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Public Meeting News

15 Nov 2021

FMC Examining How Data Can Improve Ocean Cargo Velocity

© Brad Nixon / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said it has set out to identify data constraints that impede the flow of ocean cargo and add to supply chain inefficiencies as severe bottlenecks continue to hamper global supply chains.Launched at the direction of FMC Chairman Daniel B. Maffei and spearheaded by Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel, the initiative seeks to to pinpoint how data can contribute to the long-term reliability of the domestic cargo delivery system. It will also aim to propose recommendations for common data standards used by the international shipping supply chain…

30 Jun 2019

Massport Board Appoints New CEO

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) picked its port director, Lisa Wieland, to be its next Chief Executive Officer(CEO), bypassing the other finalist, a member of the city's power elite, for one of the most influential public-sector jobs in the state.Board of Directors voted to offer Wieland the position of CEO and Executive Director for a five-year term. Contract negotiations will occur at a later date.The search firm Isaacson, Miller sought a diverse candidate pool for the position and more than 100 applications were received. Members of the Board’s Preliminary Screening Committee interviewed 10 semifinalists, of which five were women and three were people of color.

10 May 2019

Summary of latest TSAC Meeting Available

Rear Adm. John Nadeau, assistant commandant for prevention policy.

The Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) held its spring public meeting in Miami, Florida, March 13, 2019. Attendees represented the Coast Guard, the towing and barge industry, engineers, pilots/masters, port authorities, terminal operators, offshore operators, and the public.After welcoming remarks from Rear Adm. John Nadeau, assistant commandant for prevention policy, the committee deliberated on current tasks, discussed new business, and received public comments.Highlights from the meeting included:Capt.

17 Jan 2019

Port of Seattle Joins Washington's 'Maritime Blue Strategy'

The Port of Seattle joined with a broad range of maritime stakeholders in support of Governor Jay Inslee’s ‘Maritime Blue Strategy’.According to a press note, the Strategy aims to advance the region’s maritime-based, “blue economy” through increased collaboration between its diverse sectors to promote innovation and sustainable practices that support a competitive gateway with a 21st Century workforce.Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman served as a member of the Maritime Blue Advisory Committee.The Maritime Blue Strategy aims to make Washington State home to a world-class, thriving and sustainable maritime industry by 2050 in partnership with business…

11 Dec 2018

NTSB Issues Report on Passenger Vessel Casualty

(This graphic depicts a simplified diagram of the cooling water system aboard the small passenger vessel Island Lady. The NTSB’s investigation of the Jan. 14, 2018, fire aboard the vessel revealed that the failure of the port engine’s raw-water pump led to overheating of the engine and exhaust tubing, which led to the fire. Diagram by NTSB)

Insufficient Maintenance Program, Lack of Guidance Led to Passenger Vessel Fire. The National Transportation Safety Board determined during a public meeting held Tuesday that an insufficient preventative maintenance program and lack of guidance for responding to engine high-temperature conditions, led to the Jan. 14, 2018, fire aboard the small passenger vessel Island Lady, in the waters of the Pithlachascotee River, near Port Ritchey, Florida.The Island Lady was a 72-foot-long passenger vessel operated by Tropical Breeze Casino Cruz…

21 Sep 2018

NOSAC Meeting Highlights

Representatives from the Coast Guard, offshore oil and gas industries, recognized organizations and numerous industry associations attended the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee semi-annual public meeting in Houston, Texas Sept 11, 2018.Rear Adm. John Nadeau, assistant commandant for prevention policy, attended the meeting and discussed with the Committee the new Coast Guard commandant’s strategic vision for the service as well as the reorganization within the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance to put an increased emphasis on Third Party Organization oversight.During the meeting, the Committee heard presentations and discussions on the progress of a variety of issues, including reports and recommendations stemming from the Subcommittees’ deliberations.

26 Apr 2018

USCG's Polar Icebreaker Program Prepares for EIS

Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); notice of public meeting; and request for comments posted in Federal Register.The U.S. Coast Guard said it is working to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Polar Icebreaker Program’s design and build of up to six new polar icebreakers.To prepare for the EIS, the Coast Guard has begun the scoping process to solicit public comments regarding a range of issues, including potential environmental impacts and alternatives that should be addressed in the EIS. The Coast Guard will also hold public meetings in Anchorage…

