Coast Gaurd Stops Crude-Sucking Barges

[applecorped]

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-gov-bobby-jindals-wishes-crude/story?id=10946379

"The Coast Guard came and shut them down," Jindal said. "You got men on the barges in the oil, and they have been told by the Coast Guard, 'Cease and desist. Stop sucking up that oil.'"
A Coast Guard representative told ABC News today that it shares the same goal as the governor.
"We are all in this together. The enemy is the oil," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dan Lauer.
But the Coast Guard ordered the stoppage because of reasons that Jindal found frustrating. The Coast Guard needed to confirm that there were fire extinguishers and life vests on board, and then it had trouble contacting the people who built the barges."




The Coast Gaurd = IDF! :boxedin:

[theprestige]

You'd think that, in the middle of the Worst Environmental Disaster Ever, the U.S. government would find better things to do than interfere with cleanup efforts.

But then, I'm not convinced that it's really such a big deal. I mean, Bobby Jindal's hopping mad, but he's a Republican politician, so we can safely dismiss his concerns.

As for executive branch, they don't seem to be all that interested in executing much in the way of cleanup. And don't tell me they can't do any more: If it's a question of resources, surely the U.S. government can come up with resources.

Manpower? Mobilize the National Guard! Re-form the CCC! Seriously, if ever there was a need in this country for the CCC, wouldn't it be right now?

Money? How can we not have enough money? The government's been eager to spend^H^H^Hinvest Magical Future Money in all sorts of critical and non-critical things over the past 18 months. Why not this?

Equipment? Why not spend Magical Future Money on a crash program to ramp up American industry? Kill two birds with one stone?

Given the Executive's current level of execution, I'm beginning to wonder if the country is already fully tapped out and can't possibly do anything more... or else the problem isn't really that bad after all, and the current level of effort is more than sufficient unto the task at hand.

Clearly we have Coast Guard to spare for auditing life jackets on cleanup barges, so things in Florida and Louisiana can't be that bad. Right?

[lionking]

Is the Coast Gaurd anything like the Holy Gourd of Jerusalem?:p

[leftysergeant]

But the Coast Guard ordered the stoppage because of reasons that Jindal found frustrating. The Coast Guard needed to confirm that there were fire extinguishers and life vests on board, and then it had trouble contacting the people who built the barges."

The Coast Guard did what they were supposed to do. If those barges went out without safety gear, whoever sent them out needs to go to jail for reckless endangerment.

Have you learned nothing from the fire and the people who died at the onset of this catastrophe?

(On second thought, maybe I am demanding too much of a conservatives mental processes.)

[Travis]

Yeah, good luck with a new CCC. If you think constant warnings of "OMG! Communism!" are bad now just try and get a new CCC going.

[joobz]

SUCK UP THE OIL!!! SAFETY BE DAMNED!!!*



*unless the boats catch the oil on fire and set the beach ablaze....at which point we can hear about how terrible Obama was for letting the beach catch fire...

[leftysergeant]

It seems that the wingnuts here are cool with killing more working schlubs and setting an occassional boat or ten on fire just to meet a schedule.

Don't let the fact that this whole screwed-up mess was the result of disregard for safety and common sense in the first place. We're talking about MONEY here. What's the lives of a few dozen working people compared to that?:rolleyes:

[Noztradamus]

The Coast Guard did what they were supposed to do. If those barges went out without safety gear, whoever sent them out needs to go to jail for reckless endangerment.

Have you learned nothing from the fire and the people who died at the onset of this catastrophe?

(On second thought, maybe I am demanding too much of a conservatives mental processes.)
Just how long does it take to physically inspect each barge to confirm the presence of lifejackets and fire extinguishers? It's not rocket surgery. I'm sure the Coastguard has people who know what a lifejacket looks like.

[uk_dave]

Just how long does it take to physically inspect each barge to confirm the presence of lifejackets and fire extinguishers? It's not rocket surgery. I'm sure the Coastguard has people who know what a lifejacket looks like.

Sooooooo what're you saying? The Coast Guard is deliberately obstructing attempts to clean up the oil spill for......... nefarious ...... reasons?

