Topic Links Maritime trade is essential to America's economic viability and national security interests. The U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) – comprising an intricate system of ports, terminals, vessels, waterways and...more
As sanctions continue to ratchet up in response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, global responses in the maritime sector are moving at breakneck speed. Indeed, several governments are taking steps to block vessels...more
Much of the world’s focus is on the COVID-19 pandemic, and rightfully so, but sanctions regulators also have their gazes fixed on another issue: the maritime industry. On May 14 2020, we saw the U.S. Departments of State and...more
Top 10 Considerations for Foreign Flag Vessels Calling on U.S. Ports and U.S. Flag Vessels Operating Worldwide (Detailed Discussion) - For almost a decade we have been discussing MARPOL Annex VI and the new global cap on...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
Oil Drops More Than 3% After State Secretary Pompeo Says Iran Is Ready To Negotiate About Its Missile Program - "Oil prices turned lower on Tuesday, falling by about $2 a barrel as U.S. President Donald Trump said progress...more
General - 1 Which are the key ports in your jurisdiction and what sort of facilities do they comprise? What is the primary purpose of the ports? The US has a large and diverse marine terminal industry. In terms of...more
Note from the Vice Chair - Happy fall! As the seasons change, so do the issues confronting the maritime industry...or not. Over the past few years, several topics have consistently remained in the headlines and as a thorn...more
Cybersecurity risks to the nation's critical infrastructure (CI) – defined as 16 CI sectors, including transportation and maritime – continue to grow exponentially. The incoming Trump Administration has made it clear that...more
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has teamed up with the United States Coast Guard(USCG) and private industry to issue a new cybersecurity document that will assist the maritime industry in securing...more
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a notice in the Federal Register on March 14, 2016, announcing the availability of, and seeking comments on, the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study (ACPARS) Final Report. The ACPARS was...more
Some confusion and uncertainty has arisen in the international ocean shipping and logistics industry following several public statements and FAQs released by the U.S. Coast Guard in the past few days regarding the impending...more
Pursuant to recent amendments to the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, Chapter VI, Regulation 2, effective on July 1, 2016, shippers will be required to provide ocean...more
On December 15, 2015, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held that the U.S. Coast Guard could impose nonfinancial conditions, in addition to a bond, before permitting ships under suspicion of a MARPOL...more
Action Item: The U.S. Coast Guard published a Final Rule increasing limits of liability for vessels, deepwater ports, and onshore facilities under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA 90”). The raise in liability limits also...more
Recent decisions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of Treasury have increased the prospects for regular air and vessel service to and from Cuba. Those decisions do not open the floodgates for...more
Action Item: Owners, operators, and other interested parties related to the operation of marine terminals should review and comment on a Coast Guard Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) addressing new requirements to...more
Today, we attended the State of the Ports Luncheon, along with several of our Bilzin Sumberg colleagues and over 1,000 prominent business leaders in our community, including representatives from local government, major cruise...more
In a 106-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued Monday, January 13, 2014, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has undertaken a wide-ranging overhaul of the standards for fire protection, detection and extinguishment...more