07 Feb 2018

California to Ban Crude from Trump Offshore Drilling Plan

© Don Bright / Adobe Stock

California will block the transport of petroleum from new offshore oil rigs through its state, officials told Reuters, a move meant to hobble the Trump administration’s effort to vastly expand drilling in U.S. federal waters. California's threat to deny pipeline permits for transporting oil from new leases off the Pacific Coast is the latest step by states trying to halt the biggest proposed expansion in decades of federal oil and gas leasing. Officials in Florida, North and South Carolina…

01 Aug 2017

Salvage and Marine Firefighting

© Lev Savitskiy / Adobe Stock

Salvage and marine firefighting are complex response efforts often undertaken in adverse weather and sea conditions. While no two oil spill responses are the same, the diversity of variation between any two oil spill responses is not near as great as the diversity of any two salvage and marine firefighting responses. As a result, salvage and marine firefighting response providers must plan for and anticipate a wide range of variation in what will be required to address their portion of a marine casualty. The U.S.

03 Jul 2017

El Faro Investigators Call for Better Weather Forecasting

The eye of Hurricane Joaquin is visible in the lower left corner of this image taken from the International Space Station October 2, 2015. (Photo: NASA)

New recommendations coming out of the investigation into the 2015 sinking of U.S. cargo ship El Faro call for efforts to improve the weather information available to mariners. All 33 crew on board died when the 790-foot El Faro sank close to the eye of Hurricane Joaquin near the Bahamas on October 1, 2015, two days after leaving Jacksonville, Fla. en route to Puerto Rico. Now, as part of its ongoing investigation into the incident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)…

09 Nov 2016

LA, Long Beach Ports Focus on Updating Clean Air Action Plan

The governing boards of the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach will hold a joint public meeting Nov. 17 to discuss proposals for updating the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP). Developed over the past year, the CAAP Discussion Document outlines the ports’ plans for expanding the aggressive strategies that have succeeded in dramatically reducing air pollution from port-related sources over the last decade. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Port of Long Beach Maintenance Facility, 725 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach, 90802. The meeting will also be broadcast live online at www.portoflosangeles.org and www.polb.com.

23 Sep 2016

FMC: Update Regarding Commission Briefings on the Status of Hanjin Shipping

Photo: Federal Maritime Commission

The status of Hanjin Shipping and the disruptions caused by its bankruptcy to the American shipping community, as well as global supply chains, was examined closely by the Federal Maritime Commission during the closed session of the September 20, 2016 public meeting. Commissioners were briefed by staff from the Office of the General Counsel; the Bureau of Trade Analysis; the Bureau of Enforcement; and the Office of Consumer Affairs & Dispute Resolution Services about a variety of developments related to the insolvency of Hanjin Shipping. Topics addressed included: proceedings in the U.S.

25 Jul 2016

Los Angeles Pushes for Valero Terminal Improvements

The Port of Los Angeles has released an Initial Study/Notice of Preparation (IS/NOP) — the first step in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process — for a Marine Oil Terminal Wharf Improvements Project at the Valero Terminal on Mormon Island in Los Angeles Harbor. The primary goal of the proposed project is to comply with the Marine Oil Terminal Engineering and Maintenance Standards (MOTEMS) to protect public health, safety, and the environment, which involves demolition of the existing 19,000-square-foot timber wharf at Berth 164 and construction and operation of a new, MOTEMS-compliant wharf, with minor infrastructure improvements to connect the new loading platform to the existing landside pipelines and utilities.

08 Jun 2016

Lack of Communication Led to Houston Ship Collision -NTSB

The probable cause of the 2015 collision of the Conti Peridot and the Carla Maersk in the Houston Ship Channel was the inability of the pilot on the Conti Peridot to respond appropriately to hydrodynamic forces after meeting another vessel during restricted visibility, and his lack of communication with other vessels about this handling difficulty controlling his vessel, said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) during a public meeting on Tuesday. Contributing to the circumstances that resulted in the collision was the inadequate bridge resource management between the master and the pilot on the Conti Peridot. The collision of the 623-foot long…

01 Feb 2016

Cyber Security In Shipping & Offshore Ops

Sources: DNV The amount of communication options is growing for  shipping and offshore installations. Communication broker solutions  from Maritime Communication Partner (MCP) is shown at left and Inmarsat Plc at right.  GL, MCP, Inmarsat Plc

Global shipping and offshore oil and gas operations are increasingly dependent on integrated networks, based on various software and data transfer solutions. Systems and equipment onboard are interconnected, monitored and controlled through an onboard automation network. Onboard systems are increasingly also connected ashore to the owners’ or technology providers’ control centers. Equipment manufacturers want to remotely upgrade the software of their systems and monitor their use to be able to optimize operations and to scheduled needed maintenance service.