[Travis]

I think the Coast Guard is just covering their ass since a huge portion of what's going on is ostensibly under their control. Imagine the fallout if one of those barges did sink with no life jackets on it.

[TragicMonkey]

Odd, I thought the Coast Guard would be in favor of crude sucking. The Navy certainly is.

[The Painter]

I think the Coast Guard is just covering their ass since a huge portion of what's going on is ostensibly under their control. Imagine the fallout if one of those barges did sink with no life jackets on it.

Why do you automatically assume there are no life jackets? I would assume there are life jackets, and let them help. I would not let bureaucracy take the lead here.

[leftysergeant]

Just how long does it take to physically inspect each barge to confirm the presence of lifejackets and fire extinguishers?

I would need a bit more information to answer that. Based on my experiences in both military and civilian life, however, I can see several reasons why this process might take longer than usual. They may be inspecting more than just the minimal safety gear. They may also be inspecting the barges for seaworthiness.

Wouldn't surprise me a bit if they found a lot of safety gigs that could dead-line a barge, or a fleet of them. (You might have noticed that occupational safety got kind of short-changed by some brain-damaged moron who kind of filled safety agencies with useless ideolouges who just happened to have the right political connections or went to the right whackadoodle Christian college.) I have occassionally worked in a small harbor facility as a laborer, fire watcher or stevador, and occassionally noted some discrepency that might not have been noticeable to anyone who did not have prior fire fighting or safety inspection experience as I have. Some of them led to shutting down an operation until the problem was fixed. Sometimes it was a reall pain in the butt for the welders over whom I stood fire guard, but most of the appreciated what I was doing. Skippers always liked it. Trust me, you do not want to take a 60 year old ship up to the Bering Straits with a problem that should have been addressed while docked in Tacoma.

But, let's face it, there are owners of ships and all manner of expensive production equipment who don't give a rat's as long as their insurance policies are up to date. Pride in doing the job right doesn't put money in your pocket, and, in some cases, is seen as just taking it out of your hide.

That's why there is all this brown stuff meandering about the Gulf of Mexcico killing critters in the first place.

Maybe that's a big part of what is wrong with the world in general and with capitalism in particular these days. Too many young punks with MBAs and no common sense who mistake themselves for experts in too many areas of a business who think they can get away with cutting corners.

[leftysergeant]

Why do you automatically assume there are no life jackets? I would assume there are life jackets, and let them help. I would not let bureaucracy take the lead here.

People who think like you are specificly the problem here.

[Beerina]

It seems that the wingnuts here are cool with killing more working schlubs and setting an occassional boat or ten on fire just to meet a schedule.

Don't let the fact that this whole screwed-up mess was the result of disregard for safety and common sense in the first place. We're talking about MONEY here. What's the lives of a few dozen working people compared to that?:rolleyes:

God, the class-warefareishness of it all. Nice!

[Beerina]

Why do you automatically assume there are no life jackets? I would assume there are life jackets, and let them help. I would not let bureaucracy take the lead here.

People who think like you are specificly the problem here.


Utterly precious, you are.

[PixyMisa]

CCC (http://www.all-acronyms.com/CCC/Combat_Camel_Corps/291596)? Combat Camel Corps?

[joobz]

From what I can tell, the barge had a 24hr dock before it was put into service. I agree that that seems like an excessive length of time to get a ship qualified for use.

However, I do not think the fault is with actually requiring an inspection.

[leftysergeant]

Utterly precious, you are.

Are you one of those people who think it is okay to cut corners on safety just because there is a big mess to clean up? That would make you part of the problem, too.

This all started because some idiot in a suit thought it was more imoprtant to get the job done on time than to get it done right. How many more people have to die because people with no clue how stuff works can't wait to get it done?

Your input into this is not very useful.

[leftysergeant]

God, the class-warefareishness of it all. Nice!

Yes, exactly. The suits think that the working people are expendable. That's bass-ackwards of reality.

[joobz]

Are you one of those people who think it is okay to cut corners on safety just because there is a big mess to clean up?

