Proposes New News

The U.S. Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it proposes to further delay the effective date for certain facilities affected by the final rule entitled “Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)—Reader Requirements,” published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2016.The current effective date for the final rule is May 8, 2023. The Coast Guard proposes delaying the effective date for: facilities that handle certain dangerous cargoes in bulk, but do not transfer those cargoes to or from a vessel…

NOAA Fisheries announced proposed changes to vessel speed regulations to further protect North Atlantic right whales from death and serious injuries resulting from collisions — part of a multifaceted approach to stabilize and recover this endangered population. The changes would expand the current mandatory seasonal speed restrictions of 10 knots or less in designated areas of the ocean and extend to most vessels measuring 35 to 65 feet in length.In addition, the agency is releasing a draft “roadmap” for public comment about on-demand…

The Biden administration on Tuesday said it was taking steps to designate a national marine sanctuary off the coast of central California. President Joe Biden has set a goal of safeguarding 30% of U.S. land and water over the next decade. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration said the proposal would protect a 7,000-square-mile area. The waters are important to the heritage of the Native American Chumash people who once lived in coastal villages that are now submerged.

For the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027, the Commission is proposing EUR 6.14 billion under a simpler, more flexible fund for European fisheries and the maritime economy. The new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will continue to support the European fisheries sector towards more sustainable fishing practices, with a particular focus on supporting small-scale fishermen. It will also help unleash the growth potential of a sustainable blue economy towards a more prosperous future for coastal communities. For the first time, it will contribute to strengthening international ocean governance for safer, cleaner, more secure, and sustainably managed seas and oceans.

India's Shipping Ministry on Thursday proposed a new model concession agreement (MCA) to attract more private sector investments in the development of port infrastructure. The proposed MCA will replace the existing agreement which came into existence in January 2008. "The proposed MCA has taken into account the suggestions provided in various reports by Member Planning Commission (2010), Indian Ports Association (IPA-2015) and Kelkar Committee Report (2015)," says a press release from the Ministry. Change in equity holding to provide exit route: The revised MCA has proposed that the Concessionaire shall hold 51 per cent equity until 3 years after Commercial Operation Date (COD) and 26 per cent thereafter for another 3 years.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today released proposed regulations that would provide additional clarity and certainty for its Marine Minerals Program regarding negotiated, non-competitive leases for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) resources such as sand, gravel and shell. The proposed rule describes the negotiated, non-competitive agreement process for qualifying projects, and codifies new and existing procedures for using OCS sand, gravel and shell resources for shore protection, beach restoration or coastal wetlands restoration projects undertaken by federal, state and local governments. It also addresses the use of OCS resources for construction projects authorized or funded by the federal government.

Canada’s Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt proposed new amendments to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations that would enhance reporting requirements and expand data collection. The proposed amendments would apply to the transportation of dangerous goods in all transportation sectors. The proposed amendments would broaden the scope of the original reporting requirements and help improve emergency response and risk analysis through stronger, more comprehensive data collection. This additional information would allow Transport Canada to establish more effective regulations in the future. New reporting requirements would also be put in place for dangerous goods incidents involving road vehicles…

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) reintroduced the Harbor Equity Act on Monday, his office announced. This legislation modifies the existing criteria used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge small harbors. Currently, the Corps' prioritizes dredging solely for larger harbors that see 1 million or more tons in traffic per year - often forcing small community harbors to fund their own dredging or be forced to shut down operations. The Harbor Equity Act will drop the minimum tonnage requirements and prioritize smaller harbors for dredging rather than just larger, commercial harbors.

Notice of proposed rulemaking by U.S. On Monday, the U.S. Federal Register published a notice of proposed rulemaking by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to implement section 811 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-281) which would provide clear regulatory requirements for each facility owner or operator to provide seafarers associated with a vessel moored at the facility, and other individuals, access between the vessel and facility gate without unreasonable delay, and at no cost to the seafarer or other individual. Generally, transiting through a facility is the only way that a seafarer or other individual can egress to shore beyond the facility to access basic shoreside businesses and services…

CMA CGM confirms its global development strategy and proposes a new and unique East-West network of services on the following trades: Asia-Europe, Asia-Mediterranean, Transpacific and Asia-United States East Coast. Pending authorization from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the new East-West offering will provide four weekly services on the Asia-Europe trade, completing the two existing services, thereby offering six departures per week; four weekly services on the Asia-Mediterranean trade: two to the Mediterranean…

Thailand at forefront of movement to build a 21st century network of land, sea and air routes to strengthen Asia. The Silk Road was a centuries-old network of linked trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa. Thailand has been in the forefront of efforts to create new and better trade routes, proposing a concept paper on enhanced regional connectivity through the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) meetings held recently in Kuwait, reports the 'Bangkok Post'. In its proposal to the ACD meeting, the Thai government stressed that increased connectivity among member countries would not only bring them closer together physically…

Oil & Gas Regulators Respond to Recent Pollution Incidents by Reviewing their Regulatory Regimes. In response to the spate of significant pollution incidents involving oil & gas exploration, production and transportation that have hit the headlines in recent years, a number of national and international regulators have taken the opportunity to review their regulatory regimes. This article provides an update on the new Community-wide regulations that have been proposed by the European Commission, the regulatory reform that has occurred in Australia and the possible reforms in New Zealand.

