Vessel Safety: US House Subcommittee Seeks Faster Implementation
In November the U.S. House of Representatives’ Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee held a hearing on “Commercial and Passenger Vessel Safety: Challenges and Opportunities.” Testimony covered a range of issues, from recent tragedies such as the Conception dive-boat disaster to antiquated maritime laws.Hearing witness list:Rear Admiral Richard V. Timme, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, United States Coast GuardThe Honorable Richard Balzano…
US Ports Dredging FY2014: Record Grant Recommended
Following on the heels of House Committee's recommendation, U.S. Senate Subcommittee recommends record US$1-billion for FY2014 maintenance dredging. The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development completed its mark up of the fiscal 2014 appropriation bill for the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which includes a record $1 billion draw from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for maintaining America’s federal navigation channels and related infrastructure. "The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) congratulates (Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee)…
Senate Suggests $1B for 2014 Maintenance Dredging
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development completed its mark up of the fiscal 2014 appropriation bill for the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which includes a record $1 billion draw from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for maintaining America’s federal navigation channels and related infrastructure. “AAPA congratulates (Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee) Chairman Diane Feinstein and the entire subcommittee for recognizing the importance of keeping America’s federal navigation channels accessible for the crucial movement of ocean-going freight and passenger vessels,” said Susan Monteverde, AAPA’s government relations vice president.
A Tidal Wave of New Regulations
The management ballast water discharges began with the enactment of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (NANPCA) as an effort to prevent the introduction of additional invasive species into the Great Lakes. Since then, NANPCA was amended by the National Invasive Species Act of 1996 and the issue has progressed over the intervening years to a much larger campaign to regulate all vessel discharges into U.S. waters. Ballast water management has been the subject of litigation, regulation, and legislation at the state and federal level.
