Maritime Security Act

CSR Protests Proposal to Eliminate Crew List Visas

The Center for Seafarers' Rights (CSR) of the Seamen's Church Institute of New York & New Jersey has called on the U.S. State Department to postpone the elimination of crew list visas until October 2004. "The United States should not eliminate the most accessible and utilized means merchant mariners have for applying for shore leave until an adequate internationally acceptable replacement for an identity document exists," said Douglas B. Stevenson, Director of the Center for Seafarers' Rights. "The United States already places a significant hardship on foreign merchant mariners by being the only major maritime country in the world that requires crewmember visas at all." Currently, there are two varieties of United States crew visas: individual and crew list. By requiring visas, the U.S. violates the International Maritime Organization Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic prohibition on member states requiring visas as a condition of shore leave. Section 103 of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, passed by Congress on November 14, 2002, gives the administration two years to negotiate an international agreement, or an amendment to an international agreement, that provides for a uniform, comprehensive, international system of identification. "CSR does not advocate blanket issuance of shore leave, nor for the removal of strict security measures to evaluate and anticipate illegal entry to the U.S

Ports Praise President’s Signing of Security Legislation

Public Port Authorities are commending President Bush for signing two key pieces of legislation that combined establish a framework for protecting the United States from maritime terrorism. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Maritime Transportation Security Act were both signed into law at the White House yesterday. The new Department of Homeland Security will coordinate all border security functions, including those that will be responsible for maritime security, such as the U.S

GOVERNMENT: Terrorism Threat and the Immediate Reaction

by Dennis L. Bryant, Senior Counsel, Haight Gardner Holland & Knight When the federal government began examining United States vulnerabilities in the days following the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it quickly became apparent that significant weakness existed on the U.S. maritime borders. Many, but not all, of these weaknesses were systemic and derived from both the U.S. open society and the procedures underlying modern maritime commerce

DHS Port Security Grants

The President’s FY 2005 request includes $46 million in port security grants to be administered by the Office of Domestic Preparedness. The Maritime Transportation Security Act authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Maritime Administrator, to make port security grants to port authorities, facility operators, and state and local governments. These grants may be used to correct vulnerabilities in port security and ensure compliance with Area Maritime Transportation

Coast Guard Receives Majority of Maritime Security Plans

The U.S. Coast Guard announced today that 90 percent of vessels and port facilities turned in security plans as required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act. Penalties are being issued to those that have not submitted any of the information required.“Security in America’s ports is a shared responsibility,” said Rear Adm. Larry Hereth, director of port security for the Coast Guard. “We have made tremendous progress protecting the ports

Governments to Adopt New Maritime Security Measures

The Diplomatic Conference on the Revision of the SUA Treaties opened October 10 to begin its consideration of amendments to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988 and its related Protocol, which provide the legal basis for action to be taken against persons committing unlawful acts against ships (and against fixed platforms located on the continental shelf).

Shipping Income Tax Reform

Shipping income tax reform may be one of the key legislative initiatives in the U.S. Congress this year according to Michael G. Roberts, who holds down the Washington D.C. office of Crowley Maritime Corporation. Roberts noted it has been almost three years since the Maritime Security Act (MSP) was passed, giving 47 U.S.-flagged ships a new lease on life through a non-permanent operating subsidy program. Now, he says, something must be done about the threatened extinction of American shipping

Shipping Income Tax Reform

Shipping income tax reform may be one of the key legislative initiatives in the U.S. Congress this year according to Michael G. Roberts, who holds down the Washington D.C. office of Crowley Maritime Corporation. Roberts noted it has been almost three years since the Maritime Security Act (MSP) was passed, giving 47 U.S.-flagged ships a new lease on life through a non-permanent operating subsidy program. Now, he says, something must be done about the threatened extinction of American shipping

AMPR Releases Study on Jones Act

Crowley is a member of The Puerto Rico Maritime Alliance, which consists of representatives of U.S. flag carriers and labor unions constituting the US Merchant Marine.   The Maritime Alliance of Puerto Rico (AMPR) has announced that the GAO Study released yesterday determined the Jones Act does not increase rates or prices for the Puerto Rican consumer. The economic study was requested in 2012 by the resident commissioner, Pedro Pierluisi

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005

President Bush signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (H.R. 4818). This 658-page bill provides monies for all federal agencies other than Defense and Homeland Security, which were handled earlier. The bill also includes a number of miscellaneous provisions. Some maritime highlights follow. -- Ocean freight differential costs for shipment of certain government-impelled agricultural shipments are funded in the amount of $22.7 million.