Alaska: No Rush for Canada Ferry Project Resolution
Alaska can use an existing British Columbia ferry terminal for several more years if Canada enforces an order blocking so-called "Buy America" purchasing rules from being applied to its reconstruction, a state official said on Tuesday. A $15 million plan to overhaul the Prince Rupert ferry terminal, which is located in Canada, has escalated into a trade dispute with the United States. Alaska has refused to seek a waiver to the controversial law, designed to protect U.S. companies from foreign competition in transportation infrastructure projects. That prompted Canada on Monday to fight back by invoking rarely used anti-sanction laws that would prevent bidders on the project from agreeing to use only U.S.-made iron and steel, potentially delaying construction.
Ottawa Bars Use of 'Buy America' Rules at Ferry Project in Canada
The Canadian government signed an order on Monday blocking the United States from applying controversial "Buy America" purchasing rules on the demolition and reconstruction of a ferry terminal that is located on Canada's Pacific Coast but operated by Alaska's Department of Transportation. The U.S. federal rules are designed to protect U.S. companies from foreign competition in transportation infrastructure projects. The state of Alaska has refused to waive the provisions for the $15 million rebuild of the Prince Rupert, British Columbia, ferry terminal although the project is solidly in Canadian territory. Canada is fighting back by invoking rarely used anti-sanction laws to prevent bidders on the project from agreeing to use only U.S.-made iron and steel.
NACExpo 2003 Set for San Diego
According to the study, "Corrosion Costs and Preventive Strategies," the cost of corrosion in the U.S. is a staggering $276 billion per year. The shipping industry alone accounts for $2.7-billion, broken down into new ship construction — $1.1 billion, maintenance and repairs — $0.8 billion, and corrosion-related downtime — $0.8 billion. This study was initiated by NACE International — The Corrosion Society and mandated by the U.S. Congress in 1999 as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), and conducted by CC Technologies Laboratories, Inc, with support from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and NACE. This year more than 7,000 of the world's leading corrosion professionals will meet in San Diego, Calif.
