NORTHEAST MARITIME INSTITUTE

Ballast Water Management Hearing Held

On March 25, the Subcommittees on Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation and on Water Resources & Environment of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure conducted a joint hearing on Ballast Water Management. The purpose of the hearing was to examine the international ballast water standards recently agreed to by the IMO and to review reauthorization of the National Invasive Species Act (NISA). RADM Thomas Gilmour, USCG, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection, testified that the new international convention sets reasonable standards, while allowing individual port states to establish more stringent requirements. Joseph J. Cox, Shipping Industry Ballast Water Coalition, testified in support of international regime adopted at IMO. James Weakley, President, Lake Carriers Association, stated that vessels operating exclusively on the Great Lakes should be exempt from ballast water management requirements and such issues should be addressed on a bi-lateral basis with Canada. Professor Roger Mann, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, testified the risk of introduction of invasive species can not be eliminated, but it can be reduced through use of uniform and scientifically defensible standards. Catherine Hazlewood, The Ocean Conservancy, testified in support of the reauthorization of NISA, while offering recommendations for enhancing its provisions

Members Wanted

The US Coast Guard seeks applications for membership in the Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) Eastern Great Lakes, and five regional subcommittees: Northeast Ohio Region, Northwestern Pennsylvania Region, Western New York Region, Lake Ontario Region, and St. Lawrence Region. The AMSC assists the USCG Captain of the Port Buffalo in developing, reviewing, and updating the Area Maritime Security Plan. Applications should be submitted by February 7. 73 Fed. Reg. 1363 (HK Law).

MARAD Announces Meeting for License Application

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued a notice stating that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Calypso LNG LLC, Calypso Natural Gas Deepwater Port license application is available for review and comment. The application proposes construction and operation of a natural gas deepwater port in federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean approximately 8 to 10 miles off the east coast of Florida to the northeast of Port Everglades

ICS Elects Foord as Chairman of Federation Council

At its general meeting held on September 20, the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) elected John Foord as the chairman of its Federation Council. ?Naturally I feel most honored to be entrusted with such an important role. I hope to continue the good work of my predecessor, Roy Davies, by raising the profile of our organization. To accomplish this, I am greatly assisted by employer, Johnson Stevens Agencies, who understands the benefits of membership of the Institute of Chartered

Korea to Get First Int’l Cruise Ships

According to a Dec. 13 report from Korea JoongAng Daily, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said it has approved the country’s first operation of international cruise ships, in a bid to strengthen the country’s foothold in the Northeast Asian cruise market. (Source: Korea JoongAng Daily)

Webb Institute: $100,000 in Scholarships from ABS

Webb Institute, a four-year college specializing in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, announced the receipt of $100,000 in annual scholarships from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The ABS Scholarship Program provides financial support to deserving engineering and naval architecture students based on GPA, class rank, leadership ability and recommendations. “Webb Institute is honored to receive ABS’ continued support of our students as they pursue their educational

Maritime Exercise Held in China

China's largest ever maritime search-and-rescue exercise, involving 400 people, 28 fleets, two helicopters and an aircraft, was carried out on Thursday in the waters near Dalian Port, northeast China's Liaoning Province. The exercise started when a collision between a passenger ferry and a cargo boat was reported and the National Maritime Rescue Emergency Plan was enacted immediately. The main elements of the exercise, including the rescue of 368 passengers and dozens of sailors

Jones Act Waiver Not Likely

Efforts by U.S. officials and oil firms to waive Jones Act shipping requirements and increase available oil tankers to the Northeast are so far dead in the water, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. "No one has made a credible case in the Executive branch or Congress to grant waivers or eviscerate the Jones Act," John Graykowski, acting administrator of the Maritime Administration told Reuters. The Jones Act -- which is overseen by the Department of Transportation's Maritime

Iridium, H2OSatellite on Beluga’s NE Passage Transit

Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) and H2OSatellite provided critical satellite communications for Beluga Shipping’s successful pioneering transit of the challenging Northeast Passage this summer. The Beluga ships relied on Iridium OpenPort high-bandwidth marine satellite systems supplied by H2OSatellite for voice and data links throughout their voyage through the extreme Northern waterways, most of which are not reliably covered by any other long-range communication service.

IMarEST Appoints ANZSPAC Executive Director

The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) has appointed Liz Hay as Executive Director of its ANZSPAC (Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific) Division.   She will combine the position with her dual role as Chief Executive Officer of both the Australian Shipbuilders Association and Australian Ship Repairers Group, which are currently in the process of merging. Based on Australia’s Gold Coast