Crowley to Pilot Carbon Ridge's Onboard Carbon Capture Technology
Crowley announced it will pilot carbon capture technology on board one of its containerships under the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program.The Jacksonville, Fla. based shipping company said it has reached an agreement with Sana Monica, Calif. based Carbon Ridge and MARAD to operate, measure and optimize the technology’s effectiveness in actual maritime environments at port and ultimately at sea. The collaboration includes the engineering…
Britain to Complete Plan Next Year to Reach Net Zero Transport Emissions
Britain said on Tuesday it would complete a plan next year to achieve net zero emissions from all forms of transport, as climate change activists targeted the transport ministry.Britain is the first G7 country to commit to a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for 2050."From driving our cars, to catching a train or taking a flight abroad, it is crucial that we ensure transport is as environmentally friendly as possible," said transport secretary Grant Schapps.Due to be complete next year, the plan will set out in detail what government, business and society must do to deliver the signific
MARAD Backs Emissions Reduction Projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced it will provide more than $1 million to support the development of two new emission-reducing maritime solutions. The first is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) conversion demonstration project, and the second is modification of an on-board air pollution control device that will aid the U.S. maritime industry’s effort to decrease its environmental footprint. “The Department continues to fund innovative projects that support a steady shift towards cleaner and sustainable transportation options,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. Through a cooperative agreement, MARAD has provided $730,000 to Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities (PRCC) to convert a towboat engine from diesel to LNG.
MARAD Support for Hydrogen Fuel Cell R&D
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) today announced that it is providing $500,000 to support a feasibility study for the design, construction, and operation of a high-speed passenger ferry powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology and a hydrogen refueling station. The fuel cell would provide power for the ferry’s propulsion and auxiliary electrical systems, while the hydrogen refueling station -which would be the largest in the world - would service the ferry, electric cars, buses and fleet vehicles, and other maritime vessels powered by fuel cells. “This study is just one more way in which MARAD is working to find new and efficient technologies for use in the maritime industry that offer clean-fuel options to cut emissions…
Focus on Environment at Suny Maritime
The State University of New York Maritime College’s 140th Anniversary Speaker Series presented a panel discussion on March 26 in the College’s Maritime Academic Center. The topic was Environmental Issues in Shipping. Panelists included Michael C. Carter, Director of the Office of Environment, U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration; John Hatley, Americas Vice President Ship Power, Wärtsilä North America; and Paal Johansen, Vice President and Regional Director, Regional Office Americas Houston, DNV GL – Maritime. The panel discussion was moderated by Clay Maitland, Chairman, North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) and Managing Partner, International Registries, Inc.
BOEM Issues Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), announces the availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed Central Planning Area (CPA) Lease Sales 241 and 247 and Eastern Planning Area (EPA) Lease Sale 226. The proposed CPA oil and gas lease sales are tentatively scheduled to be held in March 2016 and 2017, respectively, and the proposed EPA Lease Sale 226 is tentatively scheduled to be held in March 2016 under the Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program: 2012-2017.
Paul N. Jaenichen - Maritime Administrator, United States Maritime Administration
Paul “Chip” Jaenichen was appointed by President Obama and sworn in as Maritime Administrator on July 25, 2014. Before his appointment, Administrator Jaenichen served as Acting Administrator beginning in June 2013. He joined the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration in July 2012 when he was appointed Deputy Maritime Administrator. A career naval officer, retiring in 2012 after serving 30 years as nuclear trained Submarine Officer in the U.S. Navy, Jaenichen’s…
BOEM Public Meetings on Gulf Central Planning Area
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is preparing a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed Central Planning Area (CPA) lease sales beginning with Lease Sale 235 in the Gulf of Mexico off the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Sale 235 is scheduled to be held in 2015. The study will also cover CPA lease sales 241 and 247, to be held in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The supplemental EIS will update the environmental and socioeconomic analyses completed in July 2012 and in April 2013. The supplemental EIS will consider possible new circumstances and information arising from, among other things, the Deepwater Horizon explosion, oil spill and response.
BOEM Seeks Comments on Environmental Review
Public Hearings Scheduled to provide opportunities for public input. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has completed a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), providing updated environmental and socioeconomic analysis to support two proposed lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico. Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 233 is tentatively scheduled for 2013 in the Western Planning Area (WPA), offshore Texas; and Central Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 231 is scheduled for 2014 in the Central Planning Area (CPA), offshore the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. BOEM will hold public hearings to provide an opportunity for interested citizens and organizations to comment on the environmental impact statement. Comments will be used to prepare the final SEIS.
Maritime Administration Environment Director Honored
Michael Carter, Director of the Office of Environment at the Maritime Administration, recently received a Team Bronze Medal from the Environmental Protection Agency for his work with the Vessels-to-Reefs Guidance Development Team. Other team members, who were also awarded the medal, included participants from the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Navy, and the Office of Management and Budget. The Artificial Reefing Best Management Practices were developed to provide the first consistent set of guidelines for use by EPA regions, states, the Maritime Administration and the Navy to prepare ships for artificial reefing in an environmentally sound manner. The guidelines now provide a baseline for the states to estimate the costs associated with preparing the ships.