I do not think the situation is so binary. (Safety/no safety) As I said, it seems they shored the barges for 24 hours. I can see this being a bureaucratic screwup. After all, 24 hours doesn't sound bad to a person at a desk. However, to the people in the field, you might as well have told them they had to wait until next year.

It's my experience that you NEVER delay people who are wanting to work. That doesn't mean you cut corners. That means you do what ever it takes to get things done NOW. If you have to bug people at home, you do it. If you have to get off your own butt and make sure it is happening, you do it.

The moment you introduce delays, you demotivate the people who want to work, which never ends well.


I'm going to play oracle now(million dollars here I come..):
What I guess happened is that ships came in near office closing time or after (4pm..ish) and the person in charge of contacting ship manufacturer wasn't able to reach them. So they decided to wait until the next day so they can confirm the ship's construction.

[coalesce]

Maybe that's a big part of what is wrong with the world in general and with capitalism in particular these days. Too many young punks with MBAs and no common sense who mistake themselves for experts in too many areas of a business who think they can get away with cutting corners.

When hasn't that been true?

Michael

[leftysergeant]

When hasn't that been true?

Michael

I guess it's just more noticeable now that people in manmagement need never have a clue what the corporation makes or does.

[ANTPogo]

Why would the Coast Guard do this?

After all, it's not like there's precedent for oil-collecting vessels to catch fire and spill their collected oil back into the Gulf during the currently-underway cleanup efforts (http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-15/bp-suspends-recovery-of-gulf-oil-after-ship-fire-update2-.html) or anything.

[lomiller]

This smells of the same hypocrisy we are seeing wrt to the spill itself. People yell and scream that something should be allowed with little or no oversight but get up in arms when something goes wrong.

[Unabogie]

Why would the Coast Guard do this?

After all, it's not like there's precedent for oil-collecting vessels to catch fire and spill their collected oil back into the Gulf during the currently-underway cleanup efforts (http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-15/bp-suspends-recovery-of-gulf-oil-after-ship-fire-update2-.html) or anything.

Why do you hate America?

[funk de fino]

This is brilliant. BP and their sub contractors caused the biggest spill in the US hostory by not following regulations and standards. As part of the clean up we allow people on barges to do exactly the same thing?

Some people need to take their head out of their posterior here. OSHA or Coastguard regulations trump all in this case. OK?

I wonder who would get the blame if one of these barges sank or caught fire?

[joobz]

I wonder who would get the blame if one of these barges sank or caught fire?

If you are conservative: Obama
If you are liberal: BP

[dudalb]

For the record, the Coast Guard often writes up small pleasure boats for not having safety gear.
One of the things that scares me is well intentions but hopelessly amaterish attempts to help clean up the spill will get people killed and screw up the whole effort.

[theprestige]

If you are conservative: Obama
If you are liberal: BP
Wrong: I'm a conservative, and I'd blame the people operating the barge.

But this thread is full of stuff making my point: Apparently we're not doing all the cleanup we can because there's a shortage of fire extinguishers and life preservers.

So why isn't the Coast Guard cruising around with cases of life preservers and fire extinguishers, handing them off to every under-equipped cleanup crew they find. "Here's some safety gear, carry on!"

I mean, either the Federal Government is that tapped out, it can't possibly do even one bit more than it's already doing, to solve this problem. Those Coast Guard crews out there shutting down cleanup barges? They're already operating at their uttermost limit. Tasking them with providing additional safety gear would be unrealistic.

Or maybe it's a question of funds. Maybe the government is so broke that it can't afford a few hundred more life preservers, a few dozen more fire extinguishers.

Whatever it is, we must understand the government is doing all it possibly can here. If the cleanup efforts fall short, at least we know there was no possible way to get more cleanup barges safely out there in the Gulf. And if we could have done it, but didn't? Well, it's all BP's fault.

[leftysergeant]

Wrong: I'm a conservative, and I'd blame the people operating the barge.

But this thread is full of stuff making my point: Apparently we're not doing all the cleanup we can because there's a shortage of fire extinguishers and life preservers.

