Jones Walker Llp News

Cyber Attacks On the Rise at US Ports and Terminals

Cyber attack attempts are becoming more common at U.S. ports and terminals, according to findings published this week by law firm Jones Walker LLP.The firm publicly released the findings of its 2022 Ports and Terminals Cybersecurity Survey, examining cybersecurity preparedness in U.S.-based ports and terminals. The report outlining the results of the survey is authored by four of the firm’s attorneys and the findings was presented by two of them, Jim Kearns and Andy Lee, during the Inland Rivers…

Diversity, Tech on Tap at WISTA Conference

A top hostage negotiator, the CEO of a company which supplies environmental products to ship owners and operators and the heads of two maritime technology firms are all part of an impressive line-up of speakers scheduled to speak at the 2019 Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) AGM & Conference which takes place next week from Tuesday, October 29, to Friday, November 1. The four-day event is being hosted by WISTA Cayman Islands and is expected to bring over 200 maritime experts from 30-plus countries.

US Maritime NOT Prepared for Cyber Attacks: Survey

Almost 80% of large U.S. maritime industry companies surveyed reported that cyberattackers targeted their companies within the past year, according to a new maritime cybersecurity survey.The inaugural Maritime Cybersecurity Survey from New Orleans-based Jones Walker LLP said that rapidly evolving technologies deployed throughout the U.S. maritime industry to increase efficiencies and competitiveness present significant cybersecurity risks, which the industry is unprepared to shoulder.38% of all industry respondents reported that cyber attackers targeted their companies within the past year. 10% of survey respondents reported that the data breach was successful, while 28% reported a thwarted attempt.There is a false sense of preparedness in the U.S. maritime industry, said the survey.

Tidewater and GulfMark Announce Merger

Tidewater Inc. and GulfMark Offshore, Inc. announced Monday that the boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive agreement to combine the two companies, creating the industry’s largest owner of offshore support vessels and continuing consolidation in the offshore sector.The combined company will be operated under the Tidewater brand and will be led by Tidewater president and CEO John Rynd, with the industry’s largest fleet and the broadest global operating footprint in the OSV sector…

Tidewater Emerges from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

New Orleans-based  Tidewater Inc and its affiliated chapter 11 debtors have emerged from bankruptcy after successfully completing its reorganization pursuant to the Second Amended Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Tidewater and its Affiliated Debtors that was confirmed on July 17, 2017 by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Capitalized terms used but not defined below have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 18, 2017. Through its Plan, Tidewater eliminated approximately $1.6 billion in principal of outstanding debt…

Understanding Legal Liability in a Subchapter M Environment

There is more to SubM than just attention to safety. Protect yourself accordingly. In today’s environment, safety management systems for brown water marine operators are standard industry practice, whether they come in the form of the American Waterways Operators (AWO) Responsible Carrier Program (RCP) or the Tanker Safety Management Assessment (TSMA) framework developed by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) for liquid carriers. However, with the full-fledged implementation of Subchapter M on the horizon…

Welding Technology Patent Dispute Settled

Jones Walker LLP, on behalf of its client, SafeZone Safety Systems, LLC, has made the following announcement. SafeZone Safety Systems, LLC and Alford Safety Services, Inc. have announced a resolution of their patent infringement lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Under the terms of the settlement, SafeZone can continue using certain safe welding enclosure systems without making any payments to Alford and can use those certain systems without worry that SafeZone or its customers will be sued for infringement of Alford's patents. SafeZone acknowledged that Alford's U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,054 is valid and enforceable in view of the prior art.