House Coast Guard And Maritime Transportation Subcommittee News

The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) issued a statement regarding Senator John McCain’s proposal allowing foreign-built vessels to take over marine transportation in the United States, stating the amendment would gut U.S. shipbuilding while outsourcing jobs and security. “Senator McCain has proposed an amendment to eliminate a cornerstone of U.S. maritime policy that dates back to the founding of our nation. The reservation of domestic transportation to U.S.-built vessels ensures the existence and viability of America’s shipbuilding industrial base.

Following its usual summer break over August 2014, Congress came back from its five-week summer recess and spent a whopping eight days or so back in session before recessing once again, approximately a week early, to hit the campaign trail for the November elections. This essentially means that including the summer recess, Congress will have been in session for a total of about eight days between the end of July and the middle of November 2014. No wonder why Congress has not been able to accomplish much this year, to date.

Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) informs that The House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing today on America’s domestic maritime industry with a special focus on how the industry is responding to America’s surging domestic energy production. Matthew Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), testified that the state of America’s commercial shipbuilding industry is strong, more vibrant than ever, and that U.S. shipyards are experiencing dramatic growth as a result of the shale oil revolution and record levels of new vessel construction orders and deliveries. "The state of the U.S. commercial shipyard industry is the strongest it has been in decades,” said Paxton.

Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation ranking member Garamendi warns resources will be severely slashed, significantly hampering maritime commerce. During the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing yesterday, Ranking Member Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield) exposed that cutbacks to basic maritime services caused by the sequester will significantly hit our economy. Under questioning from Congressman Garamendi, U.S. Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations…

On June 27, I testified on behalf of the American Maritime Partnership (AMP) before the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee at a hearing that questioned the Administration’s skirting of the Jones Act during last summer’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) drawdown. Members of Congress were keenly interested in understanding how the Administration authorized waivers for foreign flag ships to carry U.S. oil between U.S. destinations when American vessels crewed…

After a nearly 20-year wait since the original issuance of the OPA-90 regulatory package, the American Salvage Association (ASA) expressed its recognition for the final implementation of Salvage and Marine Firefighting Regulations (SMFF), 33 Code of Federal Regulations Part 155 Subpart I, for tank vessels that went into effect on February 22, 2011. From the Exxon Valdez spill that prompted OPA-90, to the 1996 promulgation of Vessel Response Plan (VRP) regulations requiring contracts with Oil Spill Removal Organizations (OSRO), to the first public workshop held by the Coast Guard in 1997 to address the need for well-defined salvage regulations, to the final rule being published on December 31, 2008, the road to final implementation has been long.

The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national trade association for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, hails the enactment of provisions in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-281) that bring the industry one step closer to a historic towing vessel inspection regulation to improve safety in the towing industry. Section 701 of the Act requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding inspection requirements for towing vessels” no more than 90 days from the date of enactment, a provision strongly advocated by AWO. The law requires that a final rule be issued no more than one year after the enactment date.

The American Salvage Association (ASA) awarded its Rapid Response Award on October 6, 2009 to Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Chairman of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee. The award was presented to Congressman Cummings in Arlington, Virginia, during the ASA co-sponsored National Maritime Salvage Conference, and was given for his leadership of the Subcommittee, his bold initiative and unwavering commitment to the publication of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Salvage and Marine Fire-fighting Regulations last December…

Liberty Maritime Corporation President and CEO Philip J. Shapiro testified May 20 on lessons learned from the international piracy crisis and the immediate need to protect American merchant mariners on U.S.-flag vessels. In his testimony before the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Shapiro advocated for more effective means of protecting U.S.-flag vessels transiting the pirate danger zone. “We strongly urge the government to consider embarking a small number of U.S. government security personnel on the very few U.S.-flag vessels that transit high-risk transit areas at any one time,” Shapiro said. As piracy continues to escalate, with more than 80 attacks so far this year, the U.S. Coast Guard announced earlier this month updated anti-piracy guidelines for U.S.

Legislation to authorize more than $7.9 billion for the Coast Guard for Fiscal Year 2005, including $1.1 billion for the Deepwater project, was unanimously approved by the U.S. House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee today. Deepwater is the Coast Guard’s program to replace and modernize its operational capital assets. The Coast Guard’s fleet is rapidly deteriorating, leading to higher safety risks and maintenance costs, and a lower state of readiness. At a Subcommittee hearing last week, the Commandant of the Coast Guard expressed concern that assets are wearing out faster than anticipated. The Coast Guard Authorization Act for FY 2005 (H.R. * U.S. Rep. * U.S. Rep. * U.S. Rep. * U.S. Rep. H.R.

By Capt. Gordon I. This June's two-year anniversary of the Coast Guard's award of contract for the Integrated Deepwater System reflects steady progress in efforts to modernize the nation's maritime guardians, but heightened concerns over falling readiness have led some congressional lawmakers to renew calls to accelerate the comprehensive 20-plus-year recapitalization program. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thomas H. Collins described his concern over current readiness trends in early March during congressional testimony on the Bush administration's proposed fiscal year 2005 budget. "Our greatest threat to mission performance continues to be that our aircraft…

The U.S. House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee will hold a field hearing in New Jersey on March 26 to examine security efforts implemented in the Port of New York and New Jersey, and to investigate ways to further enhance ports and waterways security around the nation. The Congressional hearing is scheduled for: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 at 10: 00 a.m. in the Port Newark-Elizabeth General Office Building (GOB), 1st Floor, Cafeteria, 1210 Corbin St., Elizabeth, NJ. “This hearing will give the Subcommittee another opportunity to hear from those involved in our ports about the specific security challenges facing these critical facilities,” said Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee.

The American Salvage Association (ASA) awarded its Rapid Response Award on October 9, 2007 to the United States Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee. “It is truly an honor to serve as the Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, and I am equally honored to receive this award,” Congressman Cummings said. As Chairman of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Congressman Cummings oversees the implementation of the Coast Guard’s $8 billion fiscal year 2007 budget, including the more than $1.1 billion appropriated to fund the rehabilitation and modernization of the Coast Guard’s fleet through the Deepwater procurement program.

U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02), Chairman of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hailed the enactment of the SAFE Ports Act and to discuss port security at local Delaware River Ports. Rep. LoBiondo was joined by Joseph Balzano, CEO of the South Jersey Port Corp. as well as Dennis Rochford, President of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay. "I am very pleased to be at the Port of Camden today to talk about this important new port security law.� said Rep. LoBiondo. Require those in charge of security at our nation�s ports (Facility Security Officers) to be American citizens. Require the Coast Guard to conduct unannounced periodic inspections of U.S.

Shull Autin, COO of SEACOR Marine LLC, on behalf of the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA), testified before the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 20. In his testimony, Autin addressed the following, and offered suggestions for improvement: U.S. Coast Guard Licensing and Documentation is a critical part of maritime safety; Coast Guard Licensing and Documentation as a process has become increasingly more complex for American mariners; Due to the hurricanes of 2005 and other issues, the marine industry has experienced delays in the Licensing and Documentation process…