08 May 2015

Seattle, Tacoma Prepare for Seaport Alliance

Terminal 46 in Seattle (Photo: Port of Seattle)

A draft of the final agreement between the ports of Tacoma and Seattle has been released, heralding a milestone in the formation of a Seaport Alliance that will unify the two ports’ marine cargo terminal investments, operations, planning and marketing. “We intend to make our organizations stronger and more sustainable to better serve our customers, grow our regional economy and address unprecedented competition facing the shipping industry,” said Don Johnson, Port of Tacoma commission president.

12 Mar 2015

New Lineup for NOAA Hydrographic Services Panel

The Hydrographic Services Review Panel advises NOAA on improving services for navigation and coastal resilience. (Credit: NOAA)

NOAA administrator Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., has appointed six members to the Hydrographic Services Review Panel, a federal advisory committee that gives NOAA independent advice for improving a range of services and products that support navigation and coastal resilience. Capt. “Providing coastal communities, boaters, and the commercial maritime industry with timely, reliable, accurate, and authoritative information is essential as we strive to keep commerce flowing through our nation’s ports,” Sullivan said. Rear Admiral Ken Barbor (ret.), U.S. Lawson W. Capt. Gary A. Scott R.

22 Jan 2015

USCG to Address Cruise Ship Security Regulations

Photo: Cruise Port of Miami

The U.S. The proposed rule would amend USCG regulations on cruise ship terminal security by implementing amendments that provide detailed, flexible requirements for the screening of all baggage, personal items and persons—including passengers, crew and visitors—intended for carriage on a cruise ship. The proposed regulations would standardize the security requirements of cruise ship terminals and would eliminate redundancies in current regulations that govern the security of cruise ship terminals.

28 Jun 2014

Former FedEx Canada President to Head Long Beach Port

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners is scheduled to vote Monday, June 30, to name Jon W. Slangerup, a veteran corporate executive with extensive experience in global logistics and environmental technologies, as the Port of Long Beach’s new Chief Executive. “After an extensive, nationwide search, the Board of Harbor Commissioners is very pleased to recommend the appointment of Jon Slangerup as the Port’s new Chief Executive,” said Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond. “He’s an extremely capable leader, proven team-builder and expert at managing a world-class organization. With the pending expansion of the Panama Canal and the aftermath of the 2008 recession, port communities throughout North America have been highly focused on maintaining and growing their business.

10 Jun 2014

Agenda For June 19 Public Meeting on NPREP Guidlines

Leaders of the maritime industry will convene in Washington, D.C. on June 19 with representatives of the relevant government agencies to have a dialogue addressing concerns with, and ways to improve, the recently published draft National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (NPREP) guidelines. Preparing for the contingency of a maritime casualty has long been a priority of the industry, which has often been at the leading edge of improved standards and training. Therefore…

04 Jun 2014

Public Meeting to Address NPREP Guidelines

Maritime industry leaders will convene in Washington, D.C. on June 19 with representatives of the relevant government agencies to have a dialogue addressing concerns with, and ways to improve, the recently published draft National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (NPREP) guidelines. Preparing for the contingency of a maritime casualty has long been a priority of the industry, which has often been at the leading edge of improved standards and training. The public meeting will address concerns and issues of vital interest to many communities across the country. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, 2014, from 1-4 p.m. in Washington, D.C., Ronald Reagan International Trade Building, Polaris Suite.

05 May 2014

Yusen Container Terminal Draft EIS/EIR Released

The Port of Los Angeles and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIS/EIR) for the Yusen Terminals Inc. (YTI) Container Terminal Improvements Project, located at Berths 212-224 at the Port of Los Angeles, on the north side of Terminal Island along the Cerritos Channel, near the East Basin. The proposed project entails improving Berths 214-216 wharves, increasing berth depth from -45 to -53 feet, and improving Berths 217-220 wharves to make way for 100-foot gauge gantry cranes, as well as deepening to a -47 feet berth depth. The project will also construct additional on-dock rail yard capacity for YTI.

05 May 2014

MARAD to Host National Maritime Strategy Symposium

Anthony Foxx, U.S. Secretary of Transportation

On Tuesday, May 6, at 9 a.m. EDT, the Maritime Administration and the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council will host the second National Maritime Strategy Symposium in Washington, D.C. Building upon the first Symposium held in January, this public meeting will focus on domestic U.S. maritime issues, including ports, shipping, shipyards, environmental compliance and maritime energy use, and labor and workforce development. Speakers include: Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation…

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