Sea Research Foundation News

Students in grades K-12 are invited to participate in a North American art contest sponsored by the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), the U.S. Coast Guard, and Sea Research Foundation. More than 90% of the world’s goods are transported by ships. In fact, ships are truly the “engines of globalization.” Transporting goods by sea is more environmentally friendly than moving goods the same distance by air or over land and help keep the cost of goods and energy low. Students are asked to find a creative way to answer the following question: “How does the marine industry affect your everyday life?” The term “marine” refers to oceans, waterways and organisms that call these places home.

Acting Maritime Administrator, Paul “Chip” Jaenichen will close the “Safety at Sea” Seminar being hosted by North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) at the National Press Club from 2:30-6:00pm. NAMEPA’s seminar will join industry and governmental leaders as they discuss issues of the day surrounding Safety at Sea. The seminar is designed to highlight both best practices and opportunities for improvement. Immediately following the “Safety at Sea” seminar is the AMVER Awards Dinner where over 150 companies will be recognized for their participation in the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) system.

The Sea Research Foundation opened its “Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below” in the Ocean Exploration Center of the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut in April of 2012. This year, the Foundation expanded the exhibit to include a gallery about the U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol as a positive outcome of the tragedy. The addition officially opened in April of 2013, the month that also marked the Ice Patrol’s centennial. In April of 1912, the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage, struck an iceberg near the Tail of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, and sank with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

Clay Maitland, Chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), announces two major events. NAMEPA’s Environmental Intelligence in Maritime Conference, will feature “Greening the Marine Transportation System”, “The Arctic”, “Safety at Sea” and “Corporate Risk Management”. This conference, with NAMEPA's fifth anniversary in mind, will be held on 14, November 2012, and is to be followed by NAMEPA’s 2012 Marine Environment Protection Awards honoring Maersk, NOAA, SUNY Maritime College, and the American Salvage Association (ASA).

NAMEPA’s May 21st Event features Shipboard Safety, Piracy and  Seafarer Issues. Just months after the Costa Concordia accident, and amid daily reports of piracy and needless accidents at sea, the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) will be offering a seminar “Environmental Intelligence in Maritime:  Safety at Sea, featuring shipboard safety, piracy, and an update on issues for seafarers. The seminar will take place on May 21st at the National Press Club in Washington DC commencing at 3:00pm.

On April 23, 2012, Dr. Stephen M. Coan delivered remarks entitled “The Future of Our Ocean”, part of the Open VISIONS Forum Lecture Series and presented at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn. Following is the text of his speech. Water sustains life on Earth, and the health of our oceans, lakes, rivers, streams and marshlands, which cover 70% of the planet’s surface, is critically important to global economic and human health. Imagine this vast environment and what it could mean for us if we were able to better harvest food…

Global Business and Transportation Department’s Cutting Edge Issues in Shipping Conference. It was a good day for New York City’s most famous groundhog, Staten Island Chuck. Groundhog Day, 2012 proved to be an even better day for the more than 150 men and women from the international shipping community, along with hundreds of SUNY Maritime College students, who  attended the 2012 SUNY Maritime College Cutting-Edge Issues in Shipping held on the SUNY Maritime College campus in Throggs Neck, the Bronx, New York City.

SUNY Maritime College Presents The Annual 2012 Groundhog Day Cutting Edge Issues in Shipping Symposium. At 10:00 am,    "Cuba Oil Drilling - U.S. Contingency Planning  to respond to a pollution release impacting U.S  Waters"  will  be the topic of  a talk by Captain Francis (“Stash”) Pelkowski, USCG  and Assistant Professor, Global Business &  Transportation, SUNY Maritime College. James Maloney, Esq., SUNY Maritime graduate and maritime attorney will tackle the topic of  "Controversial Issues of Marine Insurance,” at 10:45 am.

On May 23rd at the National Press Club in Washington DC, the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA)  and IHS Fairplay will be hosting a dinner to commemorate National Maritime Day, which is held on May 22nd to honor merchant mariners. At this dinner, the 2010 AMVER (Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System) Award recipients will receive recognition for their service from Congressman Frank LoBiondo, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, and Coast Guard Commandant Robert Papp. The evening begins at 6:00PM with a reception. The genesis of the Amver system ultimately finds its roots in the RMS TITANIC disaster in 1912.

April 25, 2011—The North American Marine Environmental Protection Association (NAMEPA) will present its Environmental Intelligence in Shipping Seminar Series in Seattle on May 25th at the Bell Harbor Conference Center beginning at noon with lunch. The seminar will explore many of the environmental issues facing the Port of Seattle in its centennial year, including air emissions, storm water runoff, marine life habitats, and lessons from the Deepwater Horizon incident. “Seattle has been one of the most proactive ports in North America,” stated NAMEPA Co-Founder Clay Maitland.

April 22, 2011- While Earth Day was being celebrated around the world, a young maritime industry led agency added to the festivities by announcing it now has over 100 members. The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) was officially launched in 2007 under the watchful eyes of  IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos and USCG Vice Commandant Vivien Crea . In keeping with the mission of MEPAs worldwide, this   industry-led initiative is dedicated…

The historic cruise liner Queen Mary, berthed in Long Beach, will be the site of a marine environment protection conference on February 23rd exploring issues and changes occurring on the West Coast and impacting shipping throughout the world. Hosted by NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association), the event will feature presentations on greening the waste stream, marine mammals, emissions, and oil spill response. The conference, entitled “The Winds of Change on the West Coast” is part of NAMEPA’s Environmental Intelligence in Shipping Series, and will be held aboard the Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach, beginning at 0800hrs on February 23rd with coffee and registration. Invited to set the stage for the event is Richard D.

Founding Chairman of NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association Clay Maitland unveiled plans to debut NAMEPA’s 2010 Seminar Series in San Francisco on March 9 at the Marines Memorial Club. The title of the seminar is “Environmental Intelligence in Shipping”. The seminar will kick off at 0800 with coffee and registration and end with a luncheon featuring an address by VADM Jody Breckenridge, USCG Commander Pacific Area. “The purpose of NAMEPA’s Seminar Series is to bring together stakeholders in the marine community to discuss concerns and actions that address marine environment protection” stated Mr. Maitland. Kevin Krick, Director of Environmental Affairs Global for APL Ltd. will lead the proceedings with an overview of industry best practices.

Commandant Thad Allen, in a recently signed letter, announced that the United States will be the host of the 2009 World Maritime Day Parallel Event being held in New York City and around the country on October 16. The event will be marked in New York with a delegate conference, a “Green Ship” Exhibition, Student Science Fair and a reception. At the urging of Commandant Allen, activities with marine environmental protection themes will take place in ports around the nation marking the event. “We are honored to be the hosts of the 2009 International Maritime Organization (IMO) World Maritime Day Parallel Event. The Parallel Event is an opportunity for the maritime community to come together with the public to celebrate the contributions of the maritime industry…

Maritime leaders will gather to discuss critical industry security issues in a seminar being held on May 21st in Washington DC in conjunction with National Maritime Day. Key industry and government representatives will meet to discuss “Security and the Seafarer:  A Cautionary Tale”. The event will be held at the National Press Club in the Holeman Room commencing at 3:00p.m. and ending at 5:00p.m. The seminar is being presented by the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA), and the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA). “This is a timely opportunity to have both government and industry stakeholders discussing their roles and challenges in providing security for our nation and her citizens…