Town Hall News

Maine Maritime Academy’s Board of Trustees announced that Jerald S. “Jerry” Paul has been named as the college’s 15th President. Paul, current President of Capitol Access and a 1989 graduate of the institution, will take office this spring.Paul will succeed President William J. Brennan, who steps down from the position at the end of April following 12 years of transformative leadership at MMA. “I am gratified that the Board has selected such a fine individual to lead this wonderful college when I step down next spring,” says President Brennan.

USDA Study Underscores Value of Inland Waterways to U.S. Agriculture.On August 28, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Assistant Secretary of the Army (ASA) for Civil Works R.D. James toured Mel Price Locks and Dam in Alton, Illinois, and held a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the importance of the waterways,  agriculture and the U.S. economy. At the event, Secretary Perdue briefed agricultural and waterways stakeholders on a newly released study – Importance of Inland Waterways to U.S. Agriculture – from the U.S.

WCI/NGFA Urge NESP Infrastructure Project to Move Forward.The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) today commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for releasing a significant new study that quantifies the cost-savings and competitive advantages that would accrue from investing in long-delayed improvements to inland waterways locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River system.The study, entitled, Importance of Inland Waterways to U.S.

The Port of Oakland, a major container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay, said that its Commissioners have approved an air quality plan intended to drastically cut diesel and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the Port’s maritime operations.Christened as "Seaport Air Quality 2020 and Beyond Plan", it envisions a zero-emissions operation in the future. The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners voted last week to approve the 259-page plan.The Port said that the plan would provide a framework for maritime development for the next 30 years. The plan calls for changes in equipment, operations, fuels…

BMT ARGOSS, (BMT) a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has secured a new contract with Dutch-based engineering consultancy, Witteveen+Bos (W+B), to provide specialist knowledge for the new ‘stay overnight’ harbour near Giesbeek, along the IJssel branch of the river Rhine. The new harbour is part of Rijkswaterstaat’s (the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment) aim to develop a number of similar resting facilities for inland vessel crews on the river Rhine, the most important inland waterway in Western Europe.

U.S. Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen and Long Beach Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal today hosted the third of 11 nationwide regional forums on the Beyond Traffic draft framework at Long Beach Convention Center. The Beyond Traffic report examines the trends and choices facing America’s transportation infrastructure over the next three decades, including a rapidly growing population, increasing freight volume, demographic shifts in rural and urban areas and a transportation system facing more frequent extreme weather events.

Citing the migrant crisis in the European Union, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday that the world should expect refugee problems for decades. Speaking at a town hall event with U.S. military members, Obama said military conflicts and climate change will contribute to refugee crises. (Reporting by Julia Edwards; Editing by Sandra Maler)

President Barack Obama said on Monday that land reclamation projects in the South China Sea are unproductive and called for an end to aggressive action in the region.   "We think that land reclamation, aggressive actions by any party in that area are counterproductive," Obama said in a town-hall discussion at the White House with a group of young leaders from southeast Asian nations.   "China is going to be successful. It's big, it's powerful, its people are talented and they work hard. And it may be some of their claims are legitimate," Obama said.   "But they shouldn't just try to establish that based on throwing elbows and pushing people out of the way," he said.     (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Bill Trott)

Obama: China forcing countries into subordinate positions; China hits back, accuses U.S. of throwing its weight around. U.S. President Barack Obama said Washington is concerned China is using its "sheer size and muscle" to push around smaller nations in the South China Sea, drawing a swift rebuke from Beijing which accused the United States of being the bully. China's rapid reclamation around seven reefs in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea has alarmed other claimants, such as the Philippines and Vietnam, and drawn growing criticism from U.S. government officials and the military. While the new islands will not overturn U.S.

When a new or expanded port is planned on an inland waterway, how do you assure the civil marine engineers and ship operators of feasibility and operability while at the same time allaying the fears of local residents that their quality of life and local environment will not be significantly spoiled? “Simple,” says Paul Morter, Business Manager for BMT ARGOSS’s brown water version of their tried and tested ship simulator REMBRANDT. “You take the ships and the port to them. This is exactly what we did towards the end of 2014. It was BMT ARGOSS inland waterways specialist Johannes ‘Hans’ Veldman who identified a potential market for brown water simulation through his work experience with the Dutch inland waterway networks.

Jan Van der Borght, the representative of the port of Antwerp in Shanghai, has been presented with the Golden Magnolia Award. Two years ago he won the Silver Magnolia Award, so that now he is only the second Belgian and the first representative of a foreign port to receive both the Silver and Golden awards. The Magnolia Awards are an initiative of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs and are presented to foreigners living in Shanghai who have made a particular contribution to the economic development and international standing of the city. In past years Van Der Borght has among other things helped to develop relations between the Shanghai Maritime University and the University of Antwerp, and between the China Maritime Museum and the MAS Museum in Antwerp.

At least three people were killed in a gunfight in the early hours of Sunday near a Ukrainian city controlled by pro-Russian separatists, shaking an already fragile international accord that was designed to avert a wider conflict. The incident triggered a war of words between Moscow and Ukraine's Western-backed government, with each questioning the other's compliance with the agreement, brokered last week in Geneva, to end a crisis that has made Russia's ties with the West more fraught than at any time since the Cold War. The separatists said armed men from Ukraine's Right Sector nationalist group had attacked them. The Right Sector denied any role, saying Russian special forces were behind the clash.

