Government Update News


U.S. House Passes Compromise WIN Act

Dec 08, 2016

Bill includes construction authorization for Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. Today's passage of S.612, the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act (WIIN), formerly known as Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), by the U…

TT Club Calls for 'Cargo Integrity' Focus

Dec 08, 2016

Efforts to secure accurate container gross mass data continue following  the SOLAS revision mandating verified gross mass for every packed unit having taken effect, but international freight transport insurer, TT Club is now calling for a…

Sri Lanka, China Ink Deal to Develop Southern Port

Dec 07, 2016

Sri Lanka will take part in a joint venture with China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited to develop a port in its south, where China has also been offered an investment zone. The cabinet approved a plan under which Sri Lanka will lease…

IMO Newcomer Belarus Accedes to Further Treaties

Dec 05, 2016

Just one week after becoming the 172nd member state of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Belarus has acceded to three IMO treaties covering a variety of ship safety measures, including conventions on load lines and facilitation of maritime traffic…

Box Ship Detention Upheld after Appeal

Dec 02, 2016

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s decision to detain a Hong Kong flagged containership which dumped food waste in close proximity to Fraser Island in May was affirmed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal at a hearing on November 25…

Shuster to Return as Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman

Dec 02, 2016

U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) has been selected by the House Republican Conference to continue serving as Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “It is an honor to be selected again by my colleagues to serve as Chairman…

AMP Applauds Chao as Secretary of Transportation

Dec 01, 2016

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) has issued the following statement on the selection of Secretary Elaine L. Chao as the next United States Secretary of Transportation. “The American Maritime Partnership congratulates Secretary Elaine Chao for her nomination by President-elect Donald J…

UN Security Council Imposes New Sanctions on North Korea

Nov 30, 2016

The United Nations Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Wednesday that aim to cut the Asian country's annual export revenue by more than a quarter in response to Pyongyang's fifth and largest nuclear test in September. The…

AWO RCP Accepted as Existing SMS Under Subchapter M

Nov 29, 2016

The U.S. Coast Guard formally accepted the American Waterways Operators (AWO) Responsible Carrier Program (RCP) as an existing Safety Management System that complies with the requirements of Subchapter M. In a letter conveying the acceptance…

Crowley Awarded US Defense Freight Contract

Nov 28, 2016

Crowley Logistics Inc., a division of Crowley Maritime Corp., has secured a multi-year contract from the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), an agency of the Department of Defense (DOD), to provide transportation and related services supporting Department of Defense activities in the U…

Finland’s Minister Berner Visits NYK

Nov 25, 2016

Anne Berner, Finland’s minister of Transport and Communications; government officials; and representatives of 10 Finnish maritime companies — 23 guests in total — visited the NYK head office and met with NYK representative director and executive…

European Commission Gives Conditional Backing to Hapag-Lloyd, UASC Merger

Nov 23, 2016

The European Commission on Wednesday said it has given its conditional approval to a merger between German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd and the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC). The merger would create a combined company worth about 7 to 8 billion euros ($7…

Italian Tanker Officer Receives 8-month Prison Sentence

Nov 22, 2016

A senior engineering officer employed by an Italian shipping company was sentenced to eight months in prison for deliberately concealing a vessel’s discharge of oily waste into the sea, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Girolamo Curatolo of Custonaci…

AAPA Provides Trump Transition Team With Port Industry’s Recommendations

Nov 21, 2016

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)— the recognized and coordinated voice of seaports in the Americas—today sent a multi-faceted document to President-Elect Donald Trump’s transition team. The paper outlines opportunities to…

AAPA Outlines Port Policy for Trump Transition Team

Nov 18, 2016

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) today sent a multifaceted document to President-Elect Donald Trump’s transition team. The paper outlines opportunities to, in the words of the president-elect’s campaign, “Make America Great Again…

Current News

US Container Imports Rise in August

Stena Bulk Appoints Seasystems as Exclusive Global Partner for Jettyless LNG Technology

PortXL Announces 2025 Cohort

AI & Marine Insurance Presents Reward and Risks

Subscribe for Maritime Logistics Professional E‑News