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North American Marine Environment Protection Association NAMEPA Preserving the marine environment by promoting marine industry best practices
SEA WORTHY NEWS
December 2016
In this issue:

OBOCS - Oil Containment and Deployment System
OBOCSOBOCS - Oil Containment and Deployment System
 
Proactive Approach to Spill Response

Spills happen.  It is why towels are kept in the kitchen, babies wear bibs, and painters use drop cloths.  These proactive and immediate approaches do not prevent a spill from occurring, but they do make clean up easier, less damaging, and less costly. 
 
In the shipping industry, when a spill occurs, a ship's crew often waits hours for a response team to arrive.  As 90% of spill loss occurs in the first four hours, containing a spill is a race against the clock.  The time between a spill and containment is the single most important factor affecting the amount of oil that can be removed from the environment. 
 
Quick containment is an environmental issue because spilled oil is poisonous to living things.  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration, spilled oil affects 'organisms both from internal exposure to oil through ingestion or inhalation and from external exposure through skin and eye irritation. Oil can also smother some small species of fish or invertebrates and coat feathers and fur, reducing birds' and mammals' ability to maintain their body temperatures.'  Thus, the longer a crew must wait for a response team, the more potential harm there is to the marine and coastal environments.
 
Recognizing that solutions to a spill must be immediate, Captain Michael Miller, founder and Vice President of OBOCS, created the On Board Oil Containment System (OBOCS).  OBOCS offers the marine and oil & gas industries the capability to control an oil spill at the onset by having boom on the vessel in the shipping lane ready for immediate deployment, making the difference between a contained spill and a costly massive cleanup.  
 
OBOCS' simplicity is in part what makes it so unique. It uses existing assets and processes already familiar to the crew without the need for external equipment. And, because the system automatically deflates as it is returned to the reel, it can be used for training and maintenance purposes.

In recognition of the positive impact this unique product has on the marine and coastal environments, OBOCS was awarded NAMEPA's Marine Environment Protection Award for Innovation at NAMEPA's Annual Awards Dinner on October 27th.
 
To see how this innovative product works, click on the video above.
 
For more information about OBOCS, visit www.obocs.com or contact Julie Kuchta, President of OBOCS, at 504-799-2218.
 
ShareS  H  A  R  E       Y  O  U  R       S  T  O  R  Y

Would you like to share what you or your company is doing to protect the environment?  Whether it is a new product, new practices, or a community event, we want to hear about it.  Let us know what you are doing and we may feature it in Sea Worthy News or on the NAMEPA Blog.  Email BlogEditor@namepa.net. 
Ports American Association of Ports Stericycle Latin American Congress of Ports Alejandro Trillo NAMEPA
Alejandro Trillo (far right) was a featured speaker at the 25th AAPA Latin American Congress of Ports

North American Marine Environment Protection Association NAMEPA Coral Bleaching
Latin American Ports Discuss Their Long Term Strategies
November 29 - December 2
   
The 25th AAPA Latin American Congress of Ports was held in Merida, Mexico on November 29th - December 2nd. Under the motto "Looking to the Future:  The Agenda of Latin American Ports for the Next 25 Years", the a cademic program focused on the port sector over the long term, discussing matters that the Latin American industry must be prepared to face under the different scenarios that will unfold in coming decades.

Alejandro Trillo, Stericycle's Director of Regulated Maritime Sustainability and a NAMEPA Board Member, gave a feature presentation on "Ports of the Future:  Challenges of Port Sustainability".  In his presentation, Trillo noted that 'sustainability has become increasingly politically and socially important.'  He discussed the triple bottom line of economic prosperity, environmental protection, and social responsibility as it relates to the future of ports.  To download Trillo's presentation,  CLICK HERE.
 
The event brought together over 400 industry leaders during the 4 days of conferences, commercial displays, social activities, and camaraderie meetings.  For more information about the event, visit
http://www.aapa2016mexico.com/en/
CoralGlobal Weirding Part 2:  The Coral Catastrophe
by Julia Zeh
Coral reefs are the rain forests of the sea. Full of diversity and severely endangered, corals play a very similar role in reefs to the role of trees in rain forests. Corals provide a backbone for the most lush, colorful, and productive ecosystems on the planet.

For humans, reefs buffer shorelines, provide homes for important fisheries species, are important tourist destinations, and can provide novel medicines. According to a study done in 1997, the economic worth of coral reefs adds up to approximately $375 billion each year, even though reefs only cover 1% of the earth's surface. Yet all of this value is at risk under the influence of climate change. 


Other blog posts:

Chapter

Your Membership Makes A Difference

Students "Save Our Seas" with NAMEPA Chapters

 

North American Marine Environment Protection Association NAMEPA Campus Chapter
The Ecology Club of the Boston School in Panama has joined efforts with NAMEPA Chapters to create awareness about the protection of our planet.
High school and college students throughout North America are joining efforts with NAMEPA Chapters.  Thanks to the financial support of our members, NAMEPA is delighted to be helping these students in their efforts to protect the environment and share their knowledge with their communities. 

While some students have chosen to
establish new NAMEPA Chapters at their schools, others have incorporated NAMEPA's mission into their Ecology, Mariner, Biology, and even Scuba clubs. 

When students join the NAMEPA Chapter system, they gain free access to our vast network of resources and connections.  Whether it is information on how to coordinate a beach/waterfront cleanup, how to conduct hands-on lessons about the marine environment, or where to find marine industry career information, NAMEPA's Education Department and NAMEPA Members are ready to help. 
North American Marine Environment Protection Association NAMEPA Campus Chapter
North American Marine Environment Protection Association NAMEPA Campus Chapter
Ludlowe Chapter prevented two large bags of trash from entering the Long Island Sound

By connecting the students with our members in industry, government, NGOs, and the science sector, we expose them to real life marine environment experts.  In return, our members meet potential employees who are passionate about the marine environment. 

If you know a student who is passionate about the environment and would like to gain experience in leadership, public speaking, project management, science, current events, economics, or career development, encourage them to bring a NAMEPA Chapter to their school.  Contact m.hogue@namepa.net or go to www.namepa.net/start-a-chapter. 
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