Date:  May 22, 2012

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Location: Jaxport Cruise Terminal

The purpose of the meeting is to provide interested stakeholders with an early opportunity to discuss the ecological and water quality models that are being developed for this study.  Please see this announcement for additional information and driving directions.

Maritime Professionals:

April 30, 2012 marked the end of the 2011-2012 right whale migration and calving season along the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast coasts of the United States (ie. Long Island and south).  The Mid-Atlantic Seasonal Management Areas will remain closed until November 1, 2012 and the Southeast Seasonal Management Area and the WHALESSOUTH Mandatory Ship Reporting area will remain closed until November 15, 2012.  Vessels can make full speed while transiting in these areas while the season is closed.  In addition, vessels entering the WHALESSOUTH Mandatory Ship Reporting area are not required to send a message until the season reopens on November 15, 2012.

While the 2011-2012 right whale migration and calving season has ended, vessels are requested to remain vigilant of right whales and immediately report any sightings to the Coast Guard via channel 16.    

We had a great season. While only six births were reported, there were no reported ship strikes.  Thank you for your continued protection of these remarkable animals. 

The National Marine Fisheries Service has published an assessment of the Final Rule that established speed restrictions for vessels transiting areas where right whales are normally present during certain times of the year.  The report focuses on four metrics established to determine the rule's effectiveness: Changes in ship strike death rates; Changes in vessels operations; Quantification of mariner outreach efforts; and Economic impacts on the maritime industry.  Click here to view the report.  At a minimum, I recommend marine interests read the Executive Summary and the section entitled "Conclusions and Recommendations" that starts on page 37.   

2011 Hurricane Season

November 30th marked the end of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The Captain of the Port has set Port Hurricane Condition V.

Even though the past few years have been relatively quiet, port interests should verify their plans are up-to-date and ready for execution before the start of the 2012 season. Several important documents and links are available on the JMTX website as part of our Hurricane Info webpage. This includes the 2011 Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Heavy Weather Plan. The full plan contains 170 pages of information and is recommended reading for our port interests. At a minimum, port interests should be very familiar with Chapter 3 of the plan that addresses Port Preparedness and Post Storm Actions. This 16-page extract includes the specific actions that port interests must complete during each change of Port Hurricane Condition. Port interests should also be familiar with Annex F - Vessel Sortie Guidelines,  Annex H - The remain in Port Request Form and Annex N Post Storm Condition Reporting Form.

Please help support this initiative by completing this quick 9 question survey.  Your participation is appreciated!

If your company does not have a Continuity of Operations Plan, you may want to complete this template. It is a very basic document that will help you gather critical information to ensure personnel, physical, and information security and reconstitution in the event of a disaster. This document will help you create your own Business Continuity Plan after answering a few simple questions and will take only 15 minutes to complete. 

2011 Jacksonville Maritime Classic

The 2011 Jacksonville Maritime Classic Golf Tournament was held on Wednesday, October 26th at the Amelia National Golf Club in Fernandina Beach.  We had a great event and we look forward to seeing you again in 2012.  Congratulations to the following teams:

1st Place - Jaxport - Roy Schleicher, Steve Rand, John Callihan & Stuart Impey.  (58)

2nd Place - St. Johns Bar Pilots Association - Jay Winegeart, Joe Heath, Chip Drobnie & Ross Adolph. (60)

3rd Place - IntraCoastal Environmental - Chuck Nevin, Michael Oakman, Jay Taylor & Subu Subramanian. (61)