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Welcome to the Maritime Spotlight. Here you'll find hundreds of pages of information on current and recent developments, port security, government compliance, legislation and court decisions. You can access links to industry resources and organizations and archived materials on maritime matters, as well.


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Status of US Ports (5/14/08)

No significant changes in the security status of US ports have been brought to our attention in the preceding 24 hours. For a summary of maritime security requirements in the United States, access the Port Security page of our Web site - Maritime Spotlight - Port Security.

CRS – wind energy – offshore permitting

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) issued an updated version of its report on offshore permitting of wind energy projects. The report discusses early and current jurisdictional issues, as well as the impact of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

RL32658 (1/29/08).

Delaware – research boat aground

The US Coast Guard issued a

press release stating that salvage efforts have commenced on the research boat that grounded near Bethany Beach, Delaware during a storm. A sheen is reported to be coming from the vessel, but the impact on the environment is minimal. (5/13/08).

FMC – meeting

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued the official notice of its public meeting to be held on May 14.

73 Fed. Reg. 27826 (May 14, 2008).

New York/New Jersey – anchorage regulations – proposed

The US Coast Guard proposes to revise the boundaries of three anchorage grounds in Upper New York Bay adjacent to Ellis and Liberty Islands to accommodate the proposed increase in the size of the safety and security zones surrounding those islands. Comments on the proposal should be submitted by July 14.

73 Fed. Reg. 27775 (May 14, 2008).

Presidential Proclamation – National Transportation Week

President Bush issued a Proclamation declaring Friday, May 16, 2008 as National Defense Transportation Day and May 11 through 17, 2008 as National Transportation Week.

73 Fed. Reg. 27713 (May 14, 2008).

Senate oversight hearing re TSA

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation conducted an

oversight hearing regarding operations of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The hearing focused on aviation security. Mr. Kip Hawley, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Security, briefly mentioned that TSA expected to enroll nearly one million maritime workers for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) by the end of the fiscal year. [Someone is not keeping up with this rapidly evolving situation.] (5/13/08).

St. Croix – security zone

The US Coast Guard has made slight changes to the security zone in the vicinity of the HOVENSA refinery on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The changes come into effect on June 13.

73 Fed. Reg. 27745 (May 14, 2008).

USCG – counter-drug analyst position to be established

The US Coast Guard issued a

press release stating that a counter-drug analyst position is to be established at Sector New York. The analyst will collect, process, and analyze information regarding the more than 600 known and suspected drug-smuggling ships world-wide and screen problematic vessels. (5/13/08).

USCG – identification documents for foreign crewmembers

The US Coast Guard proposes to require each crewmember on a foreign commercial vessel en route to a US port or place or at a US port or place and each crewmember on a US commercial vessel arriving from a foreign port or place to carry and present on demand an acceptable identification when in US navigable waters. Acceptable identification for this purpose means a passport; a US Permanent Resident Card; a US merchant mariner’s document; a US Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); or a Seafarer’s Identification Document (SID) issued in accordance with International Labor Organization (ILO) Seafarers’ Identification Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (ILO 185). The crewmember may secure the identification with the master, so long as it can be presented on demand. The vessel operator would be required to ensure that crewmembers are in compliance. Violations may subject the mariner and the vessel operator to civil penalties. In addition, control measures may be taken against the vessel. Note: These requirements, if implemented, would apply even if the crewmember never departs the vessel while it is in the US. If the crewmember intends to go ashore in the US, all of the current immigration requirements (particularly the US visa requirement) will apply. Comments on the proposal must be submitted by July 14.

73 Fed. Reg. 27778 (May 14, 2008).