Us Government News

A U.S. government weather forecaster said on Thursday conditions were favoring La Niña weather pattern during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter 2017-18. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC), an agency of the National Weather Service, in a monthly forecast said the chances of La Niña were seen at 55 percent to 65 percent.   Reporting by Karen Rodrigues in Bengaluru

The U.S. government has chartered another commercial cruise liner to serve as a floating hotel for relief workers in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Carnival Cruise Line said it reached an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will see the 2,052-passenger vessel Carnival Fascination docked in St. Croix to provide housing and meals for relief workers during a four-month charter from October 15 to February 3, 2018.

The Pentagon named a senior general to command military relief operations in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico on Thursday and the Trump administration sent a Cabinet emissary to the island as U.S. lawmakers called for a more robust response to the crisis. The U.S. territory of 3.4 million people struggled through a ninth day with virtually no electricity, patchy communications and shortages of fuel, clean water and other essentials in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the most powerful storm to hit the island in nearly 90 years. The storm struck on Sept.

In January 2012, Inmarsat's U.S. government functions were combined with those of Stratos and Segovia and rebranded as Inmarsat Government. The consolidated organisation provides global, secure, communication solutions to meet the U.S. government's mission-critical telecommunication needs. The website provides customers and partners with an in-depth understanding of its offerings and how these solutions can be best implemented through a wide range of secure products, infrastructure and contract vehicles. Inmarsat Government's solutions bring together satellite capacity, terrestrial infrastructure, customer support, and Information Assurance to meet mission demands of a wide range of U.S. government users.

On February 12, 2002, the U.S. government deposited a declaration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) stating that specific approval of the U.S. government will be necessary before the 2001 Double Hull Amendments to MARPOL 73/78 (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) would enter into force for the U.S. If the U.S. took no action, the amendments would have entered into force for the U.S. automatically on September 1, 2002, under a tacit amendment procedure. By submittion this declaration, the U.S. has reaffirmed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) as the standard for all tankers entering U.S. water until such time as the U.S. government specifically approves the entry into force of the 1992 and 2001 MARPOL amendments.

MTN Government (MTNGOV), a subsidiary of MTN Communications (MTN) and a company in satellite communications, cybersecurity and integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) solutions serving U.S. DoD and civilian agencies worldwide, announced the introduction of the industry’s first “Social Media Threat Intelligence” managed service. This service is a predictive cyber solution that enables U.S. government agencies using social networking, mobile devices and distributed workforces to protect against the onslaught of cyber threats. The solution identifies and analyzes malicious actors, threats and targeted attacks against U.S. government leaders and agencies, and provides proactive, actionable threat analytics and intelligence in advance of any network compromise.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice stating that on February 12, 2002, the U.S. Embassy in London deposited a declaration with IMO stating that the express approval of the U.S. Government will be necessary before the revised Regulation 13G of MARPOL 73/78 would enter into force for the United States. In this declaration, the U.S. Government cited specific technical differences between the revised MARPOL Regulation for new and existing tankers and OPA 90. Source: HK Law

BP Marine has collected its third accolade after the innovation of its SEA Card – Ships’ bunkers’ Easy Acquisition Card – solution was recognized by the US Government. Created as a solution to the US Defense Energy Support Center’s (DESC) search for a more efficient marine fuel procurement process, SEA Card played a significant role in the Government Fuel Card Program winning the 2007 David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award. The Government Fuel Card Program team received the honor for making the acquisition system for air, fleet and sea fuels more efficient, responsive and timely.

Inmarsat Government, a leading provider of secure, global, mission-critical telecommunication solutions to the U.S. public sector, announce the appointment of Susan Miller as president and chief executive officer. In this role, Miller will be responsible for the overall business strategy and direction for Inmarsat Government, a wholly-owned, independent subsidiary of Inmarsat plc, responsible for all direct U.S. government business. Miller has over 20 years of senior executive leadership experience across a wide range of technologies that serve the U.S. government and commercial sectors.

Denise Rucker Krepp, former Maritime Administration Chief Counsel who currently advocates on behalf of the U.S. domestic ship recycling industry, issued a statement at the Coast Guard Shipping Coordinating Committee Meeting March 12, 2014, in Preparation for the April 2014 Maritime Environment Protection Committee Meeting. Below are her comments. Good morning. My name is Denise Krepp and I am representing EMR-Southern Recycling. As I mentioned last year, EMR-Southern Recycling is the premier metal recycling operation in the U.S.

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) informs that it has entered into a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing the policies and procedures regarding the survey and classification of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF). The agreement expands the working relationship that has existed between ABS and MARAD since the agency's inception in 1950, updating the last MOA signed in 1999. The new agreement, signed by Maritime Administrator Paul N. Jaenichen and ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J.

BP says it is working with EPA to demonstrate "present responsibility" and have temporary suspension lifted. BP also wishes to make it known that the announcement by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding BP’s temporary suspension relates only to future potential contracts with the US government. The temporary suspension does not affect any existing contracts the company has with the US government, including those relating to current and ongoing drilling and production operations in the Gulf of Mexico. They continue: The EPA’s action is pursuant to administrative procedures providing for discretionary suspension until a company can demonstrate "present responsibility" to conduct business with the US government.

