As the public’s awareness of what could happen next in Arctic waters heightens, a flurry of activity accentuates the hard work ahead.

Second Sail-In to Continue Outreach to Congress. A lot more at stake than just “raising maritime awareness.”

Six-year surface transportation spending plan, as a part of the President’s Fiscal 2012 budget request, focuses largely on roads, air and rail improvements. Federal efforts to improve transportation infrastructure continue to ignore the key maritime part of the equation and crime on the docks also takes center stage. If you work on the waterfront, this is your cue to sit up and take notice.

More than one initiative in play to ensure that the domestic maritime industry, otherwise lacking DOT support, still gets its fair share of infrastructure spending. How that funding is meted out may change. Who ultimately gets the money certainly will.