Department Of Transportation Office News

A new decision-support tool could become a game changer in the dredging of ship channels. Millions of dollars are at stake every time a major ship channel is cleaned up. Delays in dredging can cost even more by triggering increased risks, repeated maintenance and lost revenue. In either case, the task cannot be put off indefinitely.All ship channels must be regularly cleared of sand, debris settled on the bottom (called shoal) and miscellaneous trash. That means ship channel management regularly faces the mighty task of dredging.

At the end of 2019 – December 27, to be exact – the US Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary – filed a request for information regarding the development of a National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP), required by the multi-year federal transportation bill, passed in 2015, called the FAST Act – “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation.”By the close of the public comment period (Feb. 10) DOT had received 82 comments. Importantly, for the maritime industry, maritime businesses and trade groups…

Florida-Based Sea Star Line LLC Agrees to Plead Guilty and Its Former President Is Indicted for Price Fixing on Coastal Freight Services Between the Continental United States and Puerto Rico Sea Star Line Also Agrees to Pay $14.2 Million Criminal Fine. Sea Star Line LLC has agreed today to plead guilty and to pay a $14.2 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the coastal water freight transportation industry, the Department of Justice announced. Additionally…

The U.S. Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO) for the purpose of inspecting the transportation of intermodal containers to ensure compliance with various federal, state, and local regulations. “The Coast Guard is primarily checking containers for proper blocking and bracing of hazardous materials,” said Coast Guard Ensign Tony Migliorini, Director of Compliance and Security. Local police departments check drivers for proper driving credentials, search for contraband, and inspect trucks for safety regulations. Canines from both the Coast Guard and police departments will be used. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration…

Tom Sansonetti, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Marcos Daniel Jiménez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, announced that three senior cruise ship engineers were indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami, Florida, for their role in concealing the overboard dumping of waste oil from the SS Norway cruise ship in false log books designed to deceive the United States Coast Guard. The defendants, Chief Engineers Knut Sorboe and Peter Solemdal, Senior First Engineer Aage Lokkebraten are Norwegian nationals who were employed by Norwegian Cruise Line Limited (NCL) at the time of the offenses.

Tom Sansonetti, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division and Marcos Daniel Jiménez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, announced that three senior cruise ship engineers were indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami, Fla., for their role in concealing the overboard dumping of waste oil from the SS Norway cruise ship in false log books designed to deceive the U.S. Coast Guard. The defendants, Chief Engineers Knut Sorboe and Peter Solemdal, Senior First Engineer Aage Lokkebraten are Norwegian nationals who were employed by Norwegian Cruise Line Limited (NCL) at the time of the offenses.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that OMI Corporation pleaded guilty to preparing false documents in an effort to cover up the illegal dumping of thousands of gallons of waste oil and sludge at sea. OMI also agreed to pay a $4.2 million fine and serve three years probation. U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden accepted the guilty plea. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 3. A ship captain and chief engineer previously pled guilty in connection with the case. The ship involved in the case, the Motor Tanker Guadalupe, owned and operated by wholly owned subsidiaries of OMI Corporation, made port calls in the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.

The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, a not for profit trade association representing the interests of maritime-related businesses in the tri-state region, announced the completion of a major project to convert its community based port information software to a new Internet-based platform. Known as Maritime On-Line (MOL), the system includes a collection of applications to assist maritime and law enforcement personnel with the day-to-day operations of vessel, cargo, and crew processing through U.S. seaports. The Maritime Exchange has been in the business of tracking vessel movements on the Delaware River since it was formed in 1872.

Thomas L. Sansonetti, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Christopher J. Christie, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced that a Connecticut-based shipping company that transports petroleum products in the United States and abroad was sentenced to pay $4.2 million for illegally concealing the dumping of thousands of gallons of waste oil and sludge at sea. U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden ordered OMI Corporation, to pay a $4.2 million fine and serve three years of probation. Judge Hayden also awarded $2.1 million of the fine to a former OMI crew member who reported the crimes to the government.

The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued a notification to the U.S. Coast Guard that the OIG is initiating a survey of cargo container safety and security at U.S. seaports. The objective of the survey is to determine whether the Coast Guard's container inspection program (CIP) adequately ensures the safety and security of hazardous material freight containers shipped through U.S. seaports. Source: HK Law

The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a Statement saying that it has completed and submitted to Congress an audit of the Coast Guard's National Distress and Response (NDR) System Modernization Project. The audit reviews the project for justification, cost and schedule estimates and interim measures undertaken. The audit is not available to the public until 15 days after the date of issuance or unless the audit is otherwise made public by the Congress. Source: HK Law

The chief engineer of an oil tanker that transports petroleum products to and from various ports in the United States and abroad pleaded guilty today to submitting false documents to the U.S. Coast Guard in an effort to cover up the illegal dumping of thousands of gallons of waste oil and sludge at sea, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced. The captain of the vessel also pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to conspiracy in connection with his effort to conceal evidence and solicit false statements from a lower-level engineer during the Coast Guard boarding of the ship in the Port of Carteret on Sept. 10, Christie said.

The United States Attorneys from five judicial districts with major ports today announced criminal charges against Evergreen International, S.A. (Evergreen), one of many Evergreen-related companies involved in the container ship business. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Evergreen will pay $25 million, the largest-ever amount for a case involving deliberate vessel pollution, and plead guilty to felony charges brought in Los Angeles; Newark, NJ; Portland, OR; Seattle; and Charleston, SC. Evergreen pleaded guilty today to 24 felony counts and one misdemeanor - five counts from each federal district involved in the case - for concealing the deliberate, illegal discharge of waste oil and for a negligent discharge in the Columbia River.

The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, a non- profit trade association representing port businesses in the tri-state region, announced yesterday the completion of a major Maritime Domain Awareness electronic reporting program. Known as eNOA/D On-Line, the electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure system serves as a link between vessels destined for the United States and the Department of Homeland Security and provides vessel operators with a user-friendly mechanism to comply with new Customs and Border Protection regulations which went into effect Monday. In April, Customs published a rule that requires all air and ocean carriers to transmit detailed crew and passenger information electronically…

The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its report entitled Computer Security and Controls at the Aircraft Repair and Supply Center

The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued its Report on the Audit of the Title XI Loan Guarantee Program The audit examined whether proper procedures were followed and the impact of recent bankruptcies. As of December 2002, the Title XI portfolio totaled approximately $4.3 billion in executed loan guarantees and loan guarantee commitments. The report discussed the impact of the American Classic Voyages Co. (AMCV) bankruptcy ($1.3 billion in loan guarantees) and potential problems with loan guarantees to companies that are subsidiaries of Enron Corporation ($122 million in loan guarantees). The OIG recommends…

"Very poor weather, major repairs to a lock on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and rapidly escalating fuel prices, not lower business levels, are the factors causing Kirby to revise its first quarter forecast," were a few reasons that Joe Pyne, Kirby Corporation's President CEO, cited for the company's lowering of its earnings guidance for the 2003 first quarter to $.26 to $.30 per share from previous guidance of $.36 to $.40 per share. Navigational delays due to fog along the Gulf Coast, both high and low water issues on the Mississippi River, and major repairs to a critical lock on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, have resulted in increased transit times. Navigational delays increase transit times, which reduce revenues and increase operating expenses.