Tag: US MARAD

Mariners transiting North Pacific Ocean should be aware of the debris The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued an advisory reminding mariners transiting the North Pacific Ocean between Japan and the US West Coast of the debris field resulting from the tsunami on Honshu, Japan in 11 March 2011.Some possible marine debris types include derelict vessels, fishing nets and floats, lumber, cargo containers, and household goods. Because different debris types move with currents and winds differently, the debris may be dispersed over a very broad area.Source: MARAD

U.S. to build efficient, environmentally-friendly cargo vessels The Department of the Navy signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), on behalf of the Department of Transportation.The purpose of the MOA is to further objectives relating to the American Marine Highway (AMH) Program, particularly the development, design, construction and operation of U.S.-built and U.S.-crewed dual-use vessels (DUVs), which can serve in peacetime for coastwise trade under the Jones Act as well as provide sealift capability in time of national emergency.A desired outcome of a DUV, consistent with the mission of MARAD, is to have the benefits of the AMH - reduced transportation congestion, improved domestic shipbuilding industrial base, reduced green house gas emissions in the nation's transportation systems, creation of new jobs, etc. - and provide military sealift capability efficiently by leveraging the commercial industrial base.The usage of these vessels in the AMH could present a win-win opportunity for government, industry, labor, shipyards, and the traveling public. These vessels would provide state-of-the-art, U.S.-built ships with the increased capability to supplement the carriage of military equipment if called upon for response to a national emergency by leveraging the commercial industry. This has already been demonstrated with U.S.-flagged, ...

Vessels Could Create Jobs and a New Market for U.S. Shipbuilders The U.S. Maritime Administration released a report detailing new designs for shipping vessels specifically engineered for America's Marine Highways. Production of these efficient, environmentally-friendly vessels could bolster the domestic shipbuilding industry by creating new jobs and strengthening regional economies."This is another step in helping America's Marine Highways move our economy and relieve congestion on our roads," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "The U.S. maritime industry is vital to our economy and our security. These vessel designs will bolster both in a way that maximizes efficiency while minimizing environmental impact."The new vessel designs also meet a portion of the U.S. military's sealift needs in times of war or during national emergencies.Eleven designs have been created for new shipping vessels that can transport cargoes that would otherwise be trucked over congested roadways. The innovative designs focus primarily on roll-on roll-off vessels intended to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trucks and trailers or railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.The designs includesix roll-on roll-off (RO/RO) vessels, threecombination RO/RO-container carriers, a feeder containership, andaRO/RO-passenger ferry. The RO/RO and RO/RO-containervessels carry various types of vehicles, ...

After the release of a MarAd report that compares the costs of U.S.-flag and foreign-flag vessel Maritime unions are up in arms and calling for the resignation of U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda, following the release of a MarAd report that compares the costs of U.S.-flag and foreign-flag vessel operations.The report, a Comparison of U.S. and Foreign-Flag Operating Costs, reaches the conclusion that it costs more to operate ships under the U.S.-flag than under an open-register flag and that the chie reason for this is that U.S. citizen crews are more expensive than third-world crews.Possibly this is news to the Maritime Administrator, who worked as an attorney with the safety law division of the USDOT's Federal Railroad Administration before becoming a staffer for Senator Frank Lautenberg. Matsuda has often been criticized in maritime circles for his lack of knowledge and engagement with the maritime industry.One well-known maritime attorney who works for a major flag state went so far as to say that the Administrator was "underwhelming." Another prominent member of the salvage community said he was going to make it his mission to get rid of Matsuda. One long-time maritime commentator called him "the invisible man."What appears to have infuriated ...

Maritime Administration Report Comparing U.S. and Foreign-Flag Operating Costs Statement by: American Maritime Officers; International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots; Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association; and Seafarers International UnionOn Maritime Administration Report Comparing U.S. and Foreign-Flag Operating CostsThe U.S. Maritime Administration recently released a highly contentious study of American-flag shipping without any input whatsoever from maritime labor. This inexplicable decision guaranteed that the report would not contain the information that Congress and the Administration would need to develop and implement meaningful maritime policy that strengthens, not weakens, the U.S.-flag merchant marine, provides jobs for American, not foreign, maritime workers, and bolsters, not diminishes, the economic, military and homeland security of the United States. The administrator who approved the report, David Matsuda, should be held accountable.The Maritime Administration, more than a year ago, was tasked by Congress with identifying ways to boost American-flag shipping. Instead, the agency accepted a report based on incomplete information whose main conclusion - that in the deep-sea commercial sector, it often costs more to use U.S.-flag ships - isn't news to anyone. The fact that MarAd chose to exclude a significant segment of the maritime industry from this process, and accepted a report that includes possible ...

