Op/Ed: The Spill Response Industry's Greatest Challenges
Devon Grennan, president and CEO of Global Diving & Salvage, and president of the Spill Control Association of America (SCAA) asks the tough questions. What are the biggest challenges the spill response industry faces in light of the current political and economic climate in the United States? And what is SCAA doing to meet these challenges? I see the primary challenge that the spill response industry – as well as SCAA’s membership – currently has is to manage expectations and competing interests at a unique point in our nation’s energy renaissance.
DMCA Moves Forward with Maritime Safety Policy
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) is proceeding with the implementation of its Maritime Safety Policy as part of the first-of-its-kind maritime sector strategy’s initiatives for developing, organizing and promoting Dubai’s maritime industry. The new policy reflects the commitment of local government authorities to providing all forms of support to consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global maritime hub. It will promote maritime development and safety by requiring higher levels of operational performance and advanced…
Avondale Workers Approve Agreement
Avondale Shipbuilding employees voted to approve the terms of their first union contract with Litton Industries. The company's 1,500 Metal Trades -represented workers approved the agreement by a four-to-one margin. The 45-month agreement, negotiated by the New Orleans Metal Trades Council, provides an immediate three percent wage hike in January as part of an overall nine percent wage hike paid in three increments. Also in the area of wages, the contract sets up a formal skill progression system that will move the majority of employees into higher-paid categories after working 500 hours in any lower classification. Wages under the agreement range from $8.25/hour for semi-skilled new hires to $16/hour at the top of the highest skill level.
