Cong News

Senator Wesley Livsey Jones gave his name to the famous “Jones Act” governing U.S. domestic maritime trade. But what do really know about him? It turns out that he was much more than a leading merchant marine policy maker. (i)Jones had a long career in the U.S. House of Representatives before he was a Senator, was an effective legislator, an astute politician, one of the hardest working legislators of his era, and always viewed as honest and forthright. His many maritime legislative successes included the Merchant Marine Act…

The House Committee on Appropriations approved by a vote of 34-24 the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Energy and Water Development (E&W) Appropriations Bill. Included in the bill are Community Project Funding (CPF) requests for Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) construction projects.Overall proposed funding for Corps’ Civil Works is $9.57 billion, an increase of $910 million above FY23’s appropriated level, and $2.16 billion above the President’s FY24 budget request.FY24 funding for construction projects on the inland waterways is $455.97 million…

Danish wind turbines manufacturer  Vestas Wind Systems secured a 50 MW order with Cong ty Co Phan Dau Tu Dien Gio Hoa Binh 1 (Hoa Binh 1 Company), a company owned by Phuong Anh Group. The order marks Vestas' third intertidal project in the country with three different customers announced this month, which makes the company leads the market for wind energy in Vietnam with almost 200 MW of projects.The project will be located in Hòa Bình, a district of Bạc Liêu Province where the turbines will be installed in shallow waters close to shore to exploit the full potential of the Mekong Delta region's good wind conditions.The contract includes…

Rules regarding 'Employment of Non-U.S. Credentialed Personnel On board Certain U.S.-Documented Vessels' defined.An analysis of recent arrival notifications has revealed several cases of U.S.-documented vessels calling on U.S. ports with non-U.S. credentialed personnel in lieu of U.S. citizens. The intent of this MSIB is to provide information and guidance regarding the provisions for employment of non-U.S. credentialed personnel on board certain U.S. documented vessels. Please…

On June 29, Vice Minister of Transport in Vietnam, Nguyen Van Cong accompanied by delegates from Vietnam Maritime Administration (VMA) and Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) visited Hyundai Merchant Marine(HMM).   The delegates arrived Korea on 26th at the invitation of Busan Port Authority (BPA).    HMM CEO, Yoo Chang-Keun and executives have attended the meeting, discussing various cooperative methods for port business in Vietnam.   The Vietnamese delegation was in Korea to attend Korea Maritime Week.

1811 - The frigate President, commanded by John Rodgers, exchanges several shots with HMS Little Belt during the night. Each captain claims the other fired first, increasing tensions between the two countries prior to the War of 1812. 1820 - The frigate Congress becomes the first U.S. warship to visit China when she visits Guanhzhou (now Canton). 1919 - Three Curtiss NC seaplanes leave from Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland, Canada for the first trans-atlantic flight. Only NC 4 makes the flight successfully reaching the Azores on May 17.

Vietnam's government has agreed on a port project in the southern province of Ca Mau, costing some $2.5 billion according to media reports and which would be able to host some of the world's biggest ships. The Hon Khoai port would be built under a public-private partnership, the government said in a statement on Saturday, while local media, citing a provincial proposal, said 85 percent of the funding would be via loans from the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The remaining 15 percent of the cost will come from the private sector. State-run news website VnEconomy said the provincial authority had proposed local, unlisted Cong Ly Construction-Trading-Tourism Co as investor for the project.

Port authority CEOs and senior staff from throughout the Western Hemisphere, along with maritime industry leaders, influencers and policymakers are expected to converge on Washington, D.C., April 20-21, to attend the 2015 Spring Conference of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) – the collective and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas. The annual event will feature discussions on the energy industry, cybersecurity, port cooperation, economic impacts, infrastructure funding…

Today, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) applauded a “Dear Colleague” letter to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Appropriations that was signed by 22 senators, urging appropriators to meet the dredging funding commitments made in the 2014 Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA), passed in May. That letter, together with a similar one circulated through the House earlier this fall to House Appropriations Committee leadership, supports the “Hit the HMT Target!” campaign to impress upon lawmakers the need to annually fund what was authorized in WRRDA. In July, the House approved fiscal 2015 appropriations that hit the HMT target, thanks to a floor amendment put forth by Cong. Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Cong.

