Senator Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Eshoo (D-CA) introduced companion bills (S. 1820 and H.R. 3888 respectively) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish national standards for discharges from cruise vessels. (10/21/09)…
Obama Administration officials will hold their sixth regional Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 29, 2009. The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, led by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley…
On October 14th, Speaker of the United States House of Representative, Nancy Pelosi swore in Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. as the Federal Maritime Commission's 18th Chairman. President Barack Obama had designated then-Commissioner Lidinsky as Chairman on September 11th…
The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to hold public meetings in Oakland, Calif., Oct. 27 and New York City Oct. 29 to hear comments about a proposed rulemaking for ballast water discharge standards.These meetings are the last two of six public…
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings assisted in the U.S. House of Representatives passing of H.R. 3619, the “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010.” Congressman Cummings was “floor manager” for the bill. Cummings, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation…
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings praised the passage of the Maritime Workforce Development Act, H.R. 2651. The bill passed on a voice vote, with more than two-thirds of the House voting in favor. Congressman Cummings wrote this legislation to…
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $42m in grants to improve ferry service and build new docks and facilities in 15 states and Puerto Rico. Congress authorized the Federal Highway Administration’s Ferry Boat…
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings will chair a hearing of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, to review the Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Mission. The hearing will be held Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 10:00 a…
The PVA Association announced that legislation creating a major program to encourage international tourism to the United States cleared the Senate on September 9. The Travel Promotion Act (S. 1023) was approved by 79-19. The promotional campaign…
EPA’s proposed rule to adopt new emission standards for Category 3 marine diesel engines will be published on August 28, 2009. The comment period was set to close on September 5th, however, due to the delayed publication of the proposed rule…
Nor-Shipping 2009 was the largest in the event’s history, dating back to 1967. 1105 exhibitors from 52 countries participated. By comparison, Nor-Shipping 2007, which took place in the midst of a market boom, had 830 exhibitors from 42 countries…
Though it has sustained economic growth for the past ten years, China’s shipbuilding industry suffered in 2008. The nation contracted 48.3% fewer ships in the first half of the year as compared to 2007. Carrying capacity was down by about 45%…
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, joined his colleagues in a vote of 389-22 to approve the National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 2647, which included a Cummings…