United States: US President Barack Obama has signed into law the "Coast Guard Authorisation Act of 2010", which entails a piece of good news regarding shore leave in the US.
The Act requires each facility to "provide a system for seamen assigned to a vessel at that facility, pilots and representatives of seamen's welfare and labour organisations to board and depart the vessel through the facility in a timely manner at no cost to the individual." It will now have to be clarified what more precisely is meant regarding cost and regarding "in a timely manner".
H.R. 3619 also includes language to implement the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001.
"This Act strengthens the Coast Guard as a military service and branch of the Armed Forces in the Department of Homeland Security by providing organisational flexibility for the Coast Guard and allowing for improvements to its military housing," said the White House in a statement.
"Additionally, the Act materially enhances the marine safety and maritime security missions of the Coast Guard, and it includes language to implement the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001."
