US Mid-term Elections Bring Changes, Uncertainty in Congressional Maritime Leadership
Regardless of whether the Republicans seize or the Democrats maintain control of the House and Senate, there is a guarantee that changes in leadership will occur in some of the key Congressional leadership positions that will impact the maritime industry. Two of the most significant Congressional committees of jurisdiction are the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (House T&I) and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate Commerce). Both committees have jurisdiction over the U.S.
OMSA Announces Formation of Wind Committee
Open to all OMSA Members, the Committee Seeks to Further the Domestic Offshore Wind Industry and the Jones Act.New Orleans, LA – Today, the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) announced the formation of the OMSA Wind Committee and announced that membership on the Committee is now open to all OMSA members.OMSA President, Aaron Smith said, “Over the past 46 years, OMSA has done a tremendous job in promoting public policy that benefits the vessels, operators, and mariners engaged in the offshore oil and gas industry.
Keever Named Director for Hawaii SuperFerry
Hornblower Marine Services (HMS) is pleased to announce Captain John M. Keever is joining the company as Director of Marine Operations for the Hawaii Superferry project. As Director of Marine Operations for Hawaii Superferry, Captain Keever will manage the Alakai, the world’s most celebrated high-speed vessel, providing long-awaited passenger ferry service between , O’ahu and . This project is at the cutting edge of the high-speed passenger vessel industry, requiring top notch leadership, experience and innovation. Keever currently serves as Vice President, Marine Programs and Student Development of the , now part of The California State University. He is also a tenured professor of maritime management and serves as the campus’ federal liaison to the U.S.
USCG, Port Officials Improve Planning For Future Military Outloads
The Port of Jacksonville is one of the busiest ports in the country for the staging and mobilization of military equipment and supplies during times of national crisis. While not currently involved in the nation's war on terrorism, port officials have recently taken steps to improve coordination in the future. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Department of Defense agencies and the Jacksonville Port Authority will sign an updated memorandum of understanding Monday morning at 8 a.m. at the Port Authority Building for the utilization of domestic civil port facilities and services necessary to support future military and commercial port readiness needs. The Port Readiness Committee memorandum lays out responsibilities of the U.S.
LNG Enviro Impact Assessment for GOM Revised
The U.S. Coast Guard and Maritime Administration announced today that they are revising an environmental impact statement to lower estimates for potential impacts to red drum and other fish species of concern due to a proposed Shell USA Oil and Gas liquefied natural gas deepwater port facility in the Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard identified a calculation error after the original environmental impact statement was published that had erroneously placed the potential annual impact to red drum as equivalent to 8.5 percent of the 2002 Gulf of Mexico commercial and recreational harvest. The revision states that the proposed "Gulf Landing" facility could annually cause the death of eggs and larvae equivalent to 0.8 percent of the 2002 harvest of red drum had they grown to harvestable size.
BIMCO to Meet With Officials in Washington
BIMCO announced that it has arranged for meetings to take place this week with high ranking officials from the U.S. Customs Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the State Department Visa Office, the U.S. Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Sub-Committee, the U.S. House Coast Guard and Merchant Marine Sub-Committee, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration, and the Department of Transportation. a number of very important security issues currently under consideration in the U.S. which will have a direct impact on shipping and on trading with North America”. Everard continued, “Because BIMCO represents more than 65% of the world’s merchant fleet”…
$105M in Grants Will Aid Port Security Efforts
As part of the Bush Administration’s ongoing commitment to strengthen security throughout the nation’s transportation system, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta announced $148 million in new transportation security grants. Secretary Mineta said the $148 million, made available by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will include $105 million in Port Security Grants, $15 million in Intercity Bus Security Grants, and $28 million for Operation Safe Commerce’s pilot program for port security. “The Bush Administration is committed to further securing our nation’s highways, mass transit systems, railways, waterways and pipelines, each of which is critical to ensuring the freedom of mobility and economic growth,” said Secretary Mineta.
