MarEx Mailbag

Dear Editor, Reading your article about the Panama Canal with interest I would like respond to the introduction: "(Rapidly expanding) possibilities through Arctic waters for deep draft traffic may provide shippers with viable alternatives to canal in the not-too-distant future. What this and the (slowly improving) container sector situation will mean for Panama is not yet clear". Unfortunately the illusion of an Ice free Arctic has been used by Global Warming propagandists like Al Gore and the Un IPCC. Navigating the Arctic waters on a regular basis however is nothing more but a pipe dream. You can count it out as a competitive alternative for the Panama Canal. Here is why. The Arctic Sea Ice Extend is dominated by natural cycles of our oceans, wind and sea currents. We have come out of a 30 year warm positive Atlantic and Pacific cycle that recently went negative again. Because our ocean cycles are dominated by solar activity and the current negative ocean cycles coincide with a weak Solar Cycle 24 followed by an even weaker Solar Cycle 25, we can expect a long period of relative colder temperatures. Arctic Navigation has been a sporadic opportunity in the past and it will be a sporadic opportunity for the next 30 years. A look at the historic temperature record for the Arctic available since 1958 and a set of graphs of the annual Sea Ice Extend of the Arctic Region available since 1979, the year that satellite observation became available provide the insight that underlines my case. There is absolutely no indication that shipping routes will open up for regular use. Here are the links, so you can see for yourself: http://www.ijis.iarc.uaf.edu/en/home/seaice_extent.htm http://ocean.dmi.dk/arctic/meant80n.uk.php For further (reliable) information about our climate: www.icecap.us http://whattsupwiththat.com With kind regards Ron de Haan

Dear MarEx: Very good article on the Panama Canal expansion: My only observation is that "Al Gore and his friends" don't really enter into the equation. They are just the messengers. It's the overwhelming body of professional climatologists that count in my book. Up to now, Global Climate Change has been seen only through scientific research and the opposing political arguments most often engendered by the fossil fuel industry. First we heard that there was no Global Climate Warming; that it was all a hoax. Then,as the evidence mounted, we were told that there was indeed Global Climate Warning, but that it certainly was not caused by man. Now we are informed that "clean" coal, pumping CO2 underground, scattering dust in the air, etc., will save the day. None of these arguments matters. It's what's really happening up north that counts, and that's obvious to anyone who takes a look. It's maritime economics that will eventually tilt the board. I read recently that there are 30 Post Panamax ships on order. I wonder if any of the specs call for ice resistant hulls? William T. Lyons

Dear MarEx: I can't help but thinking that there is definitely a solution to the disposal of ships from the "moth-ball" fleet in California's Suisun Bay. There is a whole big ocean outside of the Golden Gate, and if one towed those ships far enough out to sea, there must be an ideal spot for the US Navy to do some target practice without polluting the shoreline. I believe that legislation pertaining to that fleet includes such an alternative, which would avoid costly towing through the Panama Canal, and the messy and costly clean-up of those ships in the bay. With the price of steel scrap as low as it is, this would seem to be the only economic solution. Wes Starratt PE On San Francisco Bay wesstar@ix.netcom.com

Dear MarEx, Thanks for publishing the CG NMC bulletin regarding “delayed issuance” of the MMC. Too bad they waited so long to publicize the new policy, despite their protestations that the policy was longstanding. I lost four months on my license on last renewal; filing early due to news reports of long delays, and expecting that the new “credential” would be dated to sync with my old license as has been the longstanding case at RECs. The new system is unnecessary. Simple dating the renewed credential to take up where the expired credential leaves off would be sufficient. In fairness to the NMC, I cannot but compliment them on the speedy processing of my renewal, even despite a small paperwork fault on my part. Two and one half weeks did it. Name Withheld--Might lose the next round....

Dear MarEx: RE: Jan 28 MarEx newsletter and further coverage of Asian Carp issue 1. Reproduced at the bottom of the email is the letter PVA sent to Senator Durbin of Illinois. Similar PVA letters have gone to each member (House and Senate) of the Illinois Congressional Delegation. See the economic estimates toward the end of the letter. 2. PVA provided a legal affidavit to the Illinois Attorney General in which we discussed the economic harm that would befall our Chicago operators. Attorney General Lisa Madigan cited some of the PVA facts in her brief to the Supreme Court and attached the PVA affidavit as an appendix. The Supreme Court declined to issue Michigan’s requested injunction to close the waterway and locks, but the basic case is still pending before the court. 3. PVA has requested the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (the White House office that is organizing the Asian Carp Summit and public follow-up meting) that we have a “seat at the table.” 4. PVA has requested to testify at the upcoming House Water Resources Subcommittee hearing (Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure) on Feb 9. We haven’t heard yet whether we will be invited to testify. As you noted, Michigan members introduced the so-called CARP Act last week. Thanks! As you can see, we are heavily engaged in this issue. PS – I thoroughly enjoy receiving MarEx! Sincerely, Ed Welch Edmund B. Welch Legislative Director Passenger Vessel Association 901 North Pitt Street, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 800-807-8360 x27 Fax: 703-518-5151 Email: ewelch@passengervessel.com www.passengervessel.com