USNS HENSON on Oceanographic Survey Mission

USNS HENSON

The USNS HENSON (T-AGS 63) will conduct oceanographic surveying  operations in the Caribbean  through next year in support of U.S. Southern Command survey requirements and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command in support of Partnership of Americas, which seeks to strengthen partnerships and improve regional security.

The USNS HENSON will use the port of Curacao as a staging point for crew turnover, basic maintenance and fuel, equipment testing and an end of the year break for the crew.

Also, the USNS HENSON will conduct equipment testing of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in territorial waters during the next several months.  The AUV is an autonomous vehicle  which measures the bottom contour of the ocean floor and samples the water column.  The testing location was selected based on the critical bathymetry requirements for testing the AUV.

Curacao is ideal for those testing requirements.  Furthermore, data that is collected during the testing will be shared with Netherlands Antilles authorities.  The U.S. Government welcomes local government participation in the testing.

USNS HENSON  is one of the seven Oceanographic Survey Ships that are operated by the Military Sealift Command for the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command.
The USNS HENSON has a crew of about 55 Department of Defense surveyors and merchant marines aboard. For more information on USNS HENSON, please visit their webpage at: https://oceanography.navy.mil/legacy/web/

U.S. Consulate General Curacao Organizes "Energy efficiency in building design and construction" seminar

Keynote speaker Vincent Pieri

The United States Consulate General, in cooperation with the Curacao Business Council for
Sustainable Development (Bedrijvenplatform Milieu BPM), hosted a two day seminar on "Energy efficiency in building design and construction" at the International Trade Center, Piscadera Bay during the first week of October. 

The United States Consulate General has invited Mr. Vincent Pieri as the keynote speaker. Mr. Pieri is an architect whose sole focus is the integration of green and sustainable strategies into the built environment at every level through design excellence and the application of sound project management principles. He is committed the green building movement in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

This U.S. Consulate General program is designed to increase awareness and help develop Curacao’s energy sustainability programs in cooperation with local government.  This program is a continuation in a series of programs organized by the Business Council for Sustainable Development and the U.S. Consulate. Last year they organized well received “energy conservation and the environment” and “waste management development” programs.

Other speakers at this seminar were: Lloyd Narain-Amigu di Tera; Selwin Maduro-Refineria di Korsou; Ronny Lobo-Lobo & Rayman Architects; Raycelli Seferina-Aqualectra; Franklin Rosheuvel-Energy & Automation; Chris van Grieken-Antillean Rain Gutters.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Mandatory on January 12, 2009

Beginning January 12, 2009, all nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries are required by law to obtain a travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States under the VWP. This authorization may be obtained online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA™), a free Internet application administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a U.S. government website.

DHS does not charge VWP travelers a fee for completion of an ESTA™ application. Eligible visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP may apply for travel authorization via the ESTA™ website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

VWP travelers should be aware that unauthorized third-parties have established websites, which charge visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP, for information about ESTA™ and for submitting ESTA™ applications to DHS on behalf of the traveler. These businesses and Web sites are not endorsed by, associated with, or affiliated in any way with DHS or the United States Government. Again, the United States Government does not charge a fee to obtain information about, apply for, or obtain a travel authorization through the ESTA™ website. Use of a private service to apply for travel authorization via ESTA™ will not expedite the granting of approval.

The ESTA™ application website is available in 16 languages and includes a help section that provides additional information for VWP travelers to guide them through the application process. Additional information about ESTA™ may be found at http://www.cbp.gov/esta.