Maritime Alliance News

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has caused supply chain disruption on the US East Coast but, so far, it has not seen an increase in ocean freight container shipping rates.Data released Monday by Xeneta reveals average spot rates from the Far East into the US North East Coast (including Baltimore) have fallen slightly (-1%) since the bridge collapse on March 26 to stand at USD 5,421 per FEU (40ft shipping container).When including other US East Coast ports such as New York / New Jersey…

Voyager Maritime Alliance Group (VMAG) , one of the leading marine technology providers in South Florida, is expanding its already comprehensive list of services by adding turnkey marine services that now encompass the entire refit and new build process. “In simple terms – we do it all! Says David Leone, President of VMAG, from the initial planning, naval architecture services, networking and data cabling, project management, contractor management, welding and fabrication, carpentry, fiberglass work, security and camera systems, monitoring and control, custom build bridge and fly bridge consoles, networking and data cabling, communications equipment, navigation equipment to OEM Packages.

Marine electronics, navigation and communication systems supplier Voyager Maritime Alliance Group (VMAG) said it has recruited Robert Glassman as a Senior Technical Sales Engineer as it expands its portfolio to provide turnkey marine technology for refits and new builds. Glassman graduated from Palm Beach Community College, joined the Coast Guard and retired after 20+ years as a Mustang Lieutenant. During his military service, he was instrumental in many drug and migrant interdictions…

The Maritime Alliance (TMA) has partnered with the International Trade Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, to organize and partially fund an initiative to increase exports from small maritime technology companies (typically $2 million revenue and 20 people or below with limited trade show experience) from throughout the United States.   With partial funding through the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP), this three-year export initiative will focus on markets primarily in Europe and Latin America, with a secondary focus in Asia. There will be separate applications for each year of the initiatives.   Applications are due by December 23 at www.bluetechexports.org.

The National Retail Federation called on the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance to seek long-term stability at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports following last week’s strike at the Port of New York and New Jersey. “The threat of potential or ongoing labor disruptions will force retailers and other stakeholders to reevaluate supply chain options for their cargo,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. Shay’s comments came in a letter to union and port management executives following an unexpected January 29 strike that resulted in serious backups of cargo.

NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) have completed their participation in joint NATO training exercises and maritime situational awareness operations in the Black Sea. Warships of from six NATO countries – the US, Canada, Turkey, Germany, Italy and Romania – took part just 300 kilometers of Crimea. The series of naval exercises in the Black Sea off the Romanian coast is held ahead of the one year anniversary of Russia’ annexation of Crimea. Russia has accused the alliance of "aggressive war games", saying there could be serious consequences for the settlement of the Ukraine conflict. NATO, meanwhile, insists no additional plans have been made since Russia increased its military presence in the region.

As part of a new blue tech vision that will create more maritime jobs for the San Diego region, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer and County Supervisor Greg Cox today proposed an initiative that was jointly approved by the City of San Diego and County of San Diego to help give San Diego’s blue economy a boost by creating a blue tech incubator. Mayor Faulconer said, “Thanks to our fast-growing blue-tech economy, San Diego has yet another opportunity to be a global leader in technology and innovation. Our coastal city is uniquely positioned to be the perfect global breeding ground for water-related technology, innovation and jobs. Supervisor Cox said…

Vietnam and the Philippines, which have long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, are forming a strategic partnership, reports the National Interest. Taipei and Manila have signed an agreement spelling out how to settle future law enforcement problems in the shared 250-kilometer-wide Luzon Strait, where fish abound but territorial waters overlap. Worried over the rise of China and, in particular, Beijing’s increasingly belligerent actions in pursuit of its own territorial claims, Hanoi and Manila are banding together. Taiwan and the Philippines aren’t the first two South China Sea claimants to reach a deal on fair use of disputed waters.

The Maritime Alliance promotes the 6th Annual event Novemeber 12-13, 2014 at the McMillin Companies Event Center in San Diego, CA  as a unique opportunity to understand trends, network with leaders from the public and private sector, see innovative technologies by the exhibitors, and identify possible partners. Recent studies are helping us understand the size and dynamic nature of the Blue Economy and particularly the BlueTech sector that is enabling us to explore, measure and develop ocean industries like never before. And financial and strategic investors are recognizing the opportunity evidenced by an increasing number of M&A and financing transactions - four sizeable transactions announced in the San Diego BlueTech community in the last 120 days alone. Leaders from the U.S.

In September 2013 the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) launched a study to determine the ocean observation sector's impact on the U.S. economy. This nationally-focused effort will inventory companies classified as providers of technology to U.S. IOOS and intermediate users who add value to U.S. IOOS information for delivery to end users. ERISS Corporation and The Maritime Alliance are conducting the study which will examine characteristics such as the number of provider and intermediate user companies, size of these companies, volume of activity, volume of exports and number of employees. Company narratives will be collected to understand how US IOOS has helped industry planning and operations, as well as perceived potential for growth and investment.

'Blue Champion' Chairman Greg Cox of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has been a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors since 1995 and on September 9, 2013 was appointed to serve on the California Coastal Commission. Over the last 7 years The Maritime Alliance has briefed dozens of elected and appointed officials about Blue Tech and the Blue Economy. Every so often we encounter folks who just get it -- they immediately recognize the economic and social value of maritime to the region and the nation.

