Congress News

US Shutdown Impacts Shipping: North P&I Club

US Coast Guard and other federal agencies are operating at a reduced capacity following US government shutdown, said North of England Protecting and Indemnity Association (North P&I Club).Since 21 December 2018, the US Government has been in shutdown following the failure of Congress to agree federal funding. With no end in sight, it is the longest shutdown in US history, it said."We have not received any indications as yet that the shutdown is causing significant disruption to shipping," said a statement from North P&I Club.

US Oil Export Boom Sparks Battle to Build Texas Ports

Booming U.S. oil exports have set off a scramble to build Gulf Coast ports to handle more than 3 million barrels per day in new supplies expected over the next five years.Of seven proposed oil-export projects, nowhere is the opportunity greater or the competition more fierce than in Corpus Christi, Texas, where three firms are vying to open the state's first deepwater port.Commodities trader Trafigura has taken an early lead with a planned offshore facility that has an easier…

AAPA: U.S. Ballast Water Legislative Victory Appears Imminent

Legislation that sets standards for incidental water discharges from vessels passed the House on Nov. 29.The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, S. 140, which includes the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), passed the Senate two weeks earlier and now moves to the President to be signed.The provision places the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the lead role of establishing standards for ballast water discharge, and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) will monitor and enforce compliance.

AAPA Questions CBP Policy on Agency’s Staff Facilities at Ports

On Wednesday (Nov. 28), the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) addressed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) policies requesting port authorities to build and incur the costs of CBP staffing facilities at ports. In a letter to CBP Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan, AAPA expressed concern over CBP seeking ways to build new facilities, while there continues to be a shortage of CBP officers for maritime activities.“CBP is requesting consolidated and custom-built facilities (according to CBP design specifications) for CBP personnel.

Craighead Appointed as CLIA President and CEO

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced that its Global Executive Committee has appointed Kelly Craighead as President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2019. Craighead will be taking over the role currently held by Cindy D'Aoust, who in July of this year announced her intent to leave her position by year’s end.Craighead has spent over 15 years in the public and private sectors, recently serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism in the U.S.

Port of Corpus Christi: $59m for Channel Upgrades

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Work Plan, which includes an additional $59 million in funding for the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP). This funding brings the total Federal appropriations for the CIP to $95 million. The estimated CIP cost is $360 million, of which the federal government is responsible for $230 million, while the Port of Corpus Christi is responsible for the remaining $130 million. To date, the Port of Corpus Christi has transferred $78 million of its own funds to the USACE…

CargoX Launches the World's First Smart Blockchain Platform

Slovenia-based supplier of blockchain solutions for logistics, CargoX has  launched the CargoX latform to become the first open, neutral, and accessible blockchain platform in the shipping industry.The company said that the platform can be used by businesses of any size, and it was recently selected as the winning innovation at the IRU World Congress among 77 startups after a presentation in front of over 1000 attendees from more than 60 countries."Shipping, freight forwarding…

US Senators Alarmed if China Gets Control of Djibouti Port

Two prominent U.S. senators expressed alarm on Tuesday about the military and political consequences if China gains control of a port terminal in Djibouti, and said they were concerned it could further boost Beijing's influence in East Africa.In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Senator Chris Coons said they were concerned about Djibouti's termination of a contract for the Doraleh Container…

Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Appoints Dick de Graaff as New Director

Dick de Graaff, MA (48) has been appointed the new Director of Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) effective 1 January 2019. He is succeeding René Kouwenberg who will retire on the same date.PTA, which coordinates the efficient processing of cruise ships and receives their passengers, said that De Graaff is very familiar with the cruise sector and knows the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam inside and out."He has served as PTA’s Commercial Director since December 2004 and in this role…

Kings Point Alumni Release Commemorative Video

Video marks Academy's 75th year and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.Alumni of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) released an inspiring video to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the institution and memorialize midshipmen who have died in service to the nation. Over the summer, the USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation (USMMA-AAF) has been executing a multi-faceted campaign to mark the federal academy's decades of service and the foundational role it plays…

WCI, AAPA Upbeat on Federal Funding for USACE, Inland Navigation Projects

WCI yesterday praised Congress for passage of the FY2019 Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 5895 that combines appropriations bills for the Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veteran Affairs, and Energy & Water Development that funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Separately, The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) lauded the ‘On Time’ FY'19 Energy and Water Development Appropriation, also noting that it marked the first time since 2004 that an E&WD…

Shipping Industry Heads for Climate Protection

At gmec, the global maritime environmental congress (gmec) during SMM in Hamburg, high-profile business and science experts discussed how the global shipping industry can achieve the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) environmental goals while continuing to provide its services at competitive prices.“We are at the beginning of a new chapter in the history of shipping,” said Tian-Bing Huang, Deputy Director - Marine Environment Division at the IMO, in his opening keynote.There is no question that the shipping sector is facing huge challenges…

SMM Launches with High-Profile Guest Speakers

At today’s opening press conference of the international maritime trade fair in Hamburg, political and business leaders discussed current challenges facing the shipping industry. The focus of the debate was on the 0.5 percent sulphur limit for ship fuels which will take effect on January 1,  2020, and the industry's goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping in half by the year 2050. Roughly 2,300 exhibitors and the extensive conference program accompanying the trade fair will deliver answers to the industry's complex questions. Roughly 50,000 visitors are expected to attend.