Actually, it is because we still have to rely on private industry and they are not up to the job.

So why isn't the Coast Guard cruising around with cases of life preservers and fire extinguishers, handing them off to every under-equipped cleanup crew they find. "Here's some safety gear, carry on!"

I mean, either the Federal Government is that tapped out, it can't possibly do even one bit more than it's already doing, to solve this problem. Those Coast Guard crews out there shutting down cleanup barges? They're already operating at their uttermost limit. Tasking them with providing additional safety gear would be unrealistic.

Whyisn't BP provisioning them? It's BP's fault that they are needed in the first place.

Or maybe it's a question of funds. Maybe the government is so broke that it can't afford a few hundred more life preservers, a few dozen more fire extinguishers.

You seem to fail to grasp how badly eight years of the most corrupt presidency since Harding hurt the Coast Guard.

Whatever it is, we must understand the government is doing all it possibly can here. If the cleanup efforts fall short, at least we know there was no possible way to get more cleanup barges safely out there in the Gulf. And if we could have done it, but didn't? Well, it's all BP's fault.

Exactly my point.

There can be no compromise on crew safety. That's what got us to where we are right now.

[joobz]

Wrong: I'm a conservative, and I'd blame the people operating the barge.

But this thread is full of stuff making my point: Apparently we're not doing all the cleanup we can because there's a shortage of fire extinguishers and life preservers.

So why isn't the Coast Guard cruising around with cases of life preservers and fire extinguishers, handing them off to every under-equipped cleanup crew they find. "Here's some safety gear, carry on!"
maybe I'm misinterpreting something, but I don't think the extinguisher/life vest is the totality of the inspection. They mentioned a need to contact "the people who built the barges". If this is simply extention of supply confirmation, then that's stupid. If it was to ensure barge oil-cleanup worthiness, that's something else.

[leftysergeant]

They mentioned a need to contact "the people who built the barges". If this is simply extention of supply confirmation, then that's stupid. If it was to ensure barge oil-cleanup worthiness, that's something else.

This suggests to me that they found a violation.

I do not want to hear the lunatic right whining about "why can't the Coast Guard just hand them the equipment?"

If they dispatched a vessel not fit and properly equipped, they are guilty of exactly the same sort of actions and attitudes that caused this mess. They do not even have a right to have an improperly-equipped vessel on the water and not tied firmly to the dock. That simple.

[theprestige]

If you are conservative: Obama
If you are liberal: BP

maybe I'm misinterpreting something, but I don't think the extinguisher/life vest is the totality of the inspection. They mentioned a need to contact "the people who built the barges". If this is simply extention of supply confirmation, then that's stupid. If it was to ensure barge oil-cleanup worthiness, that's something else.
That's a fair point, actually. I guess I got a little carried away.

Let me see if I can phrase my questions a little more realistically:

What would it take to get more government-approved oil-cleanup-worthy barges into the Gulf?

Whatever it would take to do that, why aren't we doing it?

Is it that we're already doing everything we possibly can, and we just can't do any more?

Is it that the problem isn't really big enough to justify any more effort than we're already making?

Is it that it's all BP's fault, so we don't really need to do anything?

[joobz]

That's a fair point, actually. I guess I got a little carried away.no problem. My liberal/conservative post was simply pithy observation. The reality is most people will assign blame proportionally.

Let me see if I can phrase my questions a little more realistically:

What would it take to get more government-approved oil-cleanup-worthy barges into the Gulf?

Whatever it would take to do that, why aren't we doing it?

Is it that we're already doing everything we possibly can, and we just can't do any more?

Is it that the problem isn't really big enough to justify any more effort than we're already making?

Is it that it's all BP's fault, so we don't really need to do anything?

great questions. I hope they get answered.

[leftysergeant]

What would it take to get more government-approved oil-cleanup-worthy barges into the Gulf?

Tell the owners to get their vessels seaworthy and send the bill to BP.

Whatever it would take to do that, why aren't we doing it?

Because private industry is not up to the task, and the Shrub broke government so that we do not have the funds available to pay for the equipment needed.

Is it that we're already doing everything we possibly can, and we just can't do any more?