The United States has made a proposal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to designate a new Emission Control Area for waters around the coasts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The IMO is slated to consider this proposal at the next meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 61), in London this September. www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure released the statement of Representative James Oberstar (D-MN) before the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures of the House Committee on Ways and Means. In his statement, Representative Oberstar, who chairs the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, proposes various financing options for the Highway Trust Fund. Among the options is a proposal to raise the excise tax by $1 per barrel on crude oil and refined gasoline and diesel. Also proposed is a fee of $10 on every twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container moving through a US port. There is also a proposal for a freight waybill tax (sales tax) of 0.1% on freight shipping costs. The excise tax proposal would raise an estimated $24 billion over six years.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published on January 2, 2008 a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) requiring importers and carriers to electronically submit additional information on cargo before it is brought into the United States by vessel. The Security Filing, also known as “10+2,” is another step in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) strategy to better assess and identify high-risk shipments to prevent terrorist weapons and materials from entering the United States. “The Security Filing will improve CBP’s ability to target high-risk cargo by identifying actual cargo movements and improving the accuracy of cargo descriptions,” said CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham. This initiative strengthens cargo security by making CBP screening more efficient and effective.

Kvaerner, the international engineering and construction group said that the board election committee had reached a decision concerning nominations for a new board to be elected at the extraordinary general meeting in Oslo, Norway, later today. The nominations are as follows: Kjell Inge Rokke, Helge Lund, Anders Eckhoff, Tore Tonne, Reidar Lund, and Yngve Hagensen. The election committee consists of Ragnhild Wilborg (chairman), head of investments for ODIN Forvaltning, Allen Akerstedt, president of Storebrand Kapitalforvaltning, and Kjell Inge Rokke, chairman of Aker RGI. The current board of Kvaerner advised the election committee yesterday that its members were prepared to resign their positions following the announcement of a preliminary agreement between Kvaerner and Aker Maritime.

Based in Coos Bay Oregon, Sause Brothers Towing has been towing between Pacific Northwest and Southern Californian ports for over 50 years. A new double-hulled 105,000-barrel oil barge, Sunset Bay, is currently alongside at the company shipyard in Coos Bay. With the hull built at the Gunderson yard in Portland it is being outfitted by Sause. Also at the yard, the ocean going tug Powhatan is undergoing an extensive repower that will see a pair of 850 HP engines replaced with a pair of Cummins KTA50 M2 mains each rated for 1500 HP at 1800 RPM. A new pair of Reintjes WAF772 marine gears with 7.45:1 ratios have also been installed in the 105x30-foot tug.

After nine months of informal consultations with its customers and the maritime industry, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) today announced a formal proposal to update their current vessel measurement and pricing system for full container vessels and other vessel types with on-deck container capacity. The ACP’s proposal would change the system that the Canal currently uses for the container segment – from the Panama Canal Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) to the industry standard of the Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU). The updated measurements and pricing system will bring the ACP’s system on par with international standards of the container industry…

of a new Commission of Inquiry. courts' difficulty in clarifying the causes of accidents at sea. experience. shipping partner in Wikborg Rein's Oslo office. recommendations. including a change to the definition of 'accident at sea'. where there have been major injuries. whether loss of life or major injury has occurred. The duties of masters will also change under the new Commission. authority of accidents at sea," says Eilertsen. the Commission, nearest police authority, or the rescue coordination centre of any accidents.

The European Commission authorized a French aid scheme to promote inland waterway transport. The Commission agreed to a French aid scheme for inland waterway transport. This scheme will be in force during the period 2004-2007 with a budget of between €14.5 and €15 million per annum. The aim of this new scheme is to encourage the development of inland waterway transport in France through fleet modernisation and by promoting the occupation of inland waterway carrier. Any inland waterway freight carrier operating in France is potentially eligible for this aid. The scheme takes over the inland waterway transport aid plan for the period 2001-2003.[1] The new scheme also proposes new aid designed to take better account of current market conditions. The aid plan is in two main parts.

On June 19, 2002, the United States Coast Guard proposed permanent changes to its notification of arrival and departure information for all commercial vessels greater than 300 gt. (See, 67 Fed. Reg. 41659). The notice of proposed rulemaking is part of a greater port security scheme that seeks to ensure port safety, security without compromising the flow of commerce. The changes to the present Notice of Arrival (NOA) reporting regime are substantive and procedural. The changes affect the estimated 10,367 respondents (vessel owners, operators, masters, agents or others in charge of U.S.-bound vessels, herein "Submitters") that currently submit an approximate, 136,278 NOA and Notice of Departure (NOD) reports. • Submitting cargo manifest information electronically to U.S.

The Panama Canal Authority released a formal proposal to change its pricing structure to move toward a market-oriented business model that allows for greater customer service and continual improvements to the Canal. As global trade continues to expand, the shipping industry has evolved significantly and the Canal's 90-year-old pricing structure needs to be changed to meet the increasing demands of a dynamic market place. "This historic shift in our business model is the first step toward changing the long-standing, one-size-fits-all pricing structure and replace it with a system that is more tailored to individual customer needs," said Alberto Aleman Zubieta, the Canal Administrator.

The EU is working toward creating a general standard for protective suits in the high-pressure water jet industry. On December 12, 2002, experts representing manufacturers and test houses from France, Germany, Sweden, and Belgium, as well an observer from the United States met in Brussels, Belgium. The host of the meeting was the Notified Body Centexbel, coordinated by Fred Foubert. The group worked towards developing a standard method of testing that could be used throughout Europe to evaluate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) used by operators in the water jet industry. There is currently no uniform standard of protection levels for the water jet industry. Three tiers of protection were discussed using energy criteria.