Mississippi River Ship Channel Deepening Project Moves Forward

The Mississippi River Ship Channel could be the first port complex on the Gulf Coast to reach a depth of 50 feet now that the Director’s Report has been signed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Elected officials and industry leaders have long worked to increase the channel’s depth to 50 feet, which is the same depth of the expanded Panama Canal.In signing the Report, Corps of Engineers Director of Civil Works James C. Dalton stated the project is “economically justified and…

Olmsted Online

In 1921, Thomas Edison told Forbes magazine, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” He could have been talking about Olmsted. That’s because, after more than 30 years of frustratingly slow progress, cost overruns and more than a few mistakes, Olmsted is finally poised for success. That’s something to celebrate.It is official: The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) wants Olmsted operational by October. And, not a moment too soon. After more than 30 years, the ribbon cutting to officially open the Olmsted Locks and Dam will take place on August 29.

Port Canaveral Awarded $16.23 Mln for Harbor Projects

The Canaveral Harbor and Canaveral Sand Bypass projects will receive priority funding in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fiscal Year 2018 Workplan. The Corps has allocated $14.76 million to the Canaveral Harbor Sand Bypass project and $1.47 million will be provided for maintenance of the Port’s harbor and the Canaveral Locks.U.S. Congressman Bill Posey (FL-08) worked with the Army Corps throughout their budget planning process to ensure critical Port Canaveral and Brevard County…

EU Plans to Hit US Imports with Duties from July

The European Union expects to hit U.S. imports with additional duties from July, ratcheting up a transatlantic trade conflict after Washington imposed its own tariffs on incoming EU steel and aluminium.EU members have given broad support to a European Commission plan to set 25 percent duties on up to 2.8 billion euros ($3.3 billion) of U.S. exports in response to what is sees as illegal U.S. action. EU exports that are now subject to U.S. tariffs are worth 6.4 billion euros."The…

New US Coast Guard Commandant Takes Helm

Adm. Paul F. Zukunft was relieved as commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard by Adm. Karl Schultz during a military change-of-command ceremony held Friday at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters.Zukunft also retired from the Coast Guard after 41 years of service to the nation as part of the same ceremony and received the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal from President Donald J. Trump."Truly, Mr. President, you honor the men and women of the United States Coast Guard serving around the world today as 2018 was the largest appropriation ever for the Coast Guard," said Zukunft.

Puerto Valparaiso and AAPA Launch the 107th Annual Convention

The event will take place in Valparaiso, Chile, from October 7 to 10, with the presence of AAPA’s Continental leadership.With a postal card of Valparaiso hills as a background, the Empresa Portuaria Valparaiso (EPV) and the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) officially launched the 107th AAPA Annual Convention.The event gathered public authorities, executives and clients of EPV at the deck of Muelle Barón, in Valparaiso, Chile. In the occasion, the host of the 2018…

Macroeconomic Trends Signal Good News for Shipping

The current global economic growth (GDP) looks like it may be as good as it gets, with indicators across the globe signaling healthy expansion, but at a slower pace compared to the levels seen in the last half of 2017.Global economic growth seems on track to reach its highest level since 2011, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) maintain its projection for the world GDP at 3.9 percent and expects the global economic growth to be supported by a strong momentum, favorable market sentiment and accommodative financial conditions in 2018 and 2019.

US Coast Guard Welcomes New Vice Commandant

Adm. Charles D. Michel was relieved as vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard by Adm. Charles W. Ray during a military change-of-watch ceremony held Thursday at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. Michel, who also retired from the Coast Guard after 33 years of service to the nation as part of the ceremony, received the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal from the 25th Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Paul F. Zukunft. “The Coast Guard has given me everything I wanted and more: a world-class education…

Record-Breaking Year for the Port of Baltimore

38.4 million tons of cargo handled in 2017; the most since 1979 and the third-highest tonnage in its history.With such a busy port environmental factors have to be considered. The Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Port Administration has made significant environmental progress to reduce emissions at the port’s public marine terminals in the last several years, including upgrades of older equipment to newer and more efficient tools.The 2018 GreenPort Congress Conference…

Port of Oakland's Four-year Journey to Record Cargo Volume

Boss credits 'all links in the supply chain' with comeback from 2014 low pointIn 2014, stalled negotiations over a new waterfront labor contract crippled ports from San Diego to Seattle. Today, a number of those ports are handling record cargo volumes.What changed? At the Port of Oakland, it was collaboration, according to Executive Director Chris Lytle.“All links in the supply chain came together to dig us out of the hole,” Lytle told an audience of 300 this week. “Labor…management…cargo…

US Dredging: An Advocate for Ports, Waterways & Coastal Protection

U.S. dredging companies are unlocking the potential of U.S. Ports. These companies build their equipment in U.S. shipyards, are owned by U.S. companies and staff their ships and projects with hardworking Americans. U.S.-based Dredgers build to suit the needs of the United States. We all know that it takes a significant amount of time to complete an environmental analysis before a dredging project can commence. This usually means that an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) must be undertaken.

Savannah Harbor Expansion Project Nears Completion

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed outer harbor dredging at the Port of Savannah, marking the midpoint of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). "The completion of outer harbor dredging marks the midpoint for SHEP and represents a crucial milestone for the Savannah community, the State of Georgia and the nation as a whole," said Deal. "The Port of Savannah is already the second busiest port in the nation for exports and the timely completion of this project will be a major step forward for our nation's infrastructure.

U.S. Infrastructure Bill May Not Pass this Year

The U.S. Senate's second highest-ranking Republican on Tuesday expressed doubt that Congress will pass legislation to increase infrastructure spending this year, citing time constraints. Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, told reporters: "I think it will (be) challenging. I certainly would be happy if we could, but we’ve got a lot of things to do, that being one of them, and I don’t know if we will have time to get to that," according to a transcript from his office. President…