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Blueseed: 'Startup Incubator' Could Sail Past Immigration Law {AOL Real Estate}
Feb 8th 2012 9:43PM Refueling (called 'bunkering' on ships) could possibly take place on a calm enough day with a tug and barge, an articulated tug/barge unit (ATB) or a small coastal tanker. The supplying vessel would tie up alongside the big ship near their fueling station and transfer completed. Alternatively, the ship could be built with a trailing transfer system whereby they would have the means of setting adrift a cargo oil hose on floats which would be picked up by the tanker and cargo pumped back.
Having said that, chances are that they'd probably get underway instead and go into San Fran to bunker at anchor. Much cheaper except for pilotage and clearance. They could also resupply at the same time through their general agent.
Blueseed: 'Startup Incubator' Could Sail Past Immigration Law {AOL Real Estate}
Feb 8th 2012 5:34PM I don't see how this circumvents customs and immigration, particularly. Fact is, they'll have to clear in and out each time they make the trip to land and the vessel's captain and owner would have to both be responsible for landing documents such as passenger manifests, bills of lading for any type of cargo or food movements, bunkers, parts, etc and monetarily by putting up a financial bond in case of stowaways, illegals, illegal activities, oil spills, vessel accident or injury, and emergencies.
A US Coast Guard cutter could be charged with doing random ferry boardings and materiel inspections while in US waters and before the ferry makes port, after it departs, or both. And the ferries would have to be up to code as any foreign vessel is before being allowed to leave. The ferry (its crew and passengers, as well) could be delayed indefinitely until it could be repaired or whatever was required to get it to pass. And the vessel owner would be require to pay all costs related to the delay or the ferry would be impounded by the federal marshals.
Immigration could come up with a new convuluted system to handle visas specifically issued for persons residing on the vessel, including a prerequisite for a domestic and Interpol security check before such a visa would be issued and a photo and fingerprint set taken by the person applying. No visitors visas should be issued to anyone who would come on the trip ancilliary to the businessperson traveling, such as a spouse, employee or personal assistant.
But aside from all that, there is the safety of the vessel to consider. A ship of any size cannot hope to remain at anchor during the type of storm activity the NE Pacific sees. It doesn't take a major storm coming off the Gulf of Alaska to generate seas in excess of 20 feet. I've been in 50 footers off this coast, myself, and they get bigger than that. So this vessel must have the ability to get underway and survive a beating. Since every major or minor port on the US west coast has a sandbar crossing at its entrance and most of those bars are closed in seas over 20 feet, the entire vessel must clear in well before storm activity or get underway several days ahead of time and request clearance into Canadian waters, which would be highly unlikely. Not to mention that the captain of the ship wouldn't want to be stuck with a thousand non-seafaring people on board in the event of a storm they wouldn't be able to get out of easily. That means they must have the means to helo people out, which again means they would have to land at a port of entry under a declaration of safety of life at sea, but they would either be detained at the airport (because of the visa issue) or they must transit right back out of the country on short notice.
I can't see anyone but a significantly well-off businessperson taking advantage of this kind of setup because of all the inherent hassles involved. And I'm not sure, from a businessperson's standpoint, the hassle would be worth a couple of face-to-face meetings.
Video: Kayaker has rare encounter with a blue whale {Gadling}
Oct 19th 2011 3:08PM While there may be laws regarding proximity to other types of whales, it's on the Right or humpback whales that are protected for proximity that I'm aware of. Being a merchant seaman, I can tell you that we're very regulated where humpbacks are concerned. For me, that's a good thing.
Halle Berry's Style Evolution (PHOTOS) {Stylelist (Main)}
Aug 14th 2011 10:21AM Looking good, classy as always! Way to keep in shape, Halle.
Elisabetta Canalis Shows Off Flawless Figure (Photos) {PopEater}
May 19th 2011 5:06PM Looks good to me :) The reason you can see her ribs is because she's not fat, not because she's skinny. People's perceptions of "normal" have changed since we started eating crap. But as a species, humans weren't designed to be fat - whales are, seals are, polar bears are. Did you know the average woman's waist is now 6 inches larger than in the 1950's? 36-24-36 is no longer the ideal woman's measurements. But since I'm an older guy, I'm going to stay with the ol' 36-24-36 and you guys can keep chasing Belugas...lol...
Kate Middleton Wedding Dress by Designer Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen {AOL Royal Wedding}
Apr 29th 2011 3:53PM "Constructive"? What's constructive about it? What about your comment helps "fix" what you're complaining about? Do you know what a constructive comment is? Evidently not. Don't be silly.
Scenes from the Royal Wedding [Photos] {AOL Royal Wedding}
Apr 29th 2011 11:26AM Nice car. Good luck, folks! It's a rough time to start out.
Shape Move of the Week: Reality Star Kim Kardashian Shares Workout Secrets {That's Fit}
Apr 25th 2011 12:02PM Makes me proud to be an Armenian :)
Renée Zellweger: Style Evolution {Stylelist (Main)}
Apr 25th 2011 9:43AM Girl's got legs!
The Cougar Cruise is back! {Gadling}
Apr 8th 2011 3:20PM Looks like we have a match between "Ridiculous" and "Renate"!
We used to say, "16'll get you 20".
