Friday, June 11, 2010

U. S. REFUSES HELP TO CLEAN UP OIL SPILL

EUROPEAN OIL SKIMMER
Many are beginning to ask why has President Obama refused help from foreign governments in cleaning up the oil spill.  Slowly some answers are coming out and it appears that the president of the United States in more interested in catering to his union buddies that protecting the environment and the citizens who live on the Gulf coast---after all the unions supported him while the states along the gulf voted for the other guy.

Obama supporters will point to the "Jones Act" and say this prevents certain foreign ships from doing this type work, while failing to mention that President Bush granted a wavier to this act during Katrina, but then Bush didn't owe his presidency to the unions. Bush's concern was for the people and Obama's concern, well its for Obama---don't forget he stays in campaign mode.

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 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, Belgian newspaper De Standaard also reported Belgian and Dutch dredgers have technology in-house to fight the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but the Jones Act 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... 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.Source of story Before Its News

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11 comments:

Matt said...

How amazing! That he would destroy the coast to favor his union buddies? Eh, I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise!

Randy-g said...

I used to be surprised by this man, now not so much.........

Kristin said...

You have GOT to be kidding me! Unions are more important that cleaning this thing up?

Rosie O'Donnell is screaming for Obama to seize BP. Does she really trust the government to come up with a plan? It's been over a month; they seem to be doing a fantastic job so far....

And where are the Greenies? Shouldn't you PITA, save-the-planet people be screaming?

Right Truth said...

Yes, sounds crazy doesn't it. This is worse than Obama's Katrina, it will be his undoing for sure on top of all the damage he has already done.

Debbie
Right Truth
http://www.righttruth.typepad.com

banned said...

Alex Jones and UKs James Delingpole come to some interesting conclusions about why Obama is allowing the oil spill tragedy to drag on

http://faustiesblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/james-delingpole-on-alex-jones-obamas.html

MathewK said...

I have a feeling this is going to be the turning point for obama, he promised to be the fix-it guy even though he cannot, he cheated his way by deceiving people and now they will hold him to account for it, as they should.

Amusing Bunni said...

Just when I think I can't hate this bum any more. What a sickening POS and I wish he'd just disappear.

Teresa said...

This man is evil -- Making people and animals suffer all to appease his unions. He is the Devil-in-Chief.

Anonymous said...

Some people will not get it until the black rain comes down in their houses.

Unknown said...

I hadn't heard about this, good find Ron. It is amazing that this man doesn't face more heat than he does. This man is more interested in protecting his union buddies than he is about getting this problem solved.

Always On Watch said...

Despite BHO's words to the contrary, he doesn't give a damn about the "common man."

Remember his inauguration? The Aron Copland music? The music was "Simple Gifts" (cellist). Words to the song:

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'Tis the gift to be free....


Well, BHO's idea of freedom is not the ideal given to us by our Founders.