America Refused International Help On The Oil Spill

[lostinblue 1,989]

http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-the-real-reason-america-refused-international-help-on-the-oil-spill-2010-6#ixzz0qSrbKO1T

Here's The Real Reason America Refused International Help On The Oil Spill

Despite the vow by President Obama to keep the Gulf oil spill a top priority until the damage is cleaned up, 50 days after the BP rig exploded, a definitive date and meaningful solution is yet to be determined for the worst oil spill in the U.S. history.

So, you would think if someone is willing to handle the clean-up with equipment and technology not available in the U.S., and finishes the job in shorter time than the current estimate, the U.S. should jump on the offer.

But it turned out to be quite the opposite.

U.S. Refused Help on Oil Spill

According to Foreign Policy, thirteen entities that had offered the U.S. oil spill assistance within about two weeks of the Horizon rig explosion. They were the governments of Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations.

The U.S. response - Thank you, but no thank you, we've got it.

"..While there is no need right now that the U.S. cannot meet, the U.S. Coast Guard is assessing these offers of assistance to see if there will be something which we will need in the near future."

Blame It On The Jones Act?

Separately, a Dutch news site De Standaard also reported Belgian and Dutch dredgers have technology in-house to fight the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but the Act Jones forbids them to work in the U.S.

A Belgian group--DEME-- contends it can clean up the oil in three to four months with specialty vessel and equipment, rather than an estimated nine months if done only by the U.S. The article noted there are no more than 5 or 6 of those ships in the world and the top specialist players are the two Belgian companies- DEME and De Nul - and their Dutch competitors.

The U.S. does not have the similar technology and vessel to accomplish the cleanup task because those ships would cost twice as much to build in the U.S. than in the Far East. The article further criticizes this "great technological delay" is a direct consequence of the Jones Act.

What Is The Jones Act?

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 is a United States Federal statute that regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and between U.S. ports. Section 27, also known as the Jones Act, deals with coastal shipping; and requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships, constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.

The purpose of the law is to support the U.S. merchant marine industry. Critics said that the legislation results in increased costs moving cargoes between U.S. ports, and in essence, is protectionism, Supporters of the Act maintain that the legislation is of strategic economic and wartime interest to the United States. .

European Service Sector - Offshore Subsea Specialist

As discussed in my analysis of the oil service sector, the European companies typically possess the knowhow in offshore and subsea; whereas their North American counterparts excel in onshore drilling and production technologies.

So, it is more than likely that European firms do have the expertise to clean up the spill quicker and more effectively as DEME asserts.

Since the Jones Act means the Belgian ship and personnel cannot work in the Gulf, it does seem the Act has inhibited technology and knowledge exchange & development, and possibly prevented a quicker response to the oil spill.

Jones Waiver Time

On the other hand, waivers of the Jones may be granted by the Administration in cases of national emergencies or in cases of strategic interest. It would appear the U.S. government's initial refusal to foreign help most likely stemmed from a mis-calculation of the scale and deepwater technological barriers for this unprecedented disaster, and/or perhaps ..... pride.

Whatever the rationale, and if De Standarrd's claim that the Jones Act forbids the European companies to help fight the spill is true, it is high time the U.S. government grant the Jones waiver, and let this be an international collaborative effort.

It's always better late than never.

[john & jean 37]

just another O bama mistake.

[alienlovechild 75]

On the other hand, waivers of the Jones may be granted by the Administration in cases of national emergencies or in cases of strategic interest. It would appear the U.S. government's initial refusal to foreign help most likely stemmed from a mis-calculation of the scale and deepwater technological barriers for this unprecedented disaster, and/or perhaps ..... pride.

Whatever the rationale, and if De Standarrd's claim that the Jones Act forbids the European companies to help fight the spill is true, it is high time the U.S. government grant the Jones waiver, and let this be an international collaborative effort.

Which Obama czar is in charge of the cleanup and does that individual know of this?

[trillium13 84]

Seems to me like we could use all the help we could get at this point.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

This would never have happened in Australia.

[Heracles 417]

This would never have happened in Australia.

Perhaps you missed the continuing and embarrassing epic failure of this catastrophe. I'll just add it to Katrina.

Geniuses like Spook here claim we're American! we don't need no stinking help. USA! USA! USA!. Day 52 of epic failure continues.

PS OT, funny how you didn't post about Chrysler or GM's huge recalls. After all, their cars only catch on fire.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Weird. I thought the conservatives wants to get away with international help since they always think about themselves rather helping another country in need. But, when the US is in need of help, they want the other countries to help.

Scratch my back, and I won't scratch yours.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Weird. I thought the conservatives wants to get away with international help since they always think about themselves rather helping another country in need. But, when the US is in need of help, they want the other countries to help.

Scratch my back, and I won't scratch yours.

Clean Water Act - Section 311

(A) If a discharge, or a substantial threat of a discharge, of oil or a hazardous substance from a vessel, offshore facility, or onshore facility is of such a size or character as to be a substantial threat to the public health or welfare of the United States (including but not limited to fish, shellfish, wildlife, other natural resources, and the public and private beaches and shorelines of the United States), the President shall direct all Federal, State, and private actions to remove the discharge or to mitigate or prevent the threat of the discharge.

(B) In carrying out this paragraph, the President may, without regard to any other provision of law governing contracting procedures or employment of personnel by the Federal Government–

(i) remove or arrange for the removal of the discharge, or mitigate or prevent the substantial threat of the discharge; and

(ii) remove and, if necessary, destroy a vessel discharging, or threatening to discharge, by whatever means are available.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Australia didn't offer to help and is selfish as usual in regards to helping in a disaster. They never made good on their tsunami pledges either. And that "it's all about me" attitude comes through loud and clear on this forum too.

[Ban Hammer 14,364]

Australia didn't offer to help and is selfish as usual in regards to helping in a disaster. They never made good on their tsunami pledges either. And that "it's all about me" attitude comes through loud and clear on this forum too.

how untrue! they offered to send 50,000 kangaroos

Edited June 11, 2010 by charles!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

how untrue! they offered to send 50,000 kangaroos

Actually sheep would have been more appropriate. The wool would absorb the oil.

[Ban Hammer 14,364]

Actually sheep would have been more appropriate. The wool would absorb the oil.

true, but scandal swiped all their sheep.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

true, but scandal swiped all their sheep.

But then the gulf would be full of dead oil soaked sheep, so Scandal did the right thing.

[Ban Hammer 14,364]

But then the gulf would be full of dead oil soaked sheep, so Scandal did the right thing.

he'll get the nobel for saving all those sheep!

[Otto 83]

** Some personal attack/baiting comments have been removed. Please post responsibly.