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Capt Lou's Nautical News 6/27/10
Posted on: Mon 28-Jun-2010
| | TWO BP OIL CLEAN UP WORKERS DIE FROM FUMES
The Obama administration received even more bad news from the Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard confirmed that two workers involved in the Gulf oil spill clean up have died. As of June 11th, nearly 3 weeks ago, 71 oil spill clean up workers in Louisiana had to be hospitalized due to exposure to vapors from toxic dispersants. Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is now saying she is very concerned about the impact of the disaster on the public health of people in the gulf region. Originally, officials attributed the clean up workers' sickness to food poisoning. No details have been released about how the two clean up workers died, but many of the clean up workers now want face masks to be distributed to them.
OFFICIALS CRACK DOWN ON BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
More than 5000 marine law enforcement officers will be out in full force from now until July 4th participating in Operation Dry Water, a nationwide crackdown on those boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Boaters found to be impaired can expect severe penalties, including fines, jail time, loss of boating privileges, and even loss of their automobile driving licenses. According to the Coast Guard, each year approximately one of every five fatalities from recreational boat accidents is directly related to drunk boaters. Experts claim that the sun, wind, noise, and rocking of the boat intensify the side effects of alcohol and drugs.
IWC REJECTS PROPOSAL TO RESUME WHALE HUNTING
The International Whaling Committee met in Morocco and rejected a proposal to resume whale hunting. The International Whaling Committee banned the killing of whales 20 years ago, but allowed Japan to continue to hunt a limited number of whales for scientific reasons. However, recent DNA tests have proved that the meat from the whales that the Japanese killed for research has instead ended up on Japanese supermarket shelves. In addition to Japan, Norway and Iceland also continue to disregard the rules against whaling. Those three countries are responsible for most whales killed in the world.
E15 GAS DECISION DELAYED UNTIL FALL
The federal Environmental Protection Agency will delay until the fall a decision on whether to increase the amount of ethanol in our gas to 15% from its current limit of 10%. The delay has angered the farmers who produce ethanol from corn, but it gas pleased the automobile and boat companies whose engineers claim an increase in the amount of ethanol could cause serious damage to their engines. The E10 gas currently sold has already caused damage to fiberglass hulls and fuel tanks. Furthermore, engineers claim ethanol clogs fuel lines, attracts moisture, and offers less performance. Other energy experts claim the farmers use a lot more fuel in processing the corn into ethanol which offsets the potential conservation benefits.
ASIAN CARP 6 MILES AWAY FROM GREAT LAKES
After months of talk and lawsuits trying to prevent the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, government officials using nets, chemicals, and electrofish gear simply couldn't find one, but this past week, a fisherman caught one that weighed nearly 20 pounds about six miles from Lake Michigan. State and federal authorities are now trying to determine if the fish was somehow traveling alone - an idea that environmentalists and fishermen consider absurd. One environmentalist claimed that Asian carp are like cockroaches. When you see one, you know it's accompanied by many more you don't see. It is feared that the Asian carp could destroy the ecosystem in all of the Great Lakes, ruining the region's multi-billion dollar sport fishing industry.
EXPIRED FISHING LICENSE COSTS TEAM MILLION DOLLARS
It took 3 hours and 18 minutes for 4 fishermen participating in North Carolina's annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament to land an 883 pound blue marlin. The fish was 11 1/2 feet long. The biggest fish any of them had ever seen. They raced back to the dock, positive that they would win the million dollar grand prize. While the captain began making sure all of his paperwork was in order, he realized that his mate's fishing license had expired. The rules for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament clearly stated that everyone on board needed a North Carolina fishing license to compete. The tournament's committee deliberated for more than 8 days, and finally they made a decision. The 4 man team and the fish were disqualified. The mate's failure to possess a current fishing license cost his team one million dollars. The men are appealing the decision claiming they are honorable, and they did not cheat and did not lie. It was simply am honest technical error.
KEVIN COSTNER'S OIL/WATER SEPARATORS A SUCCESS
British Petroleum has purchased 32 of actor Kevin Costner's oil/water separators and are amazed at how well they work. Costner explained that centrifugal force separates the oil from the water. Costner's invention was not immediately put into use because of the government's objection that there were still trace amounts of oil in the treated water. Costner said the government wasn't taking into consideration the volume of oil that was separated and the speed at which it was done. As of now, two of the big spinning drums are in use and the rest should be within the next 60 days.
MAN FOUND DRUNK A MILE OFFSHORE ON TOY SWIMMING POOL RAFT
The Coast Guard reports a 48 year old Largo, Florida man got drunk on a swimming pool toy raft and drifted a mile out into the Gulf unconscious before finally being spotted by a passing boater. When the Coast Guard crew arrived, they said they found the man to be severely intoxicated and that he had no idea where he was, didn't know what time of day it was, or how long he was out for. The man was transported to a local hospital and released. No word yet on if boating while intoxicated charges will be filed against him.
JIMMY BUFFETT DONATES BOATS FOR BP OIL CLEAN UP
And last on today's nautical news, Jimmy Buffett, along with his sister Lucy, have donated a 17 foot boat to the University of Southern Mississippi so that students can help with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup. The 17 foot boat is designed to operate in as little as 8 inches of water. Buffett, a Southern Miss alumnus, teamed with Dragonfly Boatworks in Vero Beach, Florida to build the boat. Word is that an additional 3 boats will be built and donated to the university by Buffett and his sister.
Listen to the live broadcast of "Nautical Talk Radio" with Capt Lou and crew, Sunday mornings from 11 - 12 noon (Boston time) on radio station 95.9FM WATD, Marshfield, and streaming around the world on www.959watd.com. You can also listen to a replay of the most recent show anytime during the week at www.nauticaltalk.com.
* Winner of Mass/Rhode Island Associated Press "BEST TALK SHOW"
* Recipient of Coast Guard's Joshua James Lifesaving Medal for public service
* Recipient of American Lighthouse Foundation's "LEN HADLEY AWARD"
* Winner of Boston's Achievement In Radio "BEST INTERVIEW" AWARD
* Nominated Boston's A.I.R. "BEST PRODUCED PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM"
* Recipient of Man of the Year Award - Metropolitan Yacht Club - 2009
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