ARLINGTON, Va. — The United States needs a larger merchant fleet, including ships available for sealift and tankers to meet the challenges of the new era of “great power competition,” particularly a conflict in the Pacific, said a senior Navy…
Jones Act Defenders Challenge Economic Arguments for Repealing Century-Old Law
ARLINGTON, Va. — The 100-year-old Jones Act is far from an outdated law that keeps shipping prices high and hurts the nation’s economy, a panel of maritime policy experts argued on April 14. “The biggest misconception of the Jones Act…
MARAD’s Buzby: Readiness of Sealift, Ready Reserve Force Suffering
ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. strategic sealift fleets need recapitalization and some increased manning to achieve the readiness that the nation needs to sustain its maritime power, the U.S. maritime administrator said April 14. “The readiness is suffering,” a fact that sealift stakeholders recognize, Maritime Administrator Mark H. Buzby said during a webcast that is part of…
Philly Shipyard Selected to Build NSMV
WASHINGTON — TOTE Services has selected Philly Shipyard Inc. of Philadelphia to build the newest class of training ship, the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), the Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced April 8. The shipyard will construct up to five new ships to provide maritime training for…
Chao, Buzby Conference With Maritime Industry Leaders Over COVID-19
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao and Maritime Administrator Mark H. Buzby held a teleconference with maritime industry leaders on April 2 to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the industry, according to an April 2 MARAD release. Chao and Buzby discussed the…
2nd Fleet Conducts Convoy Exercise in Atlantic
NORFOLK, Va. — U.S. 2nd Fleet, on behalf of U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR) and with Military Sealift Command (MSC), is conducting convoy operations across the Atlantic, employing the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf alongside USNS Benavidez, MV Resolve and MV Patriot, the…
N.S. Savannah Returns from Dry Dock
WASHINGTON — The N.S. Savannah, the world’s first nuclear-powered merchant ship, was to begin its journey back on Feb. 13 from dry-docking in preparation for decommissioning, the Maritime Administration said in a release. Having spent the last few months at Northeast Ship Repair in Philadelphia undergoing maintenance, the ship…
MARAD Announces $20 Million for Jacksonville Terminal Modernization
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Administrator Adm. Mark Buzby formally presented a check for $20 million to Jacksonville for the International Cargo Terminal modernization project, the Maritime Administration announced in a release. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao said Nov….
Sea Machines, MARAD Partner to Demonstrate Autonomous Technology on Spill-Response Vessel
BOSTON — Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics has entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to demonstrate the ability of Sea Machines’ autonomous technology in increasing the safety, response time and productivity of marine…
Transportation Secretary Announces Over $19 Million in Grants for Small U.S. Shipyards
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $19.6 million in grants to support capital improvements at 28 U.S. small shipyards as a part of its Small Shipyard Grant program, MARAD said in a release. Provided through…