Given the limitations of a capitalist society, yeah, that's about it.

Is it that it's all BP's fault, so we don't really need to do anything?

BPand the US government can't just pull the needed resources out of each other's butts.

[AlBell]

maybe I'm misinterpreting something, but I don't think the extinguisher/life vest is the totality of the inspection. They mentioned a need to contact "the people who built the barges". If this is simply extention of supply confirmation, then that's stupid. If it was to ensure barge oil-cleanup worthiness, that's something else.
At any rate, just another example of "effective government oversight", right?

[leftysergeant]

At any rate, just another example of "effective government oversight", right?

Yeah. The Coast Guard is there to see that no vessel improperly equipped for the mission gets to the scene.

Now, unless you can show that there were no discrepencies, you have nothing to criticize.

[rwguinn]

At any rate, just another example of "effective government oversight", right?
I expect a certain level of minimum assurance that things are going to be safe.
Just as I would if "Joe's Transportation company" had shown up after Katrina with a bunch of buses with recap tires, no safety equipment, unlicensed drivers, and/or no maintenance records, the Feds need to make sure that they meet minimums.

[leftysergeant]

I expect a certain level of minimum assurance that things are going to be safe.
Just as I would if "Joe's Transportation company" had shown up after Katrina with a bunch of buses with recap tires, no safety equipment, unlicensed drivers, and/or no maintenance records, the Feds need to make sure that they meet minimums.

When we triangulate to the same position in this sort of matter, I think the point is bloody well made.

[AlBell]

I expect a certain level of minimum assurance that things are going to be safe.
Just as I would if "Joe's Transportation company" had shown up after Katrina with a bunch of buses with recap tires, no safety equipment, unlicensed drivers, and/or no maintenance records, the Feds need to make sure that they meet minimums.
In this case a couple possible areas existed.

Fire extinguishers & lifevests, and basic seaworthiness.

The first could have been handled by onboard inspection. The second is more problematic yet physical inspection would have helped; waiting on the manufacturers specs seems ludicrous.

And if Joe's Transportation was moving badly needed supplies to a disaster area, even Joe might get cut some slack in a rational world.

Of course "Rational World" and government oversight offer added oxymoron choices.

[leftysergeant]

In this case a couple possible areas existed.

Fire extinguishers & lifevests, and basic seaworthiness.

The first could have been handled by onboard inspection. The second is more problematic yet physical inspection would have helped; waiting on the manufacturers specs seems ludicrous. Only to someone clueless about marine safety.

And if Joe's Transportation was moving badly needed supplies to a disaster area, even Joe might get cut some slack in a rational world.

Based on my experience in military logistics and public safety, HELL NO. Joe is just going to have to hand his load off to someone else until he fixes his stuff. We don't need an extra dead body or twenty lying around under foot.

Of course "Rational World" and government oversight offer added oxymoron choices.

Stop that. That brown sludge should tell the world how well private industry makes public safety decisions, especially when they control the public safety apparatus.

[rwguinn]

In this case a couple possible areas existed.

Fire extinguishers & lifevests, and basic seaworthiness.

The first could have been handled by onboard inspection. The second is more problematic yet physical inspection would have helped; waiting on the manufacturers specs seems ludicrous.

And if Joe's Transportation was moving badly needed supplies to a disaster area, even Joe might get cut some slack in a rational world.

Of course "Rational World" and government oversight offer added oxymoron choices.
I was referring to the Evacuation process, not delivering supplies.
If "joe" had managed to get food/water/medical that far, I would thank him, but never allow passengers on his buses.

[Cleon]

You'd think that, in the middle of the Worst Environmental Disaster Ever, the U.S. government would find better things to do than interfere with cleanup efforts.

But then, I'm not convinced that it's really such a big deal. I mean, Bobby Jindal's hopping mad, but he's a Republican politician, so we can safely dismiss his concerns.

As for executive branch, they don't seem to be all that interested in executing much in the way of cleanup. And don't tell me they can't do any more: If it's a question of resources, surely the U.S. government can come up with resources.