Today in U.S. Naval History - August 18 1838 - Exploring Expedition under Lt. Charles Wilkes embarks on world cruise. 1911 - First Navy Nurse Corps superintendent, Esther Voorhees Hasson, appointed 1965 - First major amphibious assault in Vietnam, Operation Starlight captures 2,000 Viet Cong 1966 - First ship-to-shore satellite radio message sent from USS Annapolis in South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor 1974 - After flooding in Philippines, Navy helicopters begin six days of operations to rescue people and bring supplies (244 flights) For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Following the recent passing of former Cong. James Oberstar, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle described the past chair of the U.S. “In 2003, AAPA honored Cong. Oberstar with its prestigious ‘Port Person of the Year’ award for his many contributions to advancing America’s freight transportation system, including authoring or co-authoring six Water Resources Development Acts from 1986 to 2000, and various Coast Guard and Coastal Zone Management reauthorizations and amendments,” said Mr. Nagle. In March 2010, Cong. Oberstar returned to the AAPA stage as a keynote speaker to share his views about the importance of authorizing new surface transportation legislation.

A recent study for the Transportation Institute by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed that Alaska is a major domestic maritime state, ranking third among all American states for domestic maritime industry economic impact. The American domestic maritime industry includes vessel operators, marine terminals, shipyards, and workers engaged in the movement of cargo exclusively within the U.S. Alaska ranks #3 among all U.S. states in per capita jobs related to the American domestic maritime industry.

Today in U.S. 1800 - USS Essex becomes first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the Equator. 1815 - The Board of Naval Commissioners, a group of senior officers, is established to oversee the operation and maintenance of the Navy, under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. 1965 - In response to a Viet Cong attack on barracks area at Pleiku, South Vietnam, aircraft from carriers, USS Coral Sea, USS Hancock, and USS Ranger attack North Vietnamese area near Donghoi. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster  (R-PA) have been jointly selected to receive the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2014 “Port Person of the Year” award. The bi-partisan nomination for AAPA’s most prestigious annual award was submitted by the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA). Marking its 102nd year as the Western Hemisphere’s leading trade association representing port authorities, AAPA selected Sen. Boxer and Cong. Shuster based on their dedication to improving America’s water resources, infrastructure and freight transportation policy. Their work toward reforming federal water resources development legislation…

Bourbon is rolling out a transformation plan for its future growth. As part of its “Transforming for Beyond” project, Bourbon has decided to sell vessels worth $2.5 billion from its fleet and retain the vessels on bareboat charter for a period of 10 years. The terms of a first phase of the financial aspect of “Transforming for Beyond” was signed off on April 9th with the Chinese company ICBC Financial Leasing for up to 51 supply vessels either in operation (24) or under construction (27 with delivery within 14 months) for a total of up to $1.5 billion. The transaction will be closed within two months of its signing following completion of each party procedures. -right of first refusal in the event of ICBC Financial Leasing selling vessels during lease period.

U.S. Reps Janice Hahn & Ted Poe to Accept AAPA’s ‘Port Person of Year’ Award at March 19 Event in D.C.; AAPA’s 2013 ‘Spring Conference’ to focus on key seaport priorities: infrastructure, security, trade. U.S. Representatives Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Ted Poe (R-TX) will be honored on March 19 as the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2013 “Port Persons of the Year” during the association’s annual Spring Conference event, March 18-19, at The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel.

