Gao Report News

The Coast Guard has struggled for years to recruit and retain a sufficient workforce. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the non-partisan, fact-based arm of the Congress, has published multiple reports related to the Coast Guard’s workforce including recruitment and retention challenges. Three of these reports published in 2022 and 2023 have resulted in 17 GAO recommendations to address these issues, but as of today, 16 remain open and need to be addressed. Implementing…

At the time of publication, the first National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), the Empire State VII, is steadily advancing towards its final delivery to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and SUNY Maritime College. Let’s be clear—this is a huge win, not only for MARAD, its vessel construction manager TOTE Services, the shipbuilder Philly Shipyard, and SUNY Maritime, but for the future of government shipbuilding.To put this milestone in its appropriate context, it is worth reviewing how we got here.

On September 14, 2022, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I Committee), Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, held a hearing which indicated a potential revitalization, and new enforcement regime, of U.S.-flag requirements under the Cargo Preference Act of 1954 (the CPA). The hearing occurred on the heels of a Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report regarding the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) lack of COA enforcement, with significant recommendations to revamp oversight by the agency to ensure a growing…

For dredging company officials, the first quarter of 2021 was a pretty good start to a new year. In a tough business, challenges and pitfalls are always expected. But from a bigger picture perspective—markets, regulations and policies—company officials couldn’t be faulted if a bit of optimism infused their worldview.There are a number of reasons for this. Many are well known and don’t need to be detailed here. Just quickly, though, WRDA 2020 would be at the top of the list. WRDA…

For operators venturing into the offshore wind space, 2021 started off with a gust of changes and reports. From Jones Act clarifications and new enforcement authorities, to millions in port infrastructure funding, the new Congress and presidential administration will have plenty of tools available to shape the future of the industry’s development.NDAA brings Jones Act changesOne of the most persistent questions that has hung over the development of the U.S. offshore wind industry has been whether the Jones Act will apply during both the construction and operational phases.

The commander of the U.S. Navy’s Norfolk Naval Shipyard has been ousted amid ongoing performance issues in repairing and modernizing the service's ships.Commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Vice Adm. Bill Galinis relieved Capt. Kai Torkelson, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command, according to statement from the U.S. Navy.Rear Adm. Howard Markle, Director of NAVSEA’s Industrial Operations Directorate (SEA 04), has assumed duties as the acting commander until a permanent relief is named, the Navy said.

As the U.S. Coast Guard moves to rebuild its icebreaker fleet we spoke with RADM Bruce Baffer (Ret.), head of Fincantieri’s effort to win the contract to build the Polar Security Cutters.The case for the U.S. to build a new class of icebreakers is strong. While news of global climate change and the shrinking ice caps at both poles is daily headline fodder, maritime navigation in and around the Arctic and Antarctic remains one of the most difficult and dangerous operating arenas on the high seas.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), will hold a hearing next week on U.S. Coast Guard mission needs and a recently completed Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of how the Service allocates its resources.   The GAO report, entitled Coast Guard: Actions Needed to Improve Strategic Allocation of Assets and Determine Workforce Requirements, reviewed the extent to which the Coast Guard employs an effective process to strategically allocate assets to meet its mission responsibilities.  The release of the GAO report will coincide with Tuesday’s hearing.   The Subcommittee hearing, entitled, “Coast Guard Mission Needs and Resources Allocation,” is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 2016.

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, today released a statement in response to the sheer number of factual errors in the recent report published by the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure’s (Aii) – Jones Act: Protectionism v. Global Trade. “The publication is littered with fabrications intended to mislead policymakers and we demand a retraction of the report," said Tom Allegretti, Chairman of AMP. “It is shocking that a nonprofit organization led by former senior members of the U.S. military would produce such a factually inaccurate report and take such a myopic view of an important national security issue. They have failed to even acknowledge the fact that the U.S.

The U.S. needs a better strategy to coordinate and prioritize its policies related to the Arctic region, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study out today that was released by Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), John Garamendi (CA-03) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK). The GAO study focused on U.S. participation in the Arctic Council, a voluntary body started in 1996 that includes the eight Arctic nations—Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the U.S., as well as indigenous groups and other stakeholders.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) today issued a statement from President and CEO Christine Duffy on the recently released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on implementation of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010 and cruise industry safety practices. Below is Duffy’s statement in full. “We are pleased the GAO concluded that cruise lines are complying with the requirements of the CVSSA, and implementation of the law is progressing as intended.

A recent report US Government Audit Office (GAO) report, mandated by the House, discussed amongst other issues:  (1) quality problems in constructing recently delivered ships and Navy actions to improve quality and (2) key practices employed by leading commercial ship buyers and shipbuilders to ensure quality and how these compared with Navy practices. The Navy has experienced significant quality problems with several ship classes over the past several years. It has focused on reducing the number of serious deficiencies at the time of delivery…

Card reader technology is tested, proven and in use, nationwide. While the maritime industry awaits the Fed’s edict on MTSA, the solution already exists. The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) requires that individuals needing unescorted access to MTSA-regulated Facilities and Vessels must first obtain a TWIC. To obtain a TWIC Card, an individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and pass a security threat assessment conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Individuals are then issued a tamper-resistant credential containing the cardholders biometric fingerprint data, which provides a conclusive link between the card and the individual cardholder. To date, more than 2 million of these credentials have been issued.