Manpower? Mobilize the National Guard! Re-form the CCC! Seriously, if ever there was a need in this country for the CCC, wouldn't it be right now?

Money? How can we not have enough money? The government's been eager to spend^H^H^Hinvest Magical Future Money in all sorts of critical and non-critical things over the past 18 months. Why not this?

Equipment? Why not spend Magical Future Money on a crash program to ramp up American industry? Kill two birds with one stone?

Given the Executive's current level of execution, I'm beginning to wonder if the country is already fully tapped out and can't possibly do anything more... or else the problem isn't really that bad after all, and the current level of effort is more than sufficient unto the task at hand.

Clearly we have Coast Guard to spare for auditing life jackets on cleanup barges, so things in Florida and Louisiana can't be that bad. Right?

You're speaking as though the "US Government" is a monolithic entity, and that inspection of this vessel in particular was a conscious decision by someone high up in the administration. For what purpose, I have no idea; maybe Obama wants the Gulf Coast to be ruined for decades?

Personally, I think it's much more likely that this was routine USCG activity, and some right-leaning politicians are trying to make an issue out of it.

[leftysergeant]

I was referring to the Evacuation process, not delivering supplies.
If "joe" had managed to get food/water/medical that far, I would thank him, but never allow passengers on his buses.

Come to think of it, I recall a bus evacuating NOLA or one of the cities in Texas that caught fire on the way out of town and killed a few elderly people. I think it was one that Brownie had chartered just for that purpose

[Dr. Keith]

Come to think of it, I recall a bus evacuating NOLA or one of the cities in Texas that caught fire on the way out of town and killed a few elderly people. I think it was one that Brownie had chartered just for that purpose

It was heading from Houston to Dallas. Killed more than a few.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9449949/

[theprestige]

You're speaking as though the "US Government" is a monolithic entity, and that inspection of this vessel in particular was a conscious decision by someone high up in the administration. For what purpose, I have no idea; maybe Obama wants the Gulf Coast to be ruined for decades?
I apologize for conflating this specific incident with the government's response in general--particularly the Executive branch of government, which is responsible for, well, "executing".

For me, this incident raises the question, are there enough standards-compliant cleanup vessels in the Gulf already, or not? If not, why not? If so, why is the current number "enough"?

Personally, I think it's much more likely that this was routine USCG activity, and some right-leaning politicians are trying to make an issue out of it.
Fair enough, and I don't disagree. But given that the situation in the Gulf right now is hardly "routine", this incident raises for me the question, is "routine" USCG activity appropriate right now, especially when it interferes with cleanup efforts?

I mean, I understand that these policies are in place for a good reason. I understand that we should not lose our heads in a crisis, and start making foolish mistakes out of panic. But it's been sixty days now. Sixty days for the USCG to transition from routinely delaying cleanup efforts to proactively expediting cleanup efforts. Why haven't they made such a transition? Or was this incident part of such a transition? Or does the problem not really merit such a transition?

Again it comes back to whether or not this is really such a big deal; and if it is really such a big deal, whether or not the government^H^H^Hrelevant government agencies are responding appropriately.

[leftysergeant]

For me, this incident raises the question, are there enough standards-compliant cleanup vessels in the Gulf already, or not? If not, why not? If so, why is the current number "enough"?

There are not enough, for the very same reason the well blew out in the first place. The people who occassion the need for cleanup vessels are too damned greedy to pay for them and would rather risk the life of the oceans than reduce their profit margins.

But given that the situation in the Gulf right now is hardly "routine", this incident raises for me the question, is "routine" USCG activity appropriate right now, especially when it interferes with cleanup efforts?

Nobody has the right to float an unseaworthy vessel or violate reasonable safety rules on an oill rig under any circumstances. That simple.

Again it comes back to whether or not this is really such a big deal; and if it is really such a big deal, whether or not the government^H^H^Hrelevant government agencies are responding appropriately.

