Slow Down

by Erick on August 26, 2008

No, not for the DUI checkpoints that will be cropping up over Labor Day weekend, but boats off the coast.

Speed limits for ships in waters off the Georgia coast will be regulated if a new federal rule designed to save right whales goes into effect.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service has entered the final step of the environmental impact statement for its proposed Ship Strike Reduction Rule. The restriction will effectively lower vessel speeds to 10 knots – about 11.5 mph – in vital right whale calving grounds near the Georgia and Florida coasts and whale feeding grounds in the Northeast.

The rule will also apply to the mid-Atlantic region, extending 20 miles off the coast.

{ 18 comments }

Rogue109 August 26, 2008 at 9:23 am

Who is going to enforce this? Coast Guard HH-65 helicopters are going to run by tankers with speed guns?

This amounts to taking swaths of ocean and making them “no wake” zones. Horrible plan.

How many whales have been hit by ships in these areas? That’s right, per the story…one or two a year. We can spare them.

Icarus August 26, 2008 at 9:37 am

I’m tired of saving the freakin whales. What have the whales ever done for The Children?

Rogue109 August 26, 2008 at 10:16 am

What does my posting at 9:23 a.m. have to do with Matt Towery, the Georgia Gang or Isle of Palms?

griftdrift August 26, 2008 at 11:26 am

She’s no longer here and you still want to give her a smack? Classy. What a classy joint you run Erick.

Rogue109 August 26, 2008 at 12:34 pm

Oh, go have a sandwich and relax.

griftdrift August 26, 2008 at 1:23 pm

You’re obsession borders on creepy. What good advertising for a site to have you as a front pager.

Bill Simon August 26, 2008 at 1:29 pm

Rogue, Grift is right. Had Spacey posted this, you would be whining about the irrelevance this subject is to Georgia politics.

DelicateFlower August 26, 2008 at 2:43 pm

Rogue – Just FYI, there are fewer than 300 right whales left in the world. So, while one might argue that the speed limit won’t do any good, or that industry always trumps nature, it simply isn’t true that one or two a year can be spared without serious consequences to the survival of the species. Cheers.

Rogue109 August 26, 2008 at 2:56 pm

Bill and grift:

Rogue, Grift is right. Had Spacey posted this, you would be whining about the irrelevance this subject is to Georgia politics.

No, I would have been whining if it had been posted as a front page item. Me having a few seconds of humor after being called the anti-Christ for so long by that vile creature (in the comments section, please note) is no way equivalent. My front page posts have, and continue, to be about Georgia….something that she never could figure out how to do. If she had, maybe she’d still be around? Have you seen me take word one against Trevor, BTW? Nope, because he’s on topic.

If silliness is now forbidden in the comments area, it’s the first I’ve heard of it. And Icarus would be out of a job.

DelicateFlower: Interesting information (really). I feel bad for the right whales, but am still against the plan.

griftdrift August 26, 2008 at 2:59 pm

You are school in summer

Icarus August 26, 2008 at 2:59 pm

“And Icarus would be out of a job.”

CRAP.

and in this job market, too. Now what do I do?

Bill Simon August 26, 2008 at 3:41 pm

Icarus,

Start a blog, attract readers, sell it for a million smackers, and become “known.”

SpaceyG August 27, 2008 at 10:48 am

I’ll make sure my captain is up to speed on all this. Although I’m taking the Why Stay On Point up to Bridgehampton over the Labor Day holiday. Soooo fabulous there this time of the year! Bon Voyage, Boys!

Rogue109 August 27, 2008 at 10:49 am

You are school in summer.

It’s all good, dude. You’ve made your point and called me classless both here and on your blog. I think you are really blowing this totally out of proportion, but it’s fine. Moving on, then?

Icarus August 27, 2008 at 10:59 am

Idiot Pool? Idiot Pool?

Grift…

griftdrift August 27, 2008 at 11:01 am

I’ve been feeling bloody lately.

Icarus August 27, 2008 at 11:03 am

For a few days every month, right?

Tea Party August 27, 2008 at 12:04 pm

Losing points….

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