Latest techniques and equipment being used today The Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the Ship Operations Cooperative Program will conduct an anti-piracy technology and training demonstration aboard a MARAD vessel in Baltimore.The demonstration will include some of the latest techniques and equipment being used today, and provides the U.S. shipping industry, labor and government agencies an opportunity to examine and gauge the tools and technology available to reduce the risks associated with piracy.All maritime industry and labor representatives are invited to attend. Registration information is available at http://www.socp.usSource: MARAD

Yard expansion and technology upgrades The Port Authority of Guam Board of Directors has written to MARAD officials informing them of their desire to continue with original plans to focus the Modernization on the uplands portion of the program including yard expansion and technology upgrades."We believe by moving forward with this predominantly uplands Phase 1-A program, while simultaneously pursuing limited stabilization measures at Berths F3, F4 and F6, we will accomplish affordable cargo handling capacity improvement, set the stage for modernization, and achieve limited sustainability improvements for both the uplands and waterfront structures," Port Board Chairman Daniel J. Tydingco noted in his letter to MARAD Administrator David T. Matsuda.After months of meetings that included Port officials, MARAD, the Port Users Group and other stakeholders, all parties agreed upon a Scope of Work (SOW) that focused on the uplands work. However, MARAD officials recently notified the Port that they would like for the wharves to be a focus of this program and that the Port's Modernization Program would be adjusted to reflect the changes.That announcement was met with concern from Port Oversight Chairman Senator Tom Ada who encouraged MARAD to take a further look at the report conducted on the wharves ...

MARAD provided $1.2 million The Maritime Administration, along with the Maritime Environmental Resource Center and Maryland Port Administration, has dedicated a new facility to study the effectiveness of technology to treat invasive species in ballast water.The Mobile Test Platform is a retrofitted barge that will allow ballast water treatment systems to be evaluated in a natural setting at different locations in the Chesapeake Bay region.MARAD provided $1.2 million to help develop the new facility, which is able to test according to both IMO and US EPA Environmental Technology Verification protocols.Source: MARAD

These new vessels will begin operating in the Gulf of Mexico The Maritime Administration​ has approved a $346,129,000 Title XI guarantee to Vessel Management Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crowley Holdings, Inc., for the construction of three 330,000 barrel double hull tug/barge units. VT Halter Marine, Inc. in Gulfport, Mississippi is constructing the barges and Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington has been retained to build the tugs.The Title XI Loan Guarantee program provides funding to promote the growth and modernization of U.S. shipyards and the U.S. merchant marine.VT Halter Marine has a separate contract with Vessel Management Services to design and build three 330,000-barrel, 750 series ATB barges.These new vessels, which will begin operating in the Gulf of Mexico starting in late 2011, will redefine the ATM industry. Designed to carry 330,000 barrels of refined product, with a double wall hull construction in compliance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, they provide a combination of carrying capacity, seaworthiness and speed unmatched by any class of ATB.-Twin Screw 16, 320 hp tug with Intercon notch connection-Redundant engine rooms in accordance with ABS requirements-Redundant steering system with oversize rudders for maximum handling capabilities-Approximate sea speed 15 knots-Meets full SOLAS ...

After earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued an advisory reminding mariners that, subsequent to the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, a debris field formed in the North Pacific Ocean. This debris field may have dispersed over a broad area between Japan and the US West Coast. Mariners transiting these waters should remain vigilant and should report significant debris sightings. The content of this advisory is shown below:1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO VESSELS TRANSITING THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN FROM JAPAN TO THE U.S. WEST COAST.2. THIS ADVISORY WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV.3. THE 9.0 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE THAT OCCURRED MARCH 11, 2011 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU JAPAN RESULTED IN A DEBRIS FIELD IN THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN.4. POSSIBLE MARINE DEBRIS TYPES INCLUDE DERELICT VESSELS, FISHING NETS AND FLOATS, LUMBER, CARGO CONTAINERS, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS. BECAUSE DIFFERENT DEBRIS TYPES MOVE WITH CURRENTS OR WINDS DIFFERENTLY, THE DEBRIS MAY BE DISPERSED OVER A VERY BROAD AREA BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE U.S. WEST COAST. SOME GENERAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT WEBSITE HTTP://MARINEDEBRIS.NOAA.GOV/INFO/JAPANFAQS.HTML5. U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS TRANSITING THE SUBJECT AREA SHOULD ADVISE SUCH VESSELS TO REMAIN VIGILANT ...