Office Of The Federal News

Dock workers at ports along Canada's Pacific coast rejected a tentative four-year wage deal agreed with their employers last week and returned to the picket line, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) said on Tuesday.The ILWU represents some 7,500 dock workers, who walked off the job on July 1 after failing to reach a new work contract with the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA), which represents the companies involved.In a statement released Tuesday afternoon…

William P. Doyle, a former U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner, has been hired to lead the Port of Baltimore as the new executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced.Currently CEO and Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America, Doyle will take the helm at the Port of Baltimore effective July 22, succeeding Jim White, who announced he would step down at the end of 2019. Doyle was appointed by Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Greg Slater…

The Ministry of Transparency, Oversight and Control (Ministério da Transparência, Fiscalização e Controle - "MTFC"), the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público Federal - "MPF"), the General Counsel for the Republic (Advocacia Geral da União  - "AGU"), Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras ("Petrobras") and SBM Offshore signed a settlement agreement ("Settlement Agreement") today that closes out the inquiries of the MPF, the MTFC and Petrobras into the payment of undue advantages to employees of Petrobras. The MTFC investigation was suspended as a result of the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between the MTFC and SBM Offshore in March 2015.

The United States Senate confirmed William P. Doyle to another term in office as a Federal Maritime Commissioner on the evening of March 23, 2015. The vote was a unanimous 89 in favor, 0 opposed, and 11 senators not voting. Upon confirmation, Commissioner Doyle said, “I would like to thank President Obama for his confidence in me, and I would also like to thank the U.S. Senate for taking up my nomination today. William Doyle was originally confirmed by the Senate on January 1, 2013 to fill the unexpired term of former Commissioner Joseph Brennan.

President Barack Obama last week announced 11 nominations to key Administration posts. Among them was William P. Doyle, who currently serves as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission. William P. Doyle currently serves as a Commissioner on the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). Prior to joining the FMC, from 2011 to 2013, Mr. Doyle served as the Chief-of-Staff for the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association from 2011 to 2013. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Doyle was the Director of Permitting, Scheduling, and Compliance at the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects from 2008 to 2011, and was the Deputy General Counsel and Director of Government and Legislative Affairs for the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association from 2002 to 2008. Mr.

One major new development on the Northern Sea Route is the interest in using it to move liquefied natural gas to energy-hungry Asian markets, writes Stan Jones of the Office of the Federal Coordinator, Alaska Natural Gas in a recent article. Late last year, the LNG carrier Ob River hauled the first LNG cargo over the route, from Norway to Kyushu Electric Power in Tobata, in southern Japan. The icebreaker-escorted trip, from the Snohvit LNG terminal in Hammerfest, took 27 days, and that was in November and December, late in the season.

On Tuesday, January 1, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed President Obama’s nomination of William P. Doyle, of Pennsylvania, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner. Commissioner Doyle was sworn in on January 10, 2013. Today, a ceremonial swearing-in of Mr. Doyle took place at the Commission. Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Doyle served over 20 years in the maritime and transportation industry holding senior positions in executive leadership and operations. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in Weymouth. His executive leadership experience includes serving as the Chief of Staff for the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), which coupled with his experience as an Officer in the U.S.

Petrobras files writ of mandamus against an injunction suspending Transocean's activities in waters offshore Brazil. (Mandamus is an extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion. (Source: Advanced English Dictionary). Petrobras filed a writ of mandamus, in the capacity of injured third party, to suspend the injunction granted on July 31, 2012 that ordered the shutdown of the activities of Transocean Brasil Ltda (Transocean). The injunction stems from the Public-Interest Civil Action filed by the Federal Prosecution Office in the Federal Courts of the state of Rio de Janeiro against Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda (Chevron)…

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that it has submitted a Federal Register notice to the marine community containing guidance on new International Maritime Organization measures. These new measures require that all tank ships subject to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention carrying Annex I cargoes and all ships using Annex I marine fuels have Material Safety Data Sheets aboard. This Safety of Life at Sea Convention requirement will become effective January 1, 2011. It does not apply to inland barges or any other ship not subject to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention. After January 1, 2011, nations party to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention can be expected to verify that ships subject to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention have Material Safety Data Sheets as required.

The Passenger Vessel Association reminded its members that applications for Federal Ferry Boat Discretionary Grants are being accepted through Friday, June 12. This competitive solicitation is different than an earlier one involving funds contained in the Economic Stimulus Act. This second pot of funding was contained in the Omnibus Appropriations Act for fiscal 2009. That law provides $67m for these grants, but a significant portion of the money is set aside or earmarked for specific recipients. Nevertheless, slightly more than $19m will be awarded on a competitive basis. Federal Ferry Boat Discretionary Grants can be used for capital costs only (not for operating expenses).

A former high-level shipping executive was sentenced today to serve 48 months in jail and to pay a $20,000 criminal fine for his role in an antitrust conspiracy involving the transportation of goods to and from the continental United States and Puerto Rico by ocean vessel, the Department of Justice announced on Jan. 30. This is the longest jail sentence ever imposed for a single antitrust charge. Peter Baci of Jacksonville, Fla., pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2008, in the U.S. District Court in Jacksonville for his role in the conspiracy, which began at least as early as May 2002 and continued until as late as April 2008. Baci was charged…

conducted an oversight hearing regarding transportation security. task. Mr. Jeffrey Shane, Under Secretary of Transportation Policy, discussed the role of the Department of Transportation regarding security and its coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. Admiral Thomas Collins, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, discussed the agency's strategy to reduce maritime security risks through: (1) increasing maritime domain awareness, (2) implementing preventative measures, (3) securing borders and protecting infrastructure, and (4) preparing to respond quickly if necessary.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation conducted an oversight hearing regarding transportation security. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Committee Chair, noted that maritime security remains a daunting task. Mr. Jeffrey Shane, Under Secretary of Transportation Policy, discussed the role of the Department of Transportation regarding security and its coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. Admiral Thomas Collins, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, discussed the agency's strategy to reduce maritime security risks through: (1) increasing maritime domain awareness, (2) implementing preventative measures, (3) securing borders and protecting infrastructure, and (4) preparing to respond quickly if necessary.

GlobalSantaFe Corporation (NYSE: GSF) and Transocean Inc. (NYSE: RIG) announced that on September 19, 2007, the Premerger Notification Office of the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act in connection with the proposed combination of GlobalSantaFe and Transocean. Termination of the waiting period satisfies one of the conditions to the closing of the transaction, which was previously announced on July 23, 2007. The two companies currently estimate that they will complete the transaction by the end of 2007. The transaction remains subject to approval by both companies' shareholders, certain other regulatory clearances and other closing conditions.