Whale Collisions Mean Speed Restrictions

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a new regulation to protect North Atlantic right whales. Starting December 9, 2008, all vessels 65 feet (19.8m) or greater (subject to the jurisdiction of the United States) will be subject to a 10-knot speed restriction during certain times and locations, also known as Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs).

Right whales can collide with vessels which potentially results in serious injuries or death. On average, two of these mammals per year suffer from collision-related injuries. The current right whale population only ranges from 300 to 400. Additionally, vessels can be damaged or passengers may lose their footing or even be thrown from a boat during a collision.

All instances of significant vessel damage were reported from vessels traveling faster than 10 knots. Studies suggest that severe injuries to a whale can be decreased when vessel speed is 10 knots or less.

If it is necessary to deviate from the 10-knot speed restriction, the reason, speed, latitude and longitude of the area, and time and duration of the deviation, must be entered into the vessel’s logbook, which must be signed and dated by the vessel’s master.

Nautical charts, a compliance guide, and additional information is available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike

Undercover Anglers Nab Non-Compliant Captains

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has charged Viking Starship Inc. with illegal fishing.

State officers and federal agents posed as patrons aboard charter vessels operating in New Jersey and New York. During these undercover operations, two charter operators, Jerome E. Hurd of Avalon, New Jersey, and Steven N. Forsberg of Montauk, New York, caught striped bass in federal waters with patrons. Forsberg, the owner of the F/V Viking Starship, and Hurd were also charged with submitting false oral or written statements about the catch to authorized federal officers. Forsberg and Hurd were each issued potential fines, $30,000 and $25,000, respectively. For Forsberg, the NOAA mandated a 30-day permit suspension.

Possessing, fishing, and harvesting of Atlantic striped bass, a prized sport fish, is illegal in federal waters, which exist beyond a states’ three-mile offshore boundary. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission have been trying to manage the declining population of striped bass in state waters, and the government banned commercial fishing this valued fish species since 1990.

Sunken Pirates

An Indian naval vessel, the INS Tabar, stopped a suspected pirate ship off the Coast of Oman. When the officers tried to search the vessel, pirates fired upon them. Guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers were visible on the upper deck of the pirate’s ship. Once fired upon, the Tabar struck back, which set off explosions onboard, and consequently sank the pirate “mothership.” These motherships are often large vessels, used as bases to strike merchant vessels or to take smaller attack vessels and their pirate crews into deep water shipping lanes.

Following the firefight, the Tabar followed two suspect speedboats in that were originally being towed. One speedboat escaped while the other had been abandoned.

So far this year, 95 ships have been attacked in the Gulf of Aden. Thirty-nine of these have been hijacked. Attacks are spreading farther south off the Kenyan coast and farther north into the Gulf of Aden.

Noel Choong, the head of the Piracy Reporting Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia said, “The risks are low and returns are extremely high for these pirates.” Pirates receive millions of dollars in ransom for these acts without the consequences of prosecution. Seventeen of the reportedly hijacked vessels remain in the control of the pirates, along with 300 crew members.

Allied Marine

Ferretti Yachts recently procured an esteemed boat dealer, Allied Richard Bertram Marine Group, an acquisition which will enable the Italian yacht company to sell directly to U.S. buyers.

The recently established company, Allied Marine, intends to sell American-made Tiara yachts in addition to Ferretti's nine lines of luxury yachts.

Previously, MarineMax was Ferretti's sole U.S. dealer, and as the country's largest boat dealer, it provided stability in a declining economy. Ferretti's contract with MarineMax expired this year, ­they chose to not renew.

MarineMax's general manager, Bob Fritsky, stated that it will direct more focus towards selling luxury yachts from another reputable Italian builder, Azimut.

The new president of Allied Marine, Rob McDougal, recognizes that it is an arduous time to become a dealer, but is ultimately optimistic and enthused about "providing a higher level of service and being closer to the customer."

Man Kills Boaters, Faces Death Penalty

Former child actor, Skylar Deleon, was found guilty of killing Tom and Jackie Hawks for their life savings and $500,000 boat. Deleon faces the death penalty.

In the opening statements, defense lawyers stated that Deleon was guilty, a strategy to avoid the death penalty.

Deleon, who had a small, non-speaking role in one episode of “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” joined the Hawks’ aboard their boat for a “test run,” since he pretended to be a prospective buyer. He was joined by John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Alonso Machain – the three men overwhelmed the couple, forcing them into handcuffs and sealing their eyes and mouths with duct tape. Then, the couple was coerced to sign title transfer documents for the 55-foot yacht, named “Well Deserved.” Afterwards, the men tied the victims to an anchor, and dropped the anchor into the sea. The bodies were never recovered.