In this case, the Coast Guard is responding appropriately, as far as I have been able to determine. The owner of the vessel has had since it was launched to bring it up to standards. If it is not up to standards, it is a hazard to the operation. The CG does not have time to be rescuing people from a sinking vessel that should not have sunk, nor has a corporation the right to profit from the money saved by shaving expenses in a way that increases the risk of death or injury to workers. That's the way it works in a rational world. Emergency workers who panic and allow stupidity to go uncorrected can screw up an operation.

[AlBell]

I apologize for conflating this specific incident with the government's response in general--particularly the Executive branch of government, which is responsible for, well, "executing".

For me, this incident raises the question, are there enough standards-compliant cleanup vessels in the Gulf already, or not? If not, why not? If so, why is the current number "enough"?


Fair enough, and I don't disagree. But given that the situation in the Gulf right now is hardly "routine", this incident raises for me the question, is "routine" USCG activity appropriate right now, especially when it interferes with cleanup efforts?

I mean, I understand that these policies are in place for a good reason. I understand that we should not lose our heads in a crisis, and start making foolish mistakes out of panic. But it's been sixty days now. Sixty days for the USCG to transition from routinely delaying cleanup efforts to proactively expediting cleanup efforts. Why haven't they made such a transition? Or was this incident part of such a transition? Or does the problem not really merit such a transition?

Again it comes back to whether or not this is really such a big deal; and if it is really such a big deal, whether or not the ...relevant government agencies are responding appropriately.
http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=94913

Many contractors strive to help the BP cleanup; but, federal insurance statutes require complex insurance policies not available from most insurers. Oil spill cleanup contractors must show proof of insurance with policies designed to provide pollution, third party liability and federally mandated workers' compensation coverages. These insurance requirements slow down the process of getting contractors for these jobs. The more quickly oil is cleaned the more quickly the Gulf Coast economy will recover and less likely our beautiful wetlands and beaches will be soiled. Contractors now have a one stop solution for adhering to the federally-mandated insurance provisions."
That is, a profit driven group expedites meeting govt requirements. LOL.

[leftysergeant]

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=94913


That is, a profit driven group expedites meeting govt requirements. LOL.

BP should have been required to have the equipment in place and seaworthy, individually or in concert with other oil companies.

In the meantime, there is no justification for endangering the lives of workers. (Ptomaine Tony has already shown how much BP cares about that.)

There is never an excuse for preventible industrial injuries, and waiving the requirement that vessels be seaworthy and insured is one line that the corporate butt-kissers in the US government have not yet crossed, nor should they.

Nobody should die for BP. I would be cool with BP dying for the people they have already harmed, as long as they do not disipate the corporate assets before they go.

[Travis]

Just how many of these oil collecting barges are there worldwide? I could easily foresee there not being nearly enough of them in total existence since they're generally a vessel kept on hand only as mandated by regulations.

[easycruise]

So why isn't the Coast Guard cruising around with cases of life preservers and fire extinguishers, handing them off to every under-equipped cleanup crew they find. "Here's some safety gear, carry on!" Maybe the government is so broke that it can't afford a few hundred more life preservers, a few dozen more fire extinguishers.


Such simple solutions are way beyond the ability of this horrible president we have now. Turns out, the Coast Guard wasn't all that interested in doing the inspections after all, since they stopped doing them soon after the uproar. Governor Jindal..."On our way to Buras this morning, we received word from the Coast Guard that they no longer needed to do inspections and that vacuum barge operations could continue. The frustration here is that we spent weeks talking to the Coast Guard about this new, common sense idea for cleaning out the marsh.""

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/local-news/107-local-news/6375-coast-guard-barge

Wow. just Wow. And we want these fools to run our health care system?

"“It is frustrating because it doesn’t seem like the left hand knows what the right hand is doing. There is no streamlined system here. This is why we keep stressing that we need to see more of a sense of urgency from the Coast Guard, federal officials and BP. We are in a war here – we are in a war against this oil that absolutely threatens our way of life.""

And now the public thinks that Bush handled Katrina better than Obama is handling the oil spill. This survey from a left-leaning public opinion org.

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/06/fallout-from-spill.html

Is it possible for this Odumbo president we have to get any worse than he is already?

But, back to the inspections, it turns out that the Coast Guard might have been overcompensating for their lax inspections in the past. Scolded by Congress as reported here...

