The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) today lauded both the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security for including $400 million for the Port Security Grant program in their fiscal 2009 federal budget recommendations for the Department of Homeland Security. AAPA also urged Senate to endorse swift passage of H.R. 802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act, and then transmit the legislation to the President for signing by June 28.
U.S. Government Accountability Office's just-issued report; COAST GUARD: Strategies for Mitigating the Loss of Patrol Boats Are Achieving Results in the Near Term, But They Come at a Cost and Longer Term Sustainability Is Unknown (GAO-08-660).
This week's archived print article features our regular columnist, Washington Attorney Larry Kiern. Larry writes the Washington Insider for THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE in our print editions. This week, we bring his latest effort, first published in our June 2008 print edition. This column highlights the current hot button issue of the Jones Act and the Coast guard's interpretation of shipbuilding and foreign incremental conversions.
World marketed energy consumption is projected to grow by 50 percent between 2005 and 2030, driven by robust economic growth and expanding populations in the world's developing countries, according to the reference case projection from the "International Energy Outlook 2008" (IEO2008) released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Hudgins, VA (June 25 2008): Victor Tufts, Manager, Member of Marine Documents LLC announces the launching of TWICMadeEasy.com, their new service to assist and expedite all transportation workers through the burdensome Transportation Workers Identification Credential pre-enrollment websites, password and appointment processes.
Mariners can now get free real-time information on water and wind conditions for the Port of Gulfport, Miss., from a new NOAA ocean observing system at the port.
GAO Report focused on Homeland Security Presidential Directive #13 issued in December 2004. This directive called for a National Strategy for Maritime Security and 8 supporting plans on more specific topics. While the Senate Commerce Committee had asked GAO to review the directive some time ago, GAO postponed its review until the strategy and supporting plans had been written and implementation had begun.
In its latest podcast, The Case Of The Cygnet's Kiss, Maritime Accident Casebook warns about the triple danger of overconfidence, ignorance and single watchkeeping and raises the troubling issue of seafarer standards under pressure from manning shortages.
New pact allows cadets from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and state maritime academies to take their training voyages on Great American Lines ships.
American Maritime Safety, Inc., ("AMS") is pleased to announce that the AMS Safety Advisory Committee has selected the eight member companies listed below to receive maritime safety awards during the AMS Membership Dinner event that has been scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2008.
George Manolis, Senior Vice President of Operations, IES, Ltd., says that had RFID technology been applied to a pallet or case of salmonella-infected tomatoes, we would be light years closer to determining the source of the outbreak.
UMBERTO Masucci has been appointed chairman of the Technical Committee of Registro Italiano Navale, the body which has responsibility for the rules of leading classification society RINA. Mr Masucci has extensive knowledge of the shipping industry and is the current chairman of the Ship and Aircraft Brokers and Agents Fund, FAMA.
Findings and Recommendations of Maritime Support Services Location Study indicate "Maritime support services represent a significant share of the region's economic activity, generating more than $2 billion each year for the region and supporting approximately 12,000 jobs, of which 7,000 are waterborne."
With fuel related costs reaching historical highs, Matson Navigation Company announced today that it is raising its fuel surcharge for its Hawaii service by 4.5 percentage points, from 33.75 to 38.25 percent, and its Guam/CNMI and Micronesia services by 6 percentage points, from 33.75 to 39.75 percent, both effective July 13, 2008.
FMC Asks Parties to Immediately File For Review Agreements Concerning The Los Angeles–Long Beach Clean Truck Programs. Authors: John L. Longstreth & Yvette T. Wissmann of K&L Gates
The Center for Maritime Training at Massachusetts Maritime Academy recently received approval from the United States Coast Guard to offer Assistance Towing and Auxiliary Sailing Assistance Endorsement courses. Courses include review and on-site examinations for the Coast Guard's Towing and Sailing Assistance license endorsements. The Center now offers a complete one-stop resource of enhanced programming for those seeking to obtain their captain's license.
MarEx readers weighed in on last week's editorial (And Then There Were Two…Benign Neglect: domestic energy & maritime interests brace for four more years of the same), as well as other issues.
RAND Corporation Technical Report should be of interest to persons involved with Navy and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) weapon-system acquisition issues.
This week's archived print article features an exclusive executive interview with U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen. First published in our April 2008 Maritime Executive edition, the article outlines the way forward for the Coast Guard and also looks back at the past.
Valero Refining-Texas, L.P. has agreed to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act stemming from a spill of 3,400 barrels of oil into the Corpus Christi Ship Channel on June 1, 2006, the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.
323 foot cargo ship passing under the Fore River Bridge in Quincy accidentally strikes the fendering system on the side of the bridge. With a so-called "docking master" directing vessel, the incident raises new questions about who should be in charge of ship docking and undocking in Boston and, more importantly, under what conditions.
June 19th hearing of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation will focus on keeping Americans safe at sea.
Port Tracker report says Nation's continuing economic slowdown will keep cargo traffic at major retail container ports below last year's levels through this summer and early fall, but month-to-month numbers are climbing and ports should see a return to year-over-year growth by Halloween.
Maryland Democrat says that "fair and consistent enforcement of the law is essential to ensure that it is appropriately enforced and that all of the vessels certified for coastwise trade are competing on a level playing field."
The Maritime Administration has named James D. Pugh to head its Office of Marine Highways and Passenger Services in Washington, D.C. Pugh will focus on expanding the use of America's coastal, intracoastal and inland waterways to reduce landside congestion, reduce energy consumption and increase opportunities for American mariners, shipbuilding and the overall economy.
The Center for Maritime Training at Massachusetts Maritime Academy recently received approval from the United States Coast Guard to offer Assistance Towing and Auxiliary Sailing Assistance Endorsement courses. Courses include review and on-site examinations for the Coast Guard's Towing and Sailing Assistance license endorsements. The Center now offers a complete one-stop resource of enhanced programming for those seeking to obtain their captain's license.
Approximately 3,000 personnel from Canadian and U.S. military forces and government civilian agencies are participating in the full-scale training exercise Frontier Sentinel (EX FS 08-2), which focuses on maritime homeland security from June 9-13, 2008.
Livestock ship attacked in transit to Australia –Somali pirates demand more money for Dutch ship. New UN Resolution allows countries to enter Somali waters.
