Transportation Information News

BTS’ National Transportation Statistics Updated - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), has updated National Transportation Statistics (NTS) – a web-only reference guide to national-level transportation data.   NTS, updated quarterly, includes a wide range of national transportation information. NTS consists of more than 260 tables of national data on the transportation system, safety, the economy and energy and the environment, of which 37 were updated today. The next quarterly update is scheduled for April. NTS  can be viewed on the BTS website.  Contact: Dave Smallen (202) 366-5568.

Like so many areas of our economy since the terrorist attacks of September 11, the port and maritime areas of the United States are being scrutinized for vulnerability to terrorism. Catastrophic scenarios are all too easy to imagine, and the threats can come from so many directions. To illustrate the complexity of the maritime law enforcement challenge, the Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral James M. "Imagine for a moment the information requirements associated with a hypothetical 6,000 TEU flag-of-convenience container ship with a multi-national crew cobbled together by a hiring agent who works for an Algerian vessel operator who chartered the vessel from a Greek ship owner whose corporate offices are in the Cayman Islands.

Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) introduced the "States Prevention of Oil Tanker Spills Act" (S. 2506), which seeks to reinstate Washington state oil tanker safety laws overturned by the Supreme Court in Intertanko v. Locke and United States v. Locke. In a press release, Senator Gorton said, "I disagree with the Court's decision, because I believe Washington State should be allowed to protect its shores as it sees fit." The Gorton legislation would reinstate the right of all states to adopt additional standards beyond existing federal requirements governing the operation, maintenance, equipment, personnel and manning of oil tankers. While the legislation would apply to all coastal states, Gorton's interest is focused on recently overturned Washington statutes.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board Chairman and Concurrent Minister of Canal Affairs Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales spoke at a private-sector forum hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in Tokyo, Japan last Friday, September 22. Dr. Vásquez briefed forum participants on the Panama Canal expansion proposal, as well as highlighted investment and business opportunities in the areas of infrastructure, multi-modal transportation, information technology and logistics. The forum was designed to strengthen and develop partnerships between business leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean with their counterparts in Japan and other East Asian countries.