2008

Video – Amazing Ocean

By Mark M. Murakami on March 4, 2008

This is not law related, or even Hawaii related, but this video was pretty captivating.

Report Details Cruise Ship Environmental Impacts

By Mark M. Murakami on March 3, 2008

The Congressional Research Service issued a report on the environmental impacts of the cruise industry.

Thanks to Dennis Bryant, Esq. for the find.

Independence –

By Mark M. Murakami on March 3, 2008

Marianas news reports

Exxon Valdez Case – Transcript of Oral Argument

By Mark M. Murakami on March 2, 2008

The oral argument for the Exxon Valdez punitive damages case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday is available, here. My earlier post on this case is here.

At issue is whether maritime law allows for punitive damages to be awarded in light of case law from the 1800’s and the Clean…

Port Security in the News – Things Better Since 9/11?

By Mark M. Murakami on March 2, 2008

Remarking on the state of port security in the U.S. following 9/11, the Secretary of Homeland Security recently said that major advances in port security have been made, making special mention of TWIC’s, security plans, increased CBP presence and port security grants. Asserting that naysayers expressing concerns about port security show their "intellectual laziness," the…

Coast Guard has New Regs for Vessels from Indonesia

By Mark M. Murakami on March 1, 2008

The Coast Guard announced a new policy imposing security restrictions on vessels arriving from certain Indonesian ports deemed to have inadequate security measures in place. These restrictions impose certain security measures to be used when the vessels visit U.S. ports. The Indonesian ports listed below do have the requisite security measures in place:

PT Terminal…

More on the Ecology of Hawaii’s Ocean Waters

By Mark M. Murakami on March 1, 2008

Lots of ocean ecology in the news this month. This article talks about the "desert" condition of the Pacific Ocean including Hawaiian watersed in press. The gyre article, posted here, was interesting in this vein too.

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down California Attempts to Regulate Ship’s Fuel Types

By Mark M. Murakami on February 28, 2008

Informing the discussion on Hawaii’s attempt to regulate fuel types used by ships visiting Kauai, posted here, the Ninth Circuit issued a decision (summary here) yesterday involving California’s attempts to regulate ship’s fuels.

In Pacific Merchant Shipping Assn. v. Goldstene, the California Air Resources Board promulgated and enforced "Marine Vessel Rules" purporting…

More on Kauai Bunker Fuel Ban

By Mark M. Murakami on February 25, 2008

The Garden Isle reports an update on the State of Hawaii’s efforts to regulate fuel type of ships visiting to Kauai and the waters nearby. I posted earlier on this effort here.

The State has tried to regulate waters beyond its 3 nautical mile limit before, sometimes successfully as noted in my post here…

More on Ko Olina – “Minimal” Impact