Coast Guard Authorization Act Of 2010

Cummings on Coast Guard Authorization Bill

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, was pleased with the passage of H.Res. 1665, concurring in Senate amendments to H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. The bill authorizes slightly more than $10b in annual funding for the United States Coast Guard, and will make several major changes to the service.   Cummings chaired four hearings on the Deepwater acquisition program and participated in multiple hearings of the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to consider Coast Guard acquisitions. Coast Guard procurement was heavily examined, including circumstances leading to initial failures in Deepwater procurements. Included among these was the failure of the effort to lengthen the 110-ft patrol boats, and all of the significant acquisition management reforms the Coast Guard has implemented in recent years.   “I am very happy that the House has passed an effective bill that will help the Coast Guard,” said Cummings. “One of the biggest issues the Coast Guard faces right now is ensuring capable management of its acquisition process. During the hearings I have chaired on the subject, we learned what needed to be done to help the Coast Guard to operate efficiently and effectively. I believe the reforms the service has already implemented as a result of the hearings have been forceful responses to the challenges the service has faced

Coast Guard Authorization Act Passes House

By a unanimous vote, the House of Representatives approved the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2005 (H.R. 889). A variety of amendments were added, including an authorization for an additional $60 million for Hurricane Katrina relief operations; a requirement to notify the Coast Guard if an object that creates an unauthorized obstruction to navigation is released into the water; a phased increase in limits of liability from tank vessels for oil spills; a program to detect

$7.9B USCG Reauthorization Approved by Subcommittee

Legislation to authorize more than $7.9 billion for the Coast Guard for Fiscal Year 2005, including $1.1 billion for the Deepwater project, was unanimously approved by the U.S. House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee today. Deepwater is the Coast Guard’s program to replace and modernize its operational capital assets. The Coast Guard’s fleet is rapidly deteriorating, leading to higher safety risks and maintenance costs, and a lower state of readiness

Towing Vessel Inspection Proposal Advances

A bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 30 that encompasses the policy provisions of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 legislative package, including a proposal that would establish a new inspection program for the towing industry. The bill, entitled the Maritime Transportation Amendments of 2004 (H.R. 4251), was quickly slated for action. On May 6, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Hearing Conducted on USCG Authorizing Legislation

The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a Hearing on Coast Guard authorizing legislation. This hearing was with regard to the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2006. Committee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) indicated that the bill would, among other things, authorize nearly $8.3 billion in funding for the Coast Guard in fiscal year 2007. Rear Admiral William D

MARAD to Announce Funding for Marine Highways

In testimony to House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces on July 14, 2010, Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda indicates that MARAD will issue a Notice of Funding Availability for eligible Marine Highway Project’s in a separate Federal Register notice to be published in July 2010. This notice will implement a new initiative, America's Marine Highway Grants, as authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010

Maritime Pollution and Other Legislation Outlook 2012

It has been almost two years since the Deepwater Horizon incident occurred on April 20, 2010.  As a result of this incident, although there have been many bills introduced in Congress to address issues raised by this incident, as well as numerous related hearings, Congress was unable to see the way clear to actually enact any pollution-related legislation, or for that matter any substantial maritime legislation in 2011

Coast Guard Authorization Act

Senator Snowe (R-ME) introduced a bill (S. 733) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2004 for the United States Coast Guard, and for other purposes. The bill, if adopted, would, among other things, allow the Coast Guard to carry out various ports and waterways safety functions through cooperative ventures; require reports from charterers relating to a vessel's eligibility to engage in coastwise trade; clarify grounds for suspension and revocation of merchant mariner documents; allow U

LR ACP Program Includes MODUs

Lloyd’s Register has been authorized by the US Coast Guard (USCG) to extend its Alternate Compliance Program (ACP) capabilities to include mobile offshore drilling units (MODU) - in addition to cargo vessels, tank vessels, offshore supply vessels, and passenger vessels. The new authorization was issued October 4, 2005. ACP is a voluntary program available through authorized classification societies for owners, operators, designers

Central Gulf Lines Seeks Transfer Authorization

Central Gulf Lines, Inc., has requested the necessary permissions to transfer one authorization granted under Section 615 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, to a wholly owned subsidiary. Central Gulf’s subsidiary intends to acquire a ship construction contract to be entered into between Liberty Shipping Group Limited Partnership and Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., for the construction of one 52,200 DWT multipurpose bulk ship