When initially pursued by the Newport Beach Police, Deleon stated that the Hawks sold him the yacht for $440,000. The truth of the homicides emerged once one of his accomplices confessed.

Luhrs 37

The Luhrs 37 Open premieres at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and can be seen there from October 30th to November 3rd. The builder claims the vessel has the industry's first full-size guest stateroom in an open sportfisherman under 40 feet.

Her design yields spaciousness - the 37 has an open cockpit, a bridge deck suitable for eight people, and a commodious galley and main saloon.

The Luhrs 37 comes in two power versions, the standard Volvo Penta IPS and the optional triple Yamaha F350 V-8 gasoline outboards. Both are practical for fuel and space-savings.

Flipper, the Heavyweight

"Yeah, it was throwing some good punches. Mike Tyson couldn’t hit harder than that.”

Surprisingly, the above statement, which comes from 64-year old Norman Howard, is about a dolphin. Last Thursday, near New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a 400-pound dolphin plunged into an 18-foot boat, and landed on top of Howard and his wife's laps, injuring both with blows from his massive tail.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued the bloodied passengers after witnesses called 911. Both Norman and his wife, Barbara, were treated for facial lacerations at Bert Fish Medical Center. Norman also suffered from abdominal injuries. The dolphin was eventually rolled back into the Intracoastal Waterway.

Between last week's shark brawl and this week's dolphin sucker punch, one can only hope that by next week, nobody ends up in a half nelson with a whale.

Fishing On Jupiter

The Jupiter team premiered the first model of its new sportfishing line, the Jupiter 39 Express. With input from naval architect Donald Blount and Associates, the builder endowed their first express-style boat with a large bridge deck and a full cabin suitable for six people, which makes it particularly ideal for cruising excursions.

Solid teak-and-maple floors line the cabin’s interior, while stowage spaces and a bar unit grace the boat’s main deck.

Her cockpit bears a custom hardtop and marlin tower, extra rod holders, and a bait-prep center complete with a transom-mounted livewell, and freezer.

This 39-footer is also fuel efficient as she is expressly suitable for the new Yamaha 350-hp, V-8, four-stroke gasoline outboard engines in either Twin- or triple-engine applications.

The USS NY, a Symbol of Recovery

In approximately one year, New York City will commission a transport ship built from steel remnants of the World Trade Center, the USS New York. This ceremony will officially proclaim this warship as a unit of the operating forces of the US Navy.

In 2002, New York Governor George Pataki requested a rare exception for the warship’s name, he sought to name a surface vessel after the attacked city, despite the upheld tradition of granting state names exclusively to submarines. The Secretary of the Navy Gordon England obliged the appeal. The USS New York bears its name in honor of the victims of 9/11.

The Navy and shipyard evaluated the recovered steel and determined that it was strong enough to be used in the design of the vessel. Twenty-four tons of steel was melted for her construction; seven tons were used for the bow stem, the foremost section of the ship, officially completed in August 2005.

The 684-foot-long USS New York is still under construction in New Orleans at the Northrop Grumman Ships Systems. This company is America’s exclusive builder and designer of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, and one of only two builders of nuclear-powered submarines.

The USS New York is the fifth amphibious transport ship in the LPD 17 San Antonio class. Like others within this class, she has a Colt-Pielstick PC2.5 STC engine, which facilitates high propulsion power. Despite her name, she’s planned to be based in Norfolk, VA.

The naming ceremony took place in Manhattan’s Intrepid, Sea Air & Space Museum, back in 2002. New York Veterans, representatives from New York’s police and fire departments, as well as victim’s families were invited. In late 2009, the vessel which honors the collective bravery of New Yorkers, loss of friends and family, and a nation’s fortitude will be admitted into the naval forces.

A Jab to Jaws

Jake, a rat terrier, was attacked last Friday afternoon by a shark during his daily swim in the Worldwide Sportsman’s Bayside Marina pier in Islamorada, Florida. The five-foot shark surfaced and captured almost all 14 pounds of the terrier in its mouth. The dog’s owner, carpenter Greg Lenoir, witnessed this scene and immediately bolted into the water, and punched the shark, who then released the dog.

Despite punctured skin and muscle on his abdomen, chest, back, and legs, Jake is expected to make a full recovery.

Certainly Limitless

Check out the above video for a glimpse of Lurssen's famous Limitless. Leslie Wexner's elegant yacht spans 315'8" and ranked #14 on PMY’s annual "World's 100 Largest Yachts" this year.

Wexner, CEO of Limited Brands, is no stranger to lists or rankings—he ranked 273rd in Forbes’ 2007 list of the "world’s richest people."