Ocean Aero has designed a 'game-changing' ruggedized surface & sub-surface vessel: the "Submaran", powered by wind and solar, capable of several months at sea that can be deployed from land, sea or air. The designers will present it at the Blue Tech & Blue Economy Summit, November 7-8, 2013. The "Submaran" will be delivered both as a system for purchase and as a part of a contracted System as a Service (SaaS) fleet of data gathering vessels that customers need not purchase or manage.

Hundreds gathered to bid a fond farewell to Cathy, the youngest of 7 siblings with deep maritime connections in San Diego. Cathy was the face and personality of Driscoll's Wharf in San Diego and played an instrumental role in securing funding from the Coastal Conservancy in 2007 to study and develop the revitalization plan for the wharf. Cathy was also a friend and supporter of The Maritime Alliance, lending her support to an initiative to foster development of a local sustainable seafood industry.

“Today’s vote ratifying a new, long-term master labor contract is welcomed news to the nation’s retailers, who have been on pins-and-needles for the past year due to the possibility of a supply chain disruption along the 14 East and Gulf Coast container ports. “The ILA and United States Maritime Alliance should be commended for reaching today’s pinnacle vote, and doing so without engaging in any disruption, stoppage, lockout or strike. “The retail industry would also like to recognize the dedication of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and the hard work of FMCS Director George Cohen and his team of negotiators, who managed to keep both sides at the table to hammer out this deal. “The nation’s ports are our economic lifeline to the world.

A battery that solves the load-leveling problem of renewable energy AND generates value-added by-products? Too good to be true? It appears that Dr. Schubert, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and Director of the Richard S. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy may have done just that with the saltwater flow battery that he and his team have developed at IUPUI. Ideal applications as an add-on for wave or current power, off-shore wind farms or navy bases, the battery can be scaled up to become a "microgrid", yet because it uses "free" seawater, it is lightweight and easy to install. Added bonuses? It has clean-water and hydrogen output potential. Dr.

Crowley is a member of The Puerto Rico Maritime Alliance, which consists of representatives of U.S. flag carriers and labor unions constituting the US Merchant Marine. The Maritime Alliance of Puerto Rico (AMPR) has announced that the GAO Study released yesterday determined the Jones Act does not increase rates or prices for the Puerto Rican consumer. The economic study was requested in 2012 by the resident commissioner, Pedro Pierluisi, and the delegate of the Northern Marianas Island, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan. GAO (General Accountability Office) is the independent non-partisan agency that works for the U.S Congress and its audit, evaluation, and investigative arm.

ITF recognise the tentative six-year labour contract agreement reached for workers at the Port of New York as potentially significant. ITF-affiliated union the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA), which represents dock workers in New York and New Jersey, has been in negotiations with the New York Shippers Association for several months over a local contract. Talks between the ILA and management have fostered the deal on regional working rules and other local issues, which is said to still be in need of some ‘refinement’. The deal is potentially of significance as it is part of a series of larger talks between the ILA and the US Maritime Alliance of shippers, terminal operators and port authorities.

Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service Director George H. Cohen on negotiations between United States Maritime Alliance & the International Longshoreman's Association. "I am extremely pleased to announce that today the parties have approved their tentative agreement for a successor Master Agreement. In doing so, the parties have successfully concluded lengthy, complex and understandably sometimes contentious negotiations concerning a multitude of economic and job related issues. "This monumental result, which will be submitted to their respective memberships for ratification, paves the way for six years of stable labor-management relations covering all the Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports.

“The National Retail Federation and our members congratulate the OCU and HEA for ratifying the new deal. This contract will bring much-needed stability to the supply chain, better position the ports for future growth and provide retailers the certainty they need to prepare for the upcoming summer shopping season. “Now that the labor situation has been settled on the West Coast, it is time to turn our attention to the East and Gulf Coast ports. “NRF reiterates our call on the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance to quickly conclude ongoing local contract negotiations and urge them to ratify a new master contract.

Retail Imports to Increase 8.5 Percent in February After East Coast/Gulf Coast Contract Deal is Reached. With a tentative contract deal reached with East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers but a key West Coast agreement unsettled, import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 8.5 percent in February over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “We were very happy to see a deal on a tentative contract for the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports but we are urging the parties to quickly work out any outstanding issues and ratify the agreement as soon as possible,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said.

Update on United States Maritime Alliance and International Longshoremen's Association labor contract negotiations. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Director George H. "The United States Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen's Association conducted negotiations during the three day period January 15-17, 2013. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and 67 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.

Retail Imports to Increase 2.3 Percent in January as Port Strike Threat Continues. Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 2.3 percent in January over the same month last year as retailers continue to urge labor and management to avoid a strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast docks, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “The strike deadline came and went at the end of December…

Statement by FMCS Director George H. "The container royalty payment issue has been agreed upon in principle by the parties, subject to achieving an overall collective bargaining agreement. The parties have further agreed to an additional extension of 30 days (i.e., until midnight, January 28, 2013) during which time the parties shall negotiate all remaining outstanding Master Agreement issues, including those relating to New York and New Jersey. "Given that negotiations will be continuing and consistent with the Agency's commitment of confidentiality to the parties, FMCS shall not disclose the substance of the container royalty payment agreement.