VT Halter Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems) has finalized an agreement with the U.S. Government to complete two contracts, including the construction of a Fisheries Research Vessel for the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the construction of a Logistic Support Vessel for the U.S. Army. The Agreement, known as a “novation” provides an arrangement for VT Halter Marine to complete the multi-million dollar construction projects started by its predecessor. It was approved after the U.S. Government conducted an in-depth review to assure it was in their best interest to transfer the contracts to VT Halter Marine.

VT Halter Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), has finalized an agreement with the U.S. Government to complete two contracts, including the construction of a Fisheries Research Vessel for the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the construction of a Logistic Support Vessel for the U.S. Army. The agreement provides an arrangement for VT Halter Marine to complete the multi-million dollar construction projects started by its predecessor. It was approved after the U.S. Government conducted an in-depth review to assure it was in their best interest to transfer the contracts to VT Halter Marine.

Inchcape Shipping Services has appointed Noah Rudolph as Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Government Services, effective 10 November, 2008. A graduate of Princeton University, Rudolph holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School. Rudolph has held several positions in the US Government including service in the United States Marine Corps and the Department of Justice. Rudolph will serve as the Chief Operating Officer for the ISS Government Services business stream.

Carnival Corp, resists reimbursement of costs incurred by US Government through assistance rendered to their disabled 'Carnival Triumph'. Carnival Corp. says all maritime interests must assist without question those in trouble at sea, a duty that would not include reimbursing the U.S. government nearly $780,000 for costs associated with the rescue of the crippled Triumph cruise ship, reports the Associated Press. Carnival recently released letters replying to an inquiry by U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, about the Triumph stranding and the cruise line's overall safety record.

The scrapping of so-called ghost ships on Teesside looks likely to go ahead, reported the BBC. Able U.K. won a contract with the U.S. government to dismantle up to 13 vessels at its Hartlepool yard, and four ships arrived in late 2003. But delays caused by environmental and planning concerns prevented any work. Hartlepool Council has now removed the final hurdle, by admitting it can no longer block planning permission. The dismantling plans were dogged by debate over the potential impact on the surrounding area and wildlife. Last year, Hartlepool councilors threw out a number of planning applications by Able UK. Now, the authority has said new government planning policies mean it has no chance of successfully challenging an appeal by Able UK to the Planning Inspectorate.

Kongsberg Maritime, Inc., USA and Kongsberg Maritime, Norway have signed an agreement with C & C Technologies, Inc. for the sales and support of Hugin Autonomous Underwater Vehicles to the U.S. Government. C&C will complement Kongsberg’s existing U.S. capacity with additional support facilities, technical expertise, and operational experience obtained during three years and over 18,000 miles of commercial AUV mapping. In addition, C & C will work jointly with Kongsberg to develop Hugin variants to address the evolving needs of the U.S. Government. The alliance will focus upon sustaining the U.S. Naval dominance by the introduction of such innovative products as the Military Version Hugin 1000 AUV.

US government officials, seeking to bolster African maritime security, arrived in Benin in early November to convene a conference of ministers from 11 African countries to discuss ways to better control their territorial waters. The conference in Benin aims to initiate conversation about drafting a maritime safety and security strategy that would be adopted by countries in the region around the Gulf of New Guinea, which include Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe and Togo. African maritime security is emerging as an important focus for the U.S. government, which has named the Gulf of Guinea as a pilot site for its new global fleet stations initiative. Source: JDW

The AP reported that ministers from across Africa's oil-rich Gulf of Guinea agreed at a U.S.-sponsored meeting Wednesday to establish surveillance systems to try to stamp out illegal activity in their largely unpoliced waters. Representatives from 11 agreed in a statement to start using tools such as radar and locator transponders on ships to monitor activity off their coasts. The statement was issued during a three-day meeting in Cotonou, Benin, sponsored by U.S. government agencies and military. The U.S. government has been pushing countries to increase security along the little-watched West African coast, an area of growing importance for U.S. oil interests amid volatility in the Middle East.

CMTI, a provider of maritime training services in the U.S., has been awarded a five-year contract by the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide training and training related services, including curriculum development, under preferred customer discount pricing to all U.S. Government customers. This GSA Schedule contract, under contract number GS-02F-0173N, covers Special Item Numbers (SIN) 27-400 and 27-500 (Instructor Led Training, Course Development and Test Administration) within FSC Group 69 Part 30 – Training Aids & Devices. When purchases are made under this contract, using the GSAAdvantage! web site, Government customers will receive a substantial discount from CMTI’s commercial prices on all training and services as listed.

Austal USA has been awarded a facility clearance (FCL) by the US Department of Defense. The achievement elevates Austal USA to a new level of US defense supplier, allowing the shipyard to Prime for future classified US Government shipbuilding projects. The clearance was awarded after Austal USA entered into a Special Security Agreement (SSA) with the US Government following a process spanning more than three years, in which the company had to satisfy strict criteria surrounding foreign ownership, control or influence.

In a ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s (OPIC) President and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth L. Littlefield presented Ellicott Dredge Enterprises, LLC and its Ellicott Dredges LLC entity with OPIC’s inaugural “Impact Award” for Ellicott’s work in Iraq. Ellicott was one of only eight organizations across the country receiving this award from OPIC, the U.S. Government’s development finance institution. With the assistance of political risk insurance from OPIC…