in negotiations regarding the management of high seas fish stocks, migratory fish stocks, and marine mammals (H.R. 3764).

In general, UNCLOS Articles 61-73 address living resources, including highly migratory species, marine mammals, and sedentary species, among others. Other relevant provisions include those that address living resources in the high seas (Articles 116-120) and protection of the marine environment (Articles 192-196), among other provisions. In general, these living resources provisions appear to reflect current U.S. domestic laws, such as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), Shark and Fishery Conservation Act (P.L. 111-348), High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (Title VI of the Fisheries Act of 1995; P.L. 104-43), and Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). In addition, the United States participates in several bilateral or multilateral international agreements that are viewed as consistent with UNCLOS (e.g., the 1995 U.N. Fish Stocks Agreement).

Stakeholders have differing views on what U.S. accession to UNCLOS would accomplish. As presently understood and interpreted, UNCLOS provisions generally appear to reflect current U.S. policy with respect to living marine resource management, conservation, and exploitation. Thus, some may not see a benefit of U.S. accession to UNCLOS, given that U.S. policies generally reflect its provisions. However, some experts view certain U.S. living resource laws as exceeding the obligations set forth in UNCLOS, which may complicate U.S. bilateral negotiations with nations party to UNCLOS. Some legal scholars also view many U.S. laws as reflecting use-by-use or issue-by-issue approaches for living marine resources, and thus view U.S. accession to UNCLOS as providing a more comprehensive U.S. approach.

Some stakeholders view U.S. accession as potentially complicating enforcement of domestic marine regulations, such as regulation of pollution from ships. Others remain concerned about UNCLOS language relating to arbitration and potential conflicts should the United States adopt the convention. These uncertainties in part reflect the absence of any comprehensive assessment of the social and economic impacts of UNCLOS implementation by the United States. Congress may wish to consider whether to require preparation of such an assessment by an executive branch agency.

Some in support of U.S. accession to UNCLOS contend that the conventions provisions could provide new privileges for the United States. One potential privilege could be the power to make declarations and statements, which could be useful in promulgating U.S. policy and U.S. interpretation of the convention. Another privilege would be U.S. participation in commissions that develop international ocean policy. Such commissions include the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, the International Seabed Authority, and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Participation in these bodies could help forestall future conflicts related to living resources.

Download the document here.

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Report to Congress on the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention - USNI ... - USNI News

In the boundless ocean of software development, containerization has emerged as the trusty vessel for developers, ensuring smooth sailing even in turbulent waters of system discrepancies and compatibility woes. Among the fleet of containerization tools, Docker shines bright as the beacon of reliability and ease. Docker facilitates wrapping up a piece of software in a complete filesystem that contains everything it needs to run: code, runtime, system tools, system libraries anything that can be installed on a server. This guarantees that the software will always run the same, regardless of its environment. This article unfurls the sails to guide you through the calmest route to installing Docker on your Linux machine, ensuring a swift, hassle-free voyage into the realms of containerization.

Before embarking on this voyage, ensure that your vessel in this case, your Linux machine is sea-worthy and ready to harness the winds of Docker.

Check Your Linux Distribution and Version: Docker supports Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, CentOS, and many more. Ensure you're running a supported version of your Linux distribution.

Hardware Prerequisites: Although Docker is quite lightweight, ensuring your system meets the minimum hardware requirements is prudent. A system with a 64-bit architecture, and at least 2GB RAM is recommended.

Embarking on the high seas with an outdated map is a recipe for disaster. Likewise, before installing Docker, updating your system's package database ensures a smoother sail.

sudo apt-get update

Sailing through the calm waters is always advisable. Installing Docker from the official repository is akin to such a peaceful voyage.

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg

echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

sudo docker run hello-world

docker --version

For sailors in a hurry or those favoring a less hands-on approach, Docker provides a convenience script for installation.

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Now with Docker installed, understanding some basic commands will help you navigate through the basics of Docker usage.

sudo systemctl start docker sudo systemctl stop docker sudo systemctl restart docker

docker run [IMAGE]

docker pull [IMAGE]

You've now successfully installed Docker on your Linux machine and taken the first step into a larger world of containerization. With basic commands at your disposal, the vast expanse of Docker's functionality awaits your exploration. The official Docker documentation is an excellent compass for those seeking to delve deeper into advanced configurations and optimizations. As you set sail on the silicon seas with Docker as your vessel, may smooth sailing and calm waters be ever in your favor.