Heeding the call to join “An Ocean in Common,” authors flooded the Oceans ‘13 MTS/IEEE San Diego technical program committee with a record number of abstracts in a single day. Special topics include an Ultra-deep track discussing current and prospective robotic technologies, plus a panel of scientists to consider research questions. Oceans2013 Chair Bob Wernli, and Co-Chair Kevin Hardy, developer of the unmanned landers for James Cameron’s DeepSea Challenge Expedition, will be the session conveners. “James’ intention is to be certain the door remains open to other explorers,” Hardy said.

MTN grants Lifetime Achievement Award to pioneer of broadband communications at sea, Richard Hadsall. The CEO and president of MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), Errol Olivier resently made the award at the company's Town Hall. Richard Hadsall , chief technology officer of MTN Government Services, pioneered the first C-band and Ku-band satellite broadband communications (TV, voice and data) at sea in the 1980s. Thanks to Hadsall's innovation, today MTN delivers critical satellite and terrestrial communications to most of the world's cruise lines.

MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, the leading international manufacturer of large-bore diesel engines and turbomachinery, is to become the main sponsor of the Augsburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The aim of the cooperation is to attract more internationally prominent artists to Augsburg and to raise the profile of the Augsburg Philharmonic Orchestra in the region and beyond. The sponsorship is to last for three years initially. Both partners signed the cooperation agreement on 24 April 2012 in Augsburg Town Hall, and gave a joint press conference to announce their future cooperation. “Our commitment allows us to offer the citizens of this city and our employees an even richer cultural programme – which is also an important source of inspiration for creative ideas and innovation…

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $54 Million for Merchant Marine Academy Campus Renovations, Next Step for Strategic Plan. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood took part in a town hall meeting today with midshipmen, faculty and staff at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY, to announce $54 million for additional campus construction and renovations. While at the Academy, he also announced the next step in the Academy’s strategic planning process, which will help prioritize improvements for the school’s long-term future. “The U.S.

This year, the City of Cologne and DEUTZ AG are awarding the seventh Nicolaus August Otto Prize for Innovation of the City of Cologne. The prize was named after DEUTZ's founder in 2008 and comes with prize money of €30,000. The competition is open to inventive residents of Cologne who have innovative ideas to present. These ideas can come from a variety of fields: last year, they included outstanding concepts in medicine and technology, for example. A panel of judges, which includes DEUTZ's Chairman of the Board of Management Dr Helmut Leube, will select the winners on 9 November 2011.

On August 3, National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen provided a briefing to inform the American public and answer questions on the administration-wide response to the BP oil spill. Admiral Allen reported on preparations for the static diagnostics test, or “static kill,” which BP has since conducted. While the static diagnostics test will provide more information about well integrity and improves the probability of success for the relief well, Allen stressed the importance of the relief well to ultimately kill the well.

and public appreciation of shipping's contribution to society. exhibition in London. owners - carried some 60% of the oil and chemicals consumed worldwide. reliability," he observed. when something went wrong. counter-productive legislative measures," he complained. rather than a diverse regional approach, Dr Swift asserted. to encourage the dismantling of artificial trade barriers. of professional standards and transparency. requirements to governments and the public at large. capable fashion in the most hostile environments," said Dr Swift. hard to ensure they receive a positive impression," he added. on the record set at last year's 25th anniversary event. 100 stands. exhibitors re-booked on site. co-operation between buyers and suppliers.

By Thomas H. Collins, Admiral, U.S. By any measure, 2003 was a turning point in the 213-year history of the U.S. Coast Guard. Beginning with the introduction of a new Maritime Strategy for Homeland Security early in the new year and continuing with its realignment under the Department of Homeland Security in March as part of the largest reorganization of the federal government since the post-World War II era, the scope and scale of the Coast Guard's maritime, multi-mission, and military operations during the past year were nothing short of extraordinary. Coast Guard men and women rose to the challenge, bolstered by the largest mobilization of reservists in our history. Collectively, they fought the Global War on Terrorism at home as well as overseas.

As part of their "175 Years of Rickmers in Shipping" anniversary, Hamburg shipowners and businessmen Bertram and Erck Rickmers have donated $1.4m to the World Future Council (WFC). “On the occasion of the family’s 175th anniversary we would like to pay tribute to the past and at the same to make a contribution to the future," the brothers explained. "Consistent support of sustainable thinking and acting for the benefit of future generations is only possible at a global level. This is why we want to support the international work of the Hamburg-based World Future Council," the Rickmers brothers added, detailing their reason for supporting the WFC. The cheque was presented to WFC founder and board chairman Jakob von Uexküll. Uexküll thanked them sincerely for their support.

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) President & CEO Cornel Martin has issued the following statement regarding the January 27, 2010 failure of the miter gate at the main lock chamber at Greenup Locks and Dam on the Ohio River near Huntington, W.V. As a result of this incident, the Ohio River was closed to navigation for several days. The main chamber will remain closed for at least up to eight weeks. The auxiliary lock is currently back in operation; however, as repairs progress on the main chamber additional closures of the auxiliary lock may occur. The failure of the miter gate arm and the decision to curtail lockages through the auxiliary…

The following is a transcript from a May 1, 3:52 p.m. EDT, press briefing by Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen, and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan on ongoing response to the oil spill following the Deepwater Horizon incident. ADMIRAL ALLEN:  Thank you, Denis. Good afternoon to you all. This afternoon it was announced that I would be the National Incident Commander for this continuing response. I'd like to provide some context at the outset and make a couple of comments about myself personally and some background that I have. And then John Brennan will make some remarks. Regarding this incident, as you all know…