US Trade Chief Tai Seeks Talks with China, Won't Rule Out New Tariff Actions
Top U.S. trade negotiator Katherine Tai on Monday pledged to exclude some Chinese imports from tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump while pressing Beijing in "frank" talks over its failure to keep promises made in Trump's trade deal and end harmful industrial policies.Tai said the United States would keep all options open as it continues to push China to stop pouring billions of dollars of state subsidies into its semiconductor, steel and other industries that Washington says harm U.S.
First Offshore Exhibition at Maritime Museum Rotterdam
Over forty-five leading companies in the shipping and offshore maritime sector are among those who have contributed to the funding for the first ever exhibition in the Netherlands dedicated to the offshore sector, to be housed at The Maritime Museum Rotterdam for the next seven years. Offshore Experience, which will open in mid-December, will provide visitors with a spectacular overview of the search for oil, gas, wind energy and renewables at sea. Frits Loomeijer, General Director of the Maritime Museum says, “As the worldwide transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy continues apace, energy assumes increasing importance for the economy and is essential for everyday living. Without energy, we could not recharge our mobile phones, put fuel in our cars or cook our food.
MTS Elects Four to Board of Directors
The Marine Technology Society (MTS) announced the results of its recent elections for positions on its Board of Directors. The following Vice Presidents were elected: Jill Zande, Education and Research; Ray Toll, Industry and Technology; Donna Kocak, Publications; and Justin Manley, Government and Public Affairs. Election results were announced at the Society’s Annual Meeting during OCEANS’11 MTS/IEEE Kona in Hawaii. Jill Zande is the Associate Director and ROV Competition Coordinator for the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center. “Each year over 400 schools, middle through university, participate in MATE ROV competitions.
MarineTech Underwater Robot Competitions
Dr. Alok Verma, Director of Lean Institute at Old Dominion University organized two underwater robotics competitions under a project called MarineTech funded by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV). On the morning of July 11, 2009, around 60 people, including students and their parents, gathered at Maury High School for the Sea Perch underwater robot competition. During the spring semester, students built Sea Perch robots with the help of their teachers for this competition. Nine teams participated in the competition.
Panama Canal Modernizes Locomotive Fleet
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has purchased an additional 34 locomotives from the Mitsubishi Corporation – part of the Canal’s permanent modernization program. The ACP has been upgrading its locomotive fleet in a multi-year contract with Mitsubishi for the past several years. The contract entitles the ACP to exercise unique options, particularly notable to this purchase is that the assembly of 16 of the 34 locomotives will be performed in Panama by Mitsubishi and ACP employees. Rarely done by Mitsubishi, the assembly in Panama will provide ACP employees with a transfer of skills and new opportunities for training and technology education. Since the handover, the ACP has been committed to modernizing its locomotive fleet, an essential component for safe, reliable and efficient transits.
Five Panamax Ships Transit Gatun Locks
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said that five “extreme-sized” panamax ships (more than 900´ in overall length) transited successively through the waterway’s Gatun Locks on August 26, 2004. This accomplishment marks the first time that five of these panamax vessels have transited Gatun Locks consecutively going southbound, toward the Pacific Ocean. Eight locomotives and 16 wires were used to move the vessels through the Locks. Normally, six locomotives and 12 wires are used to accommodate regular panamax vessels.
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center:
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center, headquartered at Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, California, is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded partnership of organizations concerned with marine science and technology education. The MATE Center coordinates and facilitates the development of educational programs in marine science and technology involving grades 9-16, with an emphasis on community colleges. In the Monterey Bay region, MATE and Monterey Peninsula College have developed a new Marine Science and Technology Associate Degree and Certificate Program that begins this Fall 1999 semester with courses geared to prepare students for careers in marine science and technology.
