Camp Springs News

Panelists say U.S. may be at competitive disadvantage by not adopting “MLC, 2006”. Panelists at a major symposium on an international maritime agreement today said the U.S. may be at a competitive economic disadvantage if it doesn’t approve what more than 30 other shipping nations have adopted. The symposium, hosted by the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, the Charleston School of Law and its Charleston Maritime Law Institute, focused discussion on the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006, also known as “MLC, 2006.”  The most significant development in seafarers’ rights law in history, it provides a comprehensive statement of seafarers’ working conditions that balance tradition and modern shipping realities.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced the appointment of 29 members to the new Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC), established to advise the Department on matters relating to marine transportation. “Shifting some of our freight from the highways to open inland waterways is a fuel-efficient, cost-effective way to move goods and reduce roadway congestion,” said Secretary LaHood. The Department will task the MTSNAC with developing recommendations on establishing new marine highway services and port infrastructure development, among other issues. “The experience brought to bear by this diverse panel is impressive,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “These maritime experts have a lot to contribute.

Glen Paine, Executive Director of the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and Pacific Northwest Maritime Institute, has announced that the Institute has entered into a formal agreement with the National Weather Service's (NWS) Marine Prediction Center (MPC) located in Camp Springs, Maryland. Mr. Paine and Dr. James E. Hoke, MPC Director, signed the agreement on September 5, 2001. The agreement states MPC will provide weather instruction, as time and resources permit, in MITAGS' Heavy Weather Avoidance course, Marine Weather course, Master Mates and Operator course and other licensing courses requiring weather skills.

Commodore Holdings is reportedly in negotiations for the purchase of its fourth ship, which it plans to operate on twice-daily gambling cruises between San Diego and Rosarito, Mexico. Commodore has a letter of intent granting it exclusive rights to a new Rosarito pier for 10 years, with an option for an additional 10 years. Pier construction has begun, and could be finished by February 1999. The line is "in the final stages of negotiations to acquire a 1,000-passenger vessel to service the new route," said Commodore CEO Fred Mayer. For information on subscribing to the Guide to Riverboat and Shipboard Gaming Legislation, contact the Transportation Institute at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746; tel: 301-423-3335.