1838 - Exploring Expedition under LT Charles Wilkes embarks on world cruise. 1911 - First Navy Nurse Corps superintendent, Esther Voorhees Hasson, appointed 1965 - First major amphibious assault in Vietnam, Operation Starlight captures 2,000 Viet Cong 1966 - First ship-to-shore satellite radio message sent from USS Annapolis in South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor 1974 - After flooding in Philippines, Navy helicopters begin 6 days of operations to rescue people and bring supplies (244 flights) (Source: Navy News Service)

1800 - USS Essex becomes first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the Equator. 1815 - The Board of Naval Commissioners, a group of senior officers, is established to oversee the operation and maintenance of the Navy, under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. 1955 - Seventh Fleet ships begin evacuation of Chinese nationalists from Tachen Islands 1965 - In response to a Viet Cong attack on barracks area at Pleiku, South Vietnam, aircraft from carriers, USS Coral Sea, USS Hancock, and USS Ranger attack North Vietnamese area near Donghoi. (Source: Navy News Service)

1838 - Exploring Expedition under Lt. Charles Wilkes embarks on world cruise. 1911 - First Navy Nurse Corps superintendent, Esther Voorhees Hasson, appointed. 1965 - First major amphibious assault in Vietnam, Operation Starlight captures 2,000 Viet Cong. 1966 - First ship-to-shore satellite radio message sent from USS Annapolis (AMGR 1) in South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor. 1974 - After flooding in Philippines, Navy helicopters begin six days of operations to rescue people and bring supplies (244 flights).   For more information on naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.

The Department of the Navy will commission the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer Howard in a ceremony Saturday, Oct. p.m. CDT at pier 27 in Galveston, Texas. The ship is named in honor of Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard (1929-1993), recipient of the Medal of Honor for his leadership of a platoon against repeated attacks by a battalion-sized Viet Cong force. After receiving severe wounds from an enemy grenade, he distributed ammunition to his men and directed air strikes on the enemy. By dawn, his beleaguered platoon still held their position. Howard also received the Silver Star Medal for service in Korea. A previous Howard (1920-1945), named for Charles W. Howard, a U.S. Navy hero from the Civil War, earned six battle stars in World War II.

1800 - USS Essex becomes the first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the equator. 1815 - The Board of Naval Commissioners, a group of senior officers, is established to oversee the operation and maintenance of the Navy under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. 1955 - Ships from the 7th Fleet begin the evacuation of Chinese nationalists from the Tachen Islands. 1965 - In response to a Viet Cong attack on a U.S. barracks area in Pleiku, South Vietnam, aircraft from carriers USS Coral Sea (CV 43), USS Hancock (CV 19) and USS Ranger (CV 61) attack a North Vietnamese area near Donghoi. 1991 - Using her remotely piloted vehicle for spotting, USS Wisconsin (BB 64) pounds Iraqi artillery, electronic warfare and naval sites with her 16-inch guns.

1800 - USS Essex becomes the first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the equator. 1815 - The Board of Naval Commissioners, a group of senior officers, is established to oversee the operation and maintenance of the Navy under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. 1955 - Ships from the 7th Fleet begin the evacuation of Chinese nationalists from the Tachen Islands. 1965 - In response to a Viet Cong attack on a U.S. barracks area in Pleiku, South Vietnam, aircraft from carriers USS Coral Sea (CV 43), USS Hancock (CV 19) and USS Ranger (CV 61) attack a North Vietnamese area near Donghoi. 1991 - Using her remotely piloted vehicle for spotting, USS Wisconsin (BB 64) pounds Iraqi artillery, electronic warfare and naval sites with her 16-inch guns.

1838 - Exploring Expedition under LT Charles Wilkes embarks on world cruise. 1911 - First Navy Nurse Corps superintendent, Esther Voorhees Hasson, appointed 1965 - First major amphibious assault in Vietnam, Operation Starlight captures 2,000 Viet Cong 1966 - First ship-to-shore satellite radio message sent from USS Annapolis in South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor 1974 - After flooding in Philippines, Navy helicopters begin 6 days of operations to rescue people and bring supplies (244 flights) (Source: Navy News Service)