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Prayer Corner
Pray for Camille, nine year-old daughter of a seafarer in the sixth month of a nine-month contract. She is in hospital in Davao City with dengue fever and cardiac complications. Pray also for her care-giver, her 62 year-old grandmother.
Pray for the Passengers of the Congo Ferry that capsized.
Pray for the safety of all Fishermen, Merchant Mariners, Oil Rig Workers, all People of the Sea, as they go throughout their daily work.
Pray for all those affected by the BP Oil Spill. Let us remember that though the Spill is shut off, our prayers and assistance are still needed.
Pray for the over 360 mariners currently being held by pirates.
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Join AOS USA Today!
To join AOS USA simply click on the following link:
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Workboat Magazine Webinar "Spill-o-nomics: The Economic Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill on the Workboat Market
Workboat Magazine held a webinar yesterday, that AOS USA was able to attend. It was very helpful to understanding the bigger picture of how the BP Oil Spill is impacting the Workboat Industry and the Oil Rig companies and workers, all of which are part of the People of the Sea, whom we are to serve.
The effects of the spill on the workboat operators has been difficult to detect, as many of them were working to clean up the spill. Now that the spill has been shut down, and much of the clean up is done, the vessels are now being taken off of clean up duty.
So now, we will begin to see the measureable effects.
Some of the major points made during the seminar are as follows:
- Not every workboat in the Gulf of Mexico has the capability to work elsewhere, due to Certification Certificates, STCW compliance, etc.
- It takes 3 supply boats to handle the needs of 1 Deep Water Rig. There are 33 of these Rigs. Thus 99 workboats and all the crewmen of these boats are being impacted.
- 800 skimmer boats were working the Clean Up. These boats will also be looking for work now.
- Vessels that can follow their Service Providers (the rigs) will need to do so. So that means if the Oil Rigs move to other countries, the workboat companies will have to follow them.
- When a supply boat moves out of the Gulf however, the workers are replaced by local labor. Only the Captain of the workboat would be from the USA. Thus most of the crewmembers of the workboats will suffer the loss of these jobs.
- There are 10,000 OSV's worldwide. Far more than are needed for the number of oil rigs worldwide. Most of our Gulf Vessels and their crews, simply won't make it, if the rigs move to other countries.
- 3 Deep Sea Rigs have left the Gulf. One already had plans to leave before the BP Spill. The other 2 left due to the moratorium. One went to the Congo and may return depending on what happens with the moratorium, but he second which moved to Egypt has no definite plans for returning.
- Most Rig Operators are waiting till November 31 to make decisions for their future, but they are making their contingency plans.
- The Rig Operators and Workboat Companies will need "a clear, transparent regulatory framework, which can be complied with", before they can make good business decisions.
- The permitting process for the Shallow water rigs has become very difficult since the spill. The Deep Sea Rig operators are very concerned that the permitting process will become even more difficult for them, and that if the moratorium is lifted, it may still take several weeks or months to get the new permits and resume work.
- The Oil Rig Industry is working to remind the government and the public that the industry has a long track record of working safe. The BP Oil Spill is a "One Type Thing" and a "One Operator Event", which should not reflect badly upon the entire industry.
You can listen to an audio recording of the entire webinar. It runs about 1 hour and 12 minutes.
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Hysterical Media Reports Exaggerate Extent of Spill
Courtesy: Houston Chronicle Online
August 18, 2010
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Ferry capsizes on Congo River, killing at least 80 passengers
Courtesy: The International Herald Tribune
As many as 138 people have died after an overloaded boat carrying passengers and goods capsized in rough water in Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the police. 241 words KINSHASA, CONGO - At least 80 people have been confirmed dead after a boat ferrying about 200 passengers to Congo's capital, Kinshasa, capsized, according to a government spokesman.
Rescuers were searching for dozens of missing people after the accident on the Congo River near Maluku District, about 130 kilometers, or 80 miles, from Kinshasa, Information Minister Lambert Mende said Thursday. The boat had left from western Bandundu Province's district of Kwilu. Naval forces and local Red Cross workers went to assist and collect the bodies, Mr. Mende said. Congo is a vast country of jungles and huge rivers in Central Africa with little more than 480 kilometers of paved road.
Decades of conflict and neglect have left the nation's infrastructure in tatters, meaning transport by air or river is often the best or only option for Congolese travelers. The government said Thursday that the accident might have been caused by low water levels on the river because of the dry season. In May, dozens of people died when an overloaded canoe capsized on a river in eastern Congo. And last November, at least 90 people were killed after a logging boat sank on a lake in Congo.
The timber-carrying vessel was not supposed to be carrying passengers. Overloading is often blamed for accidents, which are frequent. Mr. Mende also said rules obliging boat owners to take out insurance, and insurers to check that boats are in good condition before offering insurance, were regularly ignored.
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AOS USA Relief Fund
To donate to the AOS USA Relief Fund, simply mail your donation to:
AOS USA Relief Fund
1500 Jefferson Dr.
Port Arthur, TX 77642-0646
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AOS Gulf Task Force Fund
To donate to the AOS Gulf Task Force Fund:
Apostleship of the Sea Gulf Coast Task Force or AOS Gulf Coast Task Force
Accounting Department
7887 Walmsley Avenue
New Orleans, LA. 70125-3496
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