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/17/nation/la-na-oil-inspections-20100618

[leftysergeant]

But, back to the inspections, it turns out that the Coast Guard might have been overcompensating for their lax inspections in the past. Scolded by Congress as reported here...

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/17/nation/la-na-oil-inspections-20100618

The Coast Guard may be relishing thew
fact that they no longer answer to jerks appointed by the Shrub, and are going after the ship owners who never bothered doing things right. The is no right to dispatch a vessel that does not have the right equipment. It is on the owners to get it right the first time out of the box. Don't expect us to pay for thier screw-ups.

[JoeTheJuggler]

This story seems all about spin.

You could just as easily tell the story (a lot less dramatically, I'm afraid) by saying that the Coast Guard ordered a clean up barge to cease and desist until it came into compliance with safety regulations or at least until its owners could be contacted.

Of course Hayward would insist that the only thing unsafe is likely to be the galley. ;)

[Shalamar]

Such simple solutions are way beyond the ability of this horrible president we have now. Turns out, the Coast Guard wasn't all that interested in doing the inspections after all, since they stopped doing them soon after the uproar. Governor Jindal..."On our way to Buras this morning, we received word from the Coast Guard that they no longer needed to do inspections and that vacuum barge operations could continue. The frustration here is that we spent weeks talking to the Coast Guard about this new, common sense idea for cleaning out the marsh.""

Please show me where Obama told the Coast Guard to not hand out Life Preserves and Fire Extinguishers to the Oil Barges. Or where Obama told the Coast Guard anything regarding, oh.. I don't know... standard operating procedures?

In fact, I would be willing to bet, that if Obama authorized the coast guard to hand out life Preservers and Fire extinguishers, you would be blasting the president for spending more money.

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/local-news/107-local-news/6375-coast-guard-barge

Wow. just Wow. And we want these fools to run our health care system?


Good thing the government would not be running the Health Care system.
But then, you can keep believing the lies of the right regarding that all you want.


"“It is frustrating because it doesn’t seem like the left hand knows what the right hand is doing. There is no streamlined system here. This is why we keep stressing that we need to see more of a sense of urgency from the Coast Guard, federal officials and BP. We are in a war here – we are in a war against this oil that absolutely threatens our way of life.""

The oil spill is very very very bad. The coast guard was trying to do its job, which includes making sure that sea-going vessels meet requirements. It may be a good thing they are being waived. It may not be a good thing. We shall see.


And now the public thinks that Bush handled Katrina better than Obama is handling the oil spill. This survey from a left-leaning public opinion org.

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/06/fallout-from-spill.html

The public is known to not have a good memory. You really cannot compare Katrina and the Oil spill. I would still like to know what president Obama is supposed to do personally regarding the oil spill. Give money to BP to clean it? Magically create devices that will clean it up?
Anything he would do, you will still blast him. It doesn't matter what he does, you would still refuse to give any praise.


Is it possible for this Odumbo president we have to get any worse than he is already?


Despite what the movies say, your hate will not make you stronger.

[joobz]

In this case a couple possible areas existed.

Fire extinguishers & lifevests, and basic seaworthiness.

The first could have been handled by onboard inspection. The second is more problematic yet physical inspection would have helped; waiting on the manufacturers specs seems ludicrous.
Don't forget it needs to be able to handle the oil drenched ocean and have the proper equipment to suck up sludge.

And if Joe's Transportation was moving badly needed supplies to a disaster area, even Joe might get cut some slack in a rational world.
Yes, and in that same rational world if Joe's transportation resulted in injury to people or property, that would be proof that those managing the disaster were inept.



Of course "Rational World" and government oversight offer added oxymoron choices.
And armchair quarterbacking is always better....

[johnny karate]

Turns out, the Coast Guard wasn't all that interested in doing the inspections after all, since they stopped doing them soon after the uproar.

Step 1: Criticize your opponent's actions.

Step 2: When your opponent acquiesces, criticize them for backing down.

As insidious as I find such tactics, I have to admit, that's some damn fine politicking.