Limitless will once again be featured in PMY’s upcoming November issue, showcasing America’s 100 Largest Yachts. She continues to rank inside the Top Ten, but you’ll have to wait until November to find out exactly where she fits. Until then, you can enjoy watching her effortlessly glide along the ocean.

Billy Joel's Newest Boat

Maybe the Piano Man should be renamed the Boat Man.

Billy Joel’s newest boat, a Patriot 36 he christened Argos, features many customized details, such as a center-mounted console with an electric lift for easy access to the engine, wrap-around seating, a raised deck for visibility, and a 670-hp Cummins diesel.

Joel was integral to the design of this yacht, envisioning an art deco-inspired vessel, a reminder of the streamlined beauty of 1950’s sportfishing boats. He worked closely with the president of Ellis Boat Company, Don Ellis, and Brian Walls, a design engineer to make his concept a reality.

This new Patriot 36 is the first of its kind to be delivered. Joel claimed Argos was “the quietest boat in my fleet” due to its standard sound-reduction floor and exhaust systems, and Evolution Quiet Drive shaft system.

Now that Joel’s tour has ended with a historic finish at Shea Stadium, perhaps he has time to revisit his River of Dreams on this sleek, new yacht.

Electric Insurance

Electric boats are gaining popularity, since they provide a reasonable solution to soaring fuel costs and an alternative for those who are environmentally conscious. Travelers, a leading insurance company, is now offering an insurance discount of up to ten percent for owners of electric boats—a first for the industry.

Travelers defines an electric boat as “a vessel 100 percent powered by a propeller-driven, electric inboard source where utility is stored onboard.” Besides fuel and environmental advantages, electric boats require less maintenance than a diesel- or gasoline-powered boat due to the simplicity of the motors. They are quieter, too, another reason some people are turning to them for a tranquil cruise.

However, the economic benefit is worth noting, too: Travelers says that an 18-hp diesel engines cost approximately $50 to run for ten hours, while an electric boat would require a mere $1 or $2.

To encourage further use, several states are following a European trend by stipulating that specific waterways are exclusively for electric vessels.

Final Fin

Between restrictions on tuna fishing and now shark finning, Japanese cuisine must really be suffering.

The House of Representatives refined a prior bill which prohibits shark finning, when fishermen sever a shark’s fin and return the remainder of the shark to the sea. This improved bill bans "vessels from having custody, control, or possession of shark fins without the carcass." The bill clarifies that aboard fishing and other vessels at a U.S. port, shark fins must be naturally connected to the body.

Shark finning is driven by the profitability of shark fin soup, a delicacy in many Asian countries, yet it contributes to the massive decline in the shark population, a steep drop of approximately 80 percent since the 1970’s.

This bill will now go to the Senate.

Big Blue

Eugene Shvidler’s mammoth yacht, Le Grand Bleu, can be seen in the above video in the waters of Antigua. Roman Abramovich either sold or gave this yacht to Shvidler in 2006. This clip was not shot by just any megayacht admirer, but rather a 'superyacht chef," Niall Harbison.

Harbison no longer considers himself a part of the “yachting business,” and instead works full time on his online cooking show. Curious foodies should check out his site for video recipes. His blog shares some of his megayacht musings, such as his all-time favorite yacht.

Mercury Rising

Boaters may be crying over surging fuel prices, but if fish could smile, they certainly would.

In Tokyo, Japan, the tuna fishing cooperative union may decide to stop approximately eighty fishing boats from pursuing big eye and yellow fin tuna, two staples of sushi bars. The high fuel prices combined with the already-depleted population of tuna virtually eliminate any possibility of garnering a profit. The fishermen would be advised to cease their journey to the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Blackbeard Pirate Festival

The ninth annual Blackbeard Pirate Festival will once again unfold in downtown Hampton, Virginia. It’s an event suitable for the entire family (even pets) with provided entertainment for children, such as historical reenactments and a treasure hunt. Meanwhile, yacht enthusiasts can go to appreciate vessels of the past. Tall ships will be in display along the waterfront, in addition to two-full scale replica vessels on which the reenactment of Blackbeards’s battle against Lt. Maynard will take place. Go to celebrate the waterfront’s history with fun, eighteenth century-inspired activities, costumes, and ships. The festival occurs from May 30th to June 1st. Friday’s main event is a Grand Pirates Ball. Saturday evening will close with a fireworks spectacular beginning at 9:30.

Those looking for dock space during the Blackbeard Festival should call marinas near this downtown location to confirm details and availability – such as, Downtown Hampton Public Piers (757/727-1276), Customs House Marina (757-868-9375), Bluewater Marina (757-732-6774), and Sunset Boating Center (757-722-3325).