Berea Power Squadron Weblog

More on the Class Action against the oil companies for ethanol-related damage to fiberglass fuel tanks...

Boater sues over ethanol-laced gasoline's effect on fiberglass fuel tank

California law firm files class-action lawsuit against major oil companies

The Los Angeles law firm of Kabateck, Brown, Kellner, LLP has filed a class-action lawsuit against the main oil companies on behalf of California boaters. The law firm said in a statement that oil companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, Valero, and ConocoPhillips are manufacturing and selling ethanol-blended gasoline that damages marine fuel tanks, engines and other components. The lawsuit was filed earlier this week in the US District Court, Central District of California in Los Angeles.

U.S. anglers off hook in Canadian waters

U.S. customs officials have scuttled plans to require background checks for Great Lakes fishermen and divers entering Canadian waters.

Under pressure from charter-boat captains, sports fishermen and others tied to Lake Erie's $1 billion fishing industry, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service won't implement the toughest Homeland Security requirements for those simply crossing into Canadian waters on day trips.

The decision Friday was not widely publicized, said customs spokesman Brett Sturgeon. The customs agency is a division of the Homeland Security Department.

Falling off your boat can be deadly, and the best solution is to make sure you stay there. But that doesn't mean you don't take precautions that will help you get back on the boat once you've fallen over.

The complete voyage data recorder transcript describing the allision of the M/V Cosco Busan with the Oakland Bay Bridge has been released. Including screen shots of the ship's radar, it offers an indepth look at how those operating the vessel were preoccupied with their instruments/readings rather than wathcing the vessel's overall track. It has an eerie reminiscence of the ValueJet crash into the Everglades in 1996.

Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. has enhanced coverages for yachts to protect against uninsured/underinsured vessels, vermin damage, contents onboard and an electronics deductible. The company also announced a lower electronics deductible, expanded coral reef and sea grass coverage, and protection in case of total loss resulting from vermin damage. This is a complement to the existing policies that already feature agreed value (to protect against depreciation), coverage for captain and crew under Admiralty Law including the Jones Act, protection against pollution fines up to $25,000 including "sudden and accidental" events, and a broad definition of personal effects.

The enhanced coverages are designed to position the company as a market leader with its Prestige Yacht and Watercraft policies, the company said.

The Catawba Island In Water Boat Show runs from Friday May 2 through Sunday May 4 at the Catawba Island Club, 4235 E Beach Club Road, Port Clinton, OH.

This year you can also sample the tastes of northern Ohio wine country on May 3. Proceeds benefit the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association Educational Foundation.

The hours are:

Friday, May 2....... Noon - 6 pm
Saturday, May 3.... 10 am - 6pm (Wine tasting all day)
Sunday, May 4..... 11 am - 5 pm

Admission is FREE for the entire weekend!

URGENT RELEASE - From the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

Unless Congress acts soon, every recreational boater in the country will have to obtain a federal or state permit in order to operate their boat. This means yearly fees, bureaucratic red tape, confusing and potentially state-by-state regulations, citizen suits and $32,000 per day penalties for non-compliance. These permits would apply to deck run-off, bilge water, engine cooling water and any other water-based, operational discharge from a recreational boat. The Environmental Protection Agency, due to a sweeping court order, is already writing this unprecedented new regulation on boaters.

Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) have just introduced S. 2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008. S. 2766 would fully and permanently restore a 35-year permit exemption for recreational boat incidental discharges, such as weather deck run-off and engine coolant water, and works to protect the health of the nation's waterways by pursuing whether or not reasonable and practicable best management practices need to be put into place for some incidental discharges. This important bill preserves recreational boating and the boating industry, taking a balanced approached that recognizes that pleasure boat discharges are completely different from land-based industrial facilities and commercial ships.

NMMA strongly urges all its members and all boating industry employees to contact their Senators and tell them to co-sponsor S. 2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008. You can quickly and easily send a letter to your Senators by visiting www.boatblue.org. Once, there, simply type in your zip code and click send. This is the most significant threat facing the boating industry today, and we need your help to solve it. Take 5 minutes to tell Congress to support S. 2766.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION: BOAT BLUE - TAKE ACTION NOW!

This is good news, BUT, WE STILL NEED TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS UNTIL THE BILL BECOMES LAW!!

The Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), introduced new legislation on March 13, 2008 ensuring recreational boaters and anglers will not need a federal permit to operate their boats. The Clean Boating Act of 2008 fully and permanently restores a longstanding, commonsense regulation that excludes recreational boaters and anglers from the federal and state permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act designed for land-based industrial facilities and ocean-going commercial ships.