Maritime Association of South Carolina

Maritime Association of South Carolina Nav/Ops Notes June 22, 2017

I. Welcome and Introductions Denver Merrill called to order the monthly Nav/Ops meeting on June 22, 2017 at 818

II. Maritime Association Board Report Introductions were made. We will continue to use The ILA Meeting Place meeting place due to attendance. Thank you to the ILA.

Notes: Please like The Maritime Assoc. on Facebook and share our posts. The Finance Committee met this week. We have 30 new members this year and would like to have 200 in the near future. Our last mixer was a success. We will have another one on August 23rd with the location to be announced. The deadline is today for the Cyber Pilot Project. Thank you for those who attended our Strategic Planning and for everyone who submitted survey answers.

III. Federal and State Agency Reports US Customs and Border Protection reported that there will be changes to the I418 form and the Federal Register notice will be changed reported Joanne Fogg.

US Coast Guard reported on the Don Holt Bridge painting and asked everyone to read/disseminate the MSIB. There is a safety Zone on SC41 for bridge demolition. There will be a safety zone set up for 500 yards out for fireworks on July 4th. They are working on a new LED light to change intensity on the Fort Sumter light. Buoys moves will be forthcoming at the Wando terminal. Captain Hartley will be retiring tomorrow. Captain Greg Stump was introduced and welcomed as the new COTP. Capt. Stump commented on the great coordination and cooperation amongst the maritime community regarding the dirty bomb report.

US Army Corps of Engineers reports that dredging for shoal 2A and 4 will be happening through October. The upper and lower harbor contracts will be awarded in September. The first 2 contract designs for harbor deepening have to be approved with the Port Authority. The project will last for 40 months and construction will start in December. They will start at the entrance channel and not at the mouth of the Wando. John Cameron asked if the widening could happen first and the width of the ship is the most critical. The conversations are on going.

Pilotage Commission: John Cameron reported that air draft has been reduced due to the Don Holt Painting. The max height is 157.5ft. BP shoaling has been reduced to 30 feet.

SC Ports Authority: Keith Nell reported that everything is on schedule for the 3rd phase of Wando renovation to be completed on time, which should be July. This will increase docking space. The issue of moving cranes to the center of the berth after they done was discussed. Mr. Nell explained the cranes need to be on pins. They are adding pin sockets in the center of the berths. There is uncertainty if logistics surrounding the ongoing renovation will allow the cranes to be moved to the center of the berth each time. It was also mentioned there is no personnel available at night to move these cranes. Rob New said the cranes should not be moving during docking. The ships could damage the cranes. It is a safety concern for docking pilots and line handlers. Steve Kicklighter mentioned the larger flares of the ship and how they can pass over the dock. There will be a follow up meeting on this issue.

IV. Round Table

 June 26th – 30 Port Executive Course (has since been cancelled)  CMA/CGM offering new service from west coast of South America to CHS.  Security threat went well. Everything was secured within 7 hours. Well done! Great exercise with a Can Do attitude reported Capt. Stump.  Pat Barber reported on the I526 congestion issue. There will be a meeting on July 13th on incident management and restriping of 526. We have an opportunity to have the Secretary of the DOT visit. All parties need information beforehand.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, July 27, 2017 at the same location – the ILA Building. Meeting was adjourned at 9:00.