Port Act

Hearing on SAFE Port Act

Representative Lungren (R-CA) introduced the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act or SAFE Port Act (H.R. 4954) to improve maritime and cargo security through enhanced layered defenses, and for other purposes. On March 16, the Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity of the House Committee on Homeland Security conducted a Hearing on the SAFE Port Act. In a Combined Statement, Jayson P. Ahern, Customs and Border Protection and Captain Brian Salerno, US Coast Guard, testified regarding vessel security, advance electronic information, the automated targeting system, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), non-intrusive inspection equipment, the port security grant program, and the transportation worker identification credential (TWIC). Eugene K. Pentimonti, Maersk Inc., testified regarding the need for clear, direct benefits for companies that participate in the proposed GreenLane program. Noel Cunningham, MARSEC Group, testified regarding the importance of the TWIC program and the need for an integrated security system. source: HK Law

Congress Passes Port Security Bill

Congress has passed the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006, the first legislation of its kind to authorize an annual federal funding level to help secure United States ports against terrorism. The bill, H.R. 4954, calls for $400m in federal Port Security Grant (PSG) funding for each of the next five years to help increase security in the maritime transportation system. Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and CEO

Court Ipholds LNG DWP License

The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the decision of the Secretary of Transportation to grant a license for the construction and operation of the Gulf Landing LNG DWP in the Gulf of Mexico. Plaintiffs had challenged the decision, asserting that the environmental impact statement (EIS) was deficient and that the Secretary should have required the use of a "closed loop" system for warming the liquefied natural gas (LNG)

TORP Files for Terminal License

TORP (Terminal Offshore Regas Plant) filed its application with the US Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) on January 12, 2006 for a license under the Deep Water Port Act, to build, own and operate an LNG receiving terminal in the Gulf of Mexico. TORP’s BIENVILLE Offshore Energy Terminal will be located approximately 63 miles south of Dauphin Island, Alabama, in 425 ft of water, and will be the first to utilize the HiLoad Technology for cost-effective offloading of LNG

Hearing on Implementation of SAFE Port Act

On April 26, the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime & Global Counterterrorism of the House Committee on Homeland Security conducted an oversight hearing on implementation of the SAFE Port Act. In his opening statement, Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) complained about the continual missing of deadlines in the port security program. RDML Craig Bone (US Coast Guard), Mr. Jayson Ahern (US Customs and Border Protection), and Ms

Court Upholds NJ as Adjacent Coastal State

The US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the Maritime Administrator was acting within his authority under the Deepwater Port Act when he designated New Jersey as an additional adjacent coastal state with respect to the application of Atlantic Sea Island Group LLC (ASIG) for a license to construct and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility at a site to be located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 13

Senate OKs Security Improvement Act of 2006

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) applauded the unanimous vote in the U.S. Senate to pass the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006 (H.R. 4954), welcoming the legislation as a comprehensive plan to improve maritime cargo and facility security and maintain an efficient flow of commerce through America’s ports. “Representatives of several Senate committees took components of the GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act (S

Foss Acquires American Cargo Transport

Foss Maritime Company has expanded into new global markets by acquiring the marine assets of Jore International. America Cargo Transport Corp. (ACT) will operate these assets as an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of Foss. Current ACT employees will remain with the company and continue serving the international shipper’s commercial, government and military markets. As a member of the Foss family, ACT will continue to serve existing international customers as well as new customers

SFI Operational in U.K., Pakistan and Honduras

Southampton Container Terminals, United Kingdom, Port Qasim, Pakistan (both managed by DP World) and Puerto Cortez, Honduras will become the first seaports to implement the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) beginning October 12 by scanning all maritime containers destined for the U.S. for nuclear or other radiological materials. These ports fulfill the requirements set out in the Security and Accountability For Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006

From Canines to Liquefied Natural Gas

Maritime Security and the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 For the past several years, maritime security has been on everyone's mind.  From the halls of Congress to the longshoremen working the midnight shift, the threat of a possible terrorist attack on the maritime interests of the United States and dealing with new security requirements have kept this topic on the front burner.  While most in the maritime industry are relatively aware of the legislation that has been