The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program has come under the microscope after news of an electrical problem resulted in a brief loss of power for USS Freedom (LCS 1) over the weekend and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a critical, 72-page report today scrutinizing the cost of the program. However, top Navy leadership including the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert view the performance problems as common for any first-in-class platform--especially…

American Maritime Partnership (AMP) member, Crowley Maritime Corp. The long-awaited General Accountability Office (GAO) study on the Jones Act in Puerto Rico shows that the U.S. domestic container shipping fleet has provided regular, reliable service while offering significant rate reductions, according to the American Maritime Partnership (AMP), an industry trade group. "GAO disproved charges that the Jones Act raises prices for consumers in Puerto Rico," AMP said in a statement shortly after the release of the report today. "As such, GAO's report confirmed that previous estimates of the so-called 'cost' of the Jones Act are not verifiable and cannot be proven.

Bill Would Reform Enrollment Process in Flawed TWIC Program. U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) introduced legislation today that would reform the burdensome enrollment process of the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) program, which provides biometric identification cards to mariners and other transportation workers in order to allow them unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, and other maritime facilities. Under current rules, merchant mariners, port employees, truck drivers, and other workers are required to make repeated visits to a TWIC enrollment center in order to apply for and obtain credentials.

On June 25, Senator John McCain announced that he introduced the “Open America’s Water Act,” to repeal the Jones Act. “Today I am pleased to introduce legislation that would fully repeal the Jones Act, a 1920s law that hinders free trade and favors labor unions over consumers. Specifically, the Jones Act requires that all goods shipped between waterborne ports of the United States be carried by vessels built in the United States and owned and operated by Americans. This restriction only serves to raise shipping costs, thereby making U.S. farmers less competitive and increasing costs for American consumers. “This was highlighted by a 1999 U.S. International Trade Commission economic study, which suggested that a repeal of the Jones Act would lower shipping costs by approximately 22 percent.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on U.S. Coast Guard requirements for its Arctic missions. Coast Guard expansion into the Arctic is hampered by an undefined mission and an uncertain funding stream, but it could benefit from improved communication with stakeholders, particularly at the state and local level in Alaska. GAO-1-870 (9/15/10). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

With its shining reputation besmirched in recent years with a list of transgressions, from illegal dumping to sexual assault, the cruise industry has been under the legislative microscope. The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) works to ensure that its member lines are kept abreast on current issues dealing with topics related to the environment, safety and legislation, to name a few. In order to examine these issues to the core, MR/EN tapped the expertise of Ted Thompson, a retired U.S. Coast Guard captain, who now serves as ICCL's executive director. The cruise industry because of its high profile is constantly under fire regarding various issues…

Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Colin Veitch Responds to GAO Report on NCL’s Project America. The GAO report released today confirms what Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has known from the beginning – Project America is good for American workers and for consumers. It means more competition in the cruise industry and will result in more choices for vacationing families. It is good for the U.S. economy because it has already created more than 1,000 new jobs and will add badly needed tax revenues to federal and state treasuries. Once fully implemented, this project will generate more than 20,000 jobs and over $800 million annually in economic activity. NCL made the decision to have a real presence in Hawai`i despite its bigger and more established competitors.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on approaches to mitigate freight congestion.  It states, among other things, that increasing congestion on the national transportation system poses a threat to the efficient flow of goods and has strained the system in some locations.  Recent growth in international trade has placed even greater pressure on ports and distribution hubs.  GAO-09-163R (11/20/08). (Source: Holland & Knight)

The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report Friday detailing its findings following a review of the Coast Guard's Administrative Law Judge Program that was requested by Congress and welcomed by the Coast Guard. The GAO conducted an independent and objective review of 1,675 suspension and revocation cases opened and closed by the Coast Guard from Nov. 10, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2008. •    Sixty two percent of suspension and revocation cases are disposed through settlement agreements between the Coast Guard and mariners. Click here to view or download a chart showing the disposition of all cases reviewed by the GAO. •    Roughly three percent, or just 45 cases, were disposed through a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

Steve Carmel, Senior Vice President, Maritime Services at Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) was a keynote speaker at the Naval Logistics Symposium on July 22. The symposium, organized by the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE), an organization comprising of civilian and military naval engineers, focused on the challenges of implementing effective lifecycle management of naval assets. As a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel, Carmel is in a unique position to bridge government and commercial perspectives. Notably, Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, also spoke at the symposium. Carmel, responsible for MLL’s technical and operating activities…