Community

Have an opinion about something you read in The Log?

Write to: The Log Editorial, P.O. Box 1337, Newport Beach, CA 92659 thelogeditor@thelog.com.

FAST FACTS

Gray Whale Migration Has Landed in Baja

By: KATHERINE CLEMENTS

BAJA — The first whales of the annual gray whale migration have begun to arrive in Baja, after accomplishing one of the longest migrations of any mammal. Gray whales travel 12,000 miles round-trip from their feeding grounds in the Arctic to calve and breed in the Baja lagoons and then back again.

Gray whales spend their summers feeding in the nutrient-rich waters of the Arctic, however sometimes whales are seen further south during summer, even in California.

In September, gray whales begin to leave their Arctic food bank, migrating south along the coastline to breed and calve in Baja. Gray whales travel at approximately five miles per hour and travel about 75 miles per day.

Adult females and males begin to arrive in the lagoons of Baja in December, although not all whales arrive at the same time. Whales continue to arrive in the Lagoon into late January. There are four lagoons in Baja where the whales populate: Guerrero Negro, Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Magdalena Bay, and Laguna San Ignacio.

Please see FAST FACTS, PAGE 8 Thanks to a moratorium on whaling and other multinational protections, the eastern Pacifi c population of gray whales is thriving with around 26,000 individuals and a Red List status of Least Concern.

Shutterstock image

Letters/ Online Comments

RE: Concerns Arise for Proposed Commercial Passenger Boat Engine Technology Updates

(OCT. 30 - NOV. 12)

“What a shame, but I’ve worked on many tier 4 boats in the smaller fl eets like 6 packs it’s doable but not cheap and the grants aren’t easy either.”

—George Gregory

“This is some bull shit!”

—Rickey

Comments are edited for clarity

Reader Q&A By Katherine Clements

Q“The SAGARPA website is not activated. What is a process for US citizen to buy US fl agged vessel, which is already in MX?”

AWe reached out to columnist and maritime attorney David Weil and here is what he had to say.

“If at all possible, the boat should be transported back to the U.S. prior to change of ownership. The problem concerns the Mexican Temporary Import Permit (TIP)…All vessels larger than 4.5 M are required to have a TIP regardless of the intended length of stay. Mexican Customs will consider a vessel without a TIP to be illegally in the country and subject to fi nes and/or confi scation. It is illegal to sell a Temporarily Imported Vessel in Mexico or Mexican Territorial waters. The proper procedure calls for the seller of the boat to cancel his or her TIP and transfer title outside of Mexico. The new owner would then apply for a new TIP in the name of the new owner prior to bringing the boat back into Mexico…Some of these procedures may be avoided with “help” from local authorities but this is where things could get dicey.” The Maritime Administration changed its approval process for the Request for Transfer of Ownership, Registry, and Flag or Charter, Lease, or Mortgage of U.S. documented vessels (MA-29) to include a notifi cation to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The application process goes:  Determine the vessel’s gross tonnage and prepare a Cashier’s Check, Certifi ed Check, Company Check or Money Order Payable to “Maritime Administration”  Complete the Vessel Transfer Application.  Determine the Presence of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) at Regulated Concentrations on Vessels (Ships) to be Refl agged. Consult EPA’s “Technical Guidance

On Board With Johnson by J.R. Johnson