What is it and what does it do? The Maritime Security Program (the “MSP”) is a U.S. government program under which a fleet of commercially viable, militarily useful merchant ships active in international trade, are readily...more
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (“MARAD”) recently amended certain regulations which implement the financial requirements under the Federal Ship Financing Program (“Title XI Program” or the...more
On October 17, 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced full enrollment of vessels in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and its sister program, the Tanker Security Program...more
In February 2022, the 386-passenger U.S.-documented river cruise vessel VIKING MISSISSIPPI, which was built to transport passengers to and from shoreside expeditions up and down the Mississippi River, floated out at LaShip...more
Background Offshore wind is the renewable energy industry’s newest darling. Federal and state funding opportunities have abounded in the wake of increasingly available and reliable technologies to implement the green energy...more
On June 23, the White House announced the launch of a Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership to accelerate the development of US offshore wind projects. This partnership is a joint effort of the Biden...more
In honor of World Oceans Day, House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) reintroduced legislation aimed at addressing the ocean impacts of climate change and reforming federal ocean management to better...more
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) recently released guidance on its streamlined procedures for securing government-guaranteed ship financing under the Title XI program, now reliant on the Federal Financing Bank (FFB)...more
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and its Marine Highway Program aims to work with the public and private sector to develop and expand marine highway service options. The America's Marine Highway Program (AMHP) was...more
The end of 2020 has seen significant developments in legislation with implications for the maritime industry as we move from the Trump administration to the new Biden administration. This article provides an update on the...more
As President-elect Biden begins assembling his new team, personnel decisions play an important role in what the next four years will look like for the maritime industry. As speculation begins to mount, a question we see...more
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), an agency that conducts audits, evaluations, and investigations for the United States Congress, issued a report titled “Natural Gas Exports: Updated Guidance and Regulations Could...more
Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, recently introduced the Maritime Transportation System Emergency Relief Act (Maritime Relief Act). The bill could be...more
Representatives Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) have recently introduced the Maritime Transportation System Emergency Relief Act (MTSERA) to provide financial relief to the maritime industry for losses...more
With a presidential election looming and a crowded congressional calendar on the horizon, July is shaping up to be one of the busiest months in recent history for the American maritime industry. ...more
The Maritime Administration (“MarAd”) has completed the implementation of significant changes in the Federal Ship Financing Program commonly known as Title XI, as a result of which the program offers improved economic...more
The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) have issued a new notice regarding the timing and substance of deepwater port pre-application meetings. The guidance encourages...more
On November 1, 2019, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) published a notice seeking public comment on its draft Voluntary Tanker Agreement (VTA). After being dormant since 2013, MARAD is seeking to reestablish the VTA under...more
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is issuing two Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) soliciting comments on steps that MARAD can take to simplify and/or modernize its U.S. citizenship regulations and policies....more
• The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is soliciting public comment on ways to reduce regulatory costs and restrictions on the U.S. maritime industry. • For maritime industry stakeholders,...more
President Donald Trump on February 12, 2018, submitted his budget request to Congress for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The President's full budget calls for approximately $4.4 trillion in total spending. Much of the budget seeks...more
On Thursday, August 3, Admiral Mark Buzby was confirmed by voice vote by the United States Senate to become the Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). This is the earliest a MARAD Administrator for an...more
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) will publish notices on June 8, 2017, soliciting public comments to help shape their regulatory reform efforts under Executive Order (EO) 13771,...more
This edition of the Cozen O’Connor Maritime and Infrastructure Federal Update attempts to navigate the mixed messages of recent government actions including (i) Customs and Border Protection’s letter ruling modification...more
Furie Operating Alaska, LLC (formerly Escopeta Oil Company, LLC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly filed a Stipulation of Dismissal in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska on March 24, 2017,...more