AOS USA Maritime Updates

The Professional Association of Catholic Mariners and the Official Catholic Organization for Cruise Ship Priests and Catholic Maritime Ministers.

March 19, 2011

In This Issue

Many Ways To Help Those Affected by the Tsunami

Links to West Coast Tsunami Damage

Tsunami Waves Aggravate Problems for West Coast Fishermen

MARAD Advisory

NCL Pride of America & Tsunami

Pontiff Shaken by Quake

AOS Special fund

Instructions for AOS Donations

Upcoming Events

Prayer Corner

For the people of Japan recovering from the effects of Earthquake and Tsunami, and Nuclear radiation.

We especially pray for the fishermen & mariners of Japan who have been affected by the Earthquake and Tsunami, and will likely be affected for months and years to come.

For the people of Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast, especially Fishermen, Mariners and Coastal families who rely on the sea for their livelihood.

For Fr. William Bauman AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He asks for prayers from his AOS Family for "Faith to return to the Lord in a happy death".

For Fr. Joseph Gaugh, AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest who is recovering from a hip infection.

For Fr Cleo Schmenk, AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest recovering from cataract surgery.

For the sister of Fr Frederico DeSouza, (AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest ), recovering from open heart surgery in Mozambique.

For the Mother of Fr John Belmonte, (AOS USA Cruise Ship Priest), recovering from illness.

For our mariner member, Jon Furukawa, during his deployment in Iraq.

For those held hostage by pirates throughout the world.

For our Fishers, Shrimpers, Crabbers, Lobstermen, Oystermen, etc., that God will bless them with a fruitful harvest this year.

For all those in pirate infested waters that God will protect them.

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AOS Streaming Video

http://uk.YouTube.com/watch?v=EY4nEbInsMQ

Dear Friends,

I have been closely following the tragedy in the Pacific. It truly has been a terrible event. However, the affects of the natural disaster is not limited to Japan.

Pietro Parravano, the chairman of our fishing committe has shared information about how the tsunami has affected our US fishermen on the West Coast.

In addition, our cruise lines and the US Maritime Administration have been releasing information on the disasters continuing impact.

In two weeks, our parishes will be taking up the national collection for Catholic Relief Services. Besides being an important source of income for our national AOS office, it also provides significant resources for the many international relief programs performed by Catholic Relief Services. This will be even more important as the tremendous needs of Japan begun to be addressed.

**In addition to the collection, many parishes are also participating in CRS's Operation Rice Bowl. If your parish is participating, please be generous.**

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Fr. Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L.

President

Little damage in British Columbia

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110311/bc_tsunami_west_coast_warning_110311/20110311/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

Little damage in Alaska
http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-tsunami-watch-for-much-of-alaska-20110311,0,2657130.story

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_17616676

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014473768_apusjapanearthquakepacific2ndldwritethru.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVX0MSRRPEE&feature=player_embedded

Crescent City video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33yrmpkS-Ys&feature=player_embedded

Santa Cruz Harbor video

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/tsunami-videos-santa-cruz-harbor-damage-captured-from-many-angles.html

Tsunami Waves Aggravate Problems of California Fishing Communities - What We Can Do to Help?

By Marie Logan|March 17, 2011 6:30 a.m.

Our hearts go out to those fighting for survival in Japan this week in the aftermath of the most powerful earthquake to hit the nation in recorded history. While the eyes of the international community are on the country's recovery efforts, many in the Bay Area may not realize that the massive quake has had effects here at home too.

The earthquake - currently reported to be the seventh largest on record - spawned a series of tsunami waves that raced across the Pacific Ocean at 500 mph, reaching California's coasts around 8 a.m. on the morning of March 11 and recurring throughout the day. Although the size of the waves was small in comparison to Japan's 30-foot waves, surges of up to a reported 8 feet caused major damage to fishing ports along the West Coast.

These waves are called inundating waves, meaning the water surges on shore and stays there longer, more like a large glass of spilled liquid than the constant push-pull of a typical surf along the coastline.

In Crescent City, it's been reported that over 30 boats were crushed in the harbor and many of the docks were destroyed. In Fort Bragg, a series of four-foot waves ripped out docks and caused many boats to collide from the surge. Santa Cruz saw the sinking of 17 boats, and as many as 50 others were damaged. Additionally, four people were swept out to sea by the tsunami in California, and one is feared dead. Altogether, the cost of tsunami damage here in California is expected to top $50 million. Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in four California counties as a result.

But the disheartening reality is that last week's tsunami was only the latest obstacle to fishing communities here in California. Even before the economic downturn in 2008, many in the fishing industry (and smaller-scale producers, in particular) were struggling. Take the example of California salmon fishermen. Poor water management in California and climate change impacts have contributed to a serious decline in populations of California salmon, which has resulted in the loss of an estimated 72,000 jobs on the West Coast in the last 20 years. Talk about downsizing!

Meanwhile, an inflexible new fishing management policy called "catch shares" is being implemented across the West Coast this year. It works by assigning fishermen an allotment of fish to catch; unfortunately, the structure of the program favors the largest corporate fishing interests. The impacts of this policy have yet to be quantified, but have been devastating in other U.S. historical fishing communities. For example, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, 253 boats out of 500 are now just sitting at the docks five months after a similar policy was enacted there last summer. "Catch shares" programs are forcing smaller fishermen out of the business and wages have plummeted for those still able to find work fishing.