Read the rest here:

Simplifying Docker Installation on Linux - Linux Journal

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Tabitha Grace Mallory

The International and Global Studies Program will host the second lecture in their new Speakers' Series on Global Development and Sustainability. Professor Tabitha GraceMallory of the University of Washington will give a talk titled "Oceans Apart: Global Governance Approaches to the Deep-Sea Strategic Frontier."

The talk will be from 4:30-6p.m. Thursday, Oct.12, in the Student Success Center, Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence room324. Mallory will talk about the United Nationsinitiatives to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and the efforts of the International Seabed Authority to hammer out a code to govern commercial seabed mining. These initiatives must balance environmental concerns with access to important resources like metals for renewable-energy technologies and marine genetic resources for new pharmaceuticals.

In her talk, Mallory, an expert on Chinese fisheries and ocean innitiatives, will explain how China hopes to become a leader in these new industries with significant strategic implications. The tradeoffs involve high-seas areas that belong to all of us. How should we approach these global-commons resources from the perspective of a first-come-first-served "freedom of the seas" or a more universal "common heritage of mankind"?

Mallory is an affiliate professor at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and specializes in Chinese foreign and environmental policy. She is also CEO of the consulting firm China Ocean Instituteand has consulted for organizations such as the United Nations Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

She is currently conducting research on China and global ocean governance and has published work on China's fisheries and oceans policy. She previously served as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Princeton-Harvard China and the World Program and has also worked for The National Bureau of Asian Research and for the U.S. government. Mallory holds a Ph.D. in international relations from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. She serves on the board of directors of the China Club of Seattle and is a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Washington State China Relations Council.

This year, the Global Development and Sustainability Series will bring in leading experts on issues concerning global sustainability and development to coincide with programing already being offered by the International and Global Studies Program. Through this speaker series, students will be exposed to a variety of methodological approaches to issues surrounding development and sustainability. Here are the upcoming talks for 2023-24:

"International Trade, Noise Pollution, and Killer Whales"

M. Scott Taylor Professor of economics, University of Calgary Research associate, The National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts Friday, Feb.16, from 3:30-5p.m. in Willard J. Walker Hall room403

"Strong Enough to Remove Dirt Skin: Coconut Soap, and Other Early Histories of Biofuels in the US and Mexico"

Jayson M. Porter Voss Postdoctoral Research Associate in Environment and Society, Brown University Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Maryland Friday, March 7, at 4:30 p.m. in CORD 349

For questions about this event, please contact the International and Global Studies Programassociate director, Kelly Hammond, atkah018@uark.edu.

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Mallory to Present 'Oceans Apart: Global Governance Approaches to ... - University of Arkansas Newswire

It probably comes as a surprise to ABSOLUTELY NO ONE how pumped we are about the addition of the Disney Treasure to the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

Set to make her debut on the high seas in December of 2024, the Treasure will feature so many great entertainment options, from a Jungle Cruise-themed lounge to an all-new version of the AquaMouse. Now, though, were CERTAIN that this ship features truly one-of-a-kind entertainment, because Disney just shared that something totally NEW was coming aboard.

Disney The Tale of Moana is an all-new show that will join the lineup of entertainment options aboard the Disney Treasure. The show will debut exclusively at the Walt Disney Theater.

This broadway-style show is inspired by the originalMoanafilm and will follow Moana as she embarks on her journey to save her island and restore the heart of Te Fiti.

Characters part of the show include Maui, Gramma Tala, and Tamatoa. Oh, and Disney said that we can expect to hear the iconic songs from the original soundtrack!

This is actually the FIRST TIMEMoanahas ever taken the stage as a show of this type. Were SO excited to check it out.

Well be sure to keep you all updated with more Disney news, so make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing.

What do you think of the addition of this newMoana show? Let us know in the comments!

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NEWS: A NEW 'Moana' Show Is Coming to the Disney Treasure ... - AllEars.Net