With so much bad news in the fishing industry, what can you or I do to support our local fishing communities and help maintain our working waterfronts? First of all -- support your local fisherman! Do what you can to choose local, U.S.-caught seafood and remember that seafood has seasonality just like farmer's market produce does. Check out this site by our friends at the Institute for Fisheries Resources to find out the types of fish that are seasonal in your region. Also check out Food & Water Watch's Smart Seafood Guide to learn about choices that are good for you and the planet. Donate to the relief and recovery efforts - in Japan, and to our fishing communities here in California.

Marie Logan is a research and policy analyst for the Fish Program at Food & Water Watch. Based in San Francisco, she focuses on open ocean aquaculture, seafood safety and sustainability, and eco-labeling programs for seafood.

MARAD - Advisory Regarding Japan

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued an Advisory stating that, due to radiation leaks from the damaged nuclear power plant near Fukushima, Japan, vessels are urged to avoid transiting within 50 miles of that site (37-19 North, 141-01 East). This cautionary area may expand depending upon prevailing wind and weather. In the event that a vessel bound for the United States has transited within the cautionary area, the master should submit transit information, including the date and total time within the cautionary area, to the cognizant USCG Captain of the Port (COTP) using the comment block on the 96-hour advance notice of arrival (ANOA). (3/17/11).

Advisory #:

2011-02

Date Issued:

MAR 17 2011

To:

MARINERS

Subject:

VESSELS TRANSITING TO OR FROM JAPAN OR IN WATERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE NORTHEAST COAST OF THE ISLAND OF HONSHU.

1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO VESSELS TRANSITING TO OR FROM PORTS IN JAPAN OR IN WATERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE NORTHEAST COAST OF THE ISLAND OF HONSHU.

2. U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS.

3. A 8.9/9.0 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK THE PACIFIC OCEAN NEAR NORTHEASTERN JAPAN AT AROUND 1446 ON MARCH 11 (JST) CAUSING DAMAGE WITH BLACKOUTS, FIRE AND A TSUNAMI. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NEAR FUKUSHIMA WERE DAMAGED AND RADIATION RELEASE WAS DETECTED AND IS BEING MONITORED BY JAPAN.

4. IN RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION AT THE FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC), THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND OTHER TECHNICAL EXPERTS IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAVE REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM ASSETS IN JAPAN, AS WELL AS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN HAS DISSEMINATED. CONSISTENT WITH THE RESULTS OF THAT REVIEW, NRC GUIDELINES AND GUIDANCE ISSUED BY THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN, THE U.S. COAST GUARD RECOMMENDS, AS A PRECAUTION, THAT VESSELS AVOID TRANSITING WITHIN 50 MILES (80 KILOMETERS) OF THE FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AT POSITION 37 DEGREES 19 MINUTES NORTH, 141 DEGREES 01 MINUTES EAST. MARINERS ARE ADVISED THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM THE FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT SHOULD BE AVOIDED. PRUDENT TRACKLINE PLANNING SHOULD INCORPORATE CURRENT WIND AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

5. MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO MONITOR AND COMPLY WITH NAVTEX AND NAVAREA XI WARNINGS. MARINERS SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF INFORMATION BEING PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN RELATING TO ANY FURTHER POTENTIAL IMPACTS. THE MARTIME ADMINISTRATION AND THE U.S. COAST GUARD WILL PROVIDE UPDATED NOTICES AS ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE BECOMES AVAILABLE.

6. IN THE EVENT A VESSEL BOUND FOR A U.S. PORT TRANSITS WITHIN THE 50-MILE (80-KILOMETER), PRECAUTIONARY AREA, THE U.S. COAST GUARD RECOMMENDS THE VESSEL'S MASTER TO SUBMIT TRANSIT INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE DATE AND TOTAL TIME WITHIN THE PRECAUTIONARY AREA, TO THE COGNIZANT U.S. COAST GUARD CAPTAIN OF THE PORT USING THE COMMENT BLOCK ON THE 96-HOUR ADVANCED NOTICE OF ARRIVAL.

7.THIS ADVISORY WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV UNDER THE NEWSROOM TAB.

8. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT CAPTAIN ROBERT FORD, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE: MAR-420, ROOM W25-308, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590, TELEPHONE 202-366-0223, FACSIMILE 202-366-3954, TLX II 710.822.9426 (MARAD DOT WSH), OR EMAIL: MARADSECURITY@DOT.GOV.

Crew, guests safe aboard Pride of America (3/11)

Norwegian Cruise Line posted the following brief on its home page earlier today, March 11, concerning the SIU-crewed Pride of America as well as the Norwegian Star:

"The safety and security of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance. We are closely monitoring the current tsunami advisory for Hawaii and the West Coast. All guests aboard Pride of America and Norwegian Star are safe and doing well.

"Pride of America left Nawiliwili, Kauai early at approximately 1 a.m. local time and is currently at sea where conditions are safe for the vessel. Once the warning is lifted and the port re-opens, the ship is expected to return to Nawiliwili today. The ship will return to Honolulu on Saturday, March 12 and the next cruise will sail as scheduled."