November 6, 2017
From the desk of Capt. Jeff Monroe, MM, AMPE
International Association of Maritime and Port Executives
MARAD MARINE HIGHWAY GRANTS
A Notice of Funding Opportunity for eligible Marine Highway projects is expected to be published in November with an anticipated submission date to be set sometime in December. Funding for projects is $5 Million USD. An additional $7 Million is expected to be appropriated in 2017.
CRUISE PASSENGER PROTECTION ACT Introduced in the House and Senate in spring of 2017, this bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to determine whether any of the enumerated rights in the international cruise line passenger bill of rights (adopted by the members of the Cruise Lines International Association) is enforceable under federal law. The bill shall apply to passenger vessels that: (1) carry at least 250 passengers, (2) have sleeping facilities for each passenger, (3) are on a voyage that embarks or disembarks passengers in the United States, (4) are not engaged in coastwise trade, and (5) are not federal- or state-owned. The bill revises passenger vessel security and safety requirements concerning: (1) log book entries and reporting of deaths, missing individuals, thefts, and other crimes; and (2) placement, access to records, and notice of video surveillance equipment to monitor crime.
The DOT, in coordination with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the Department of Justice, and heads of other relevant federal agencies, shall study the feasibility of having an individual on board each passenger vessel to provide victim support and related safety and security services. The Maritime Administration (currently authorizes) shall certify organizations in the United States and abroad that offer the curriculum for training and certification of passenger vessel security personnel, crew members, and law enforcement officials on the appropriate methods for prevention, detection, evidence preservation, and reporting of crimes in international waters.
The bill revises vessel design, equipment, construction, and retrofitting requirements. A peep hole or other means of visual identification shall be in the entry door of a assenger stateroom or crew cabin to provide an unobstructed view of the area outside the stateroom or crew cabin. Vessel owners shall ensure that a vessel is staffed at all times with appropriate medical staff to treat passengers on board.
The Department of Homeland Security may withhold or revoke the clearance of, and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may deny entry into the United States to, any vessel owner that: (1) commits an act or omission for which a penalty is imposed under this Act, or (2) fails to pay the penalty. The bill makes additional compensation recoverable for non-pecuniary damages (but not punitive damages) for deaths resulting from a passenger cruise ship accident occurring on the high seas beyond 12 nautical miles from the U.S. shore.
Source: Congressional Record
FEDERAL FUNDING HANDBOOK
The 2017 Federal Funding Handbook for Marine Transportation System Infrastructure prepared by the US Committee on the Marine Transportation System is still available. For a copy contact Jeffrey.monroe@iampe.org.
MAJOR CHASSIS MANAGEMENT COMPANY CHANGE
Direct Chassis Link, Inc. (“DCLI”) has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire TRAC Intermodal’s (“TRAC Intermodal” or “TRAC”) fleet of approximately 72,000 53-foot domestic chassis and related customer and hosting contracts with major Class I railroads and intermodal shipping companies throughout the United States. The transaction is expected to close in January 2018, subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. As a result of this acquisition, DCLI will own, lease, or manage approximately 136,000 marine chassis, as well as approximately 80,000 domestic chassis, for a total chassis fleet of over 216,000. In addition, through its REZ-1 asset management platform, the company manages over 86,000 domestic intermodal containers for third parties. DCLI is also entering into a Transition Services Agreement with TRAC for certain back-office functions until a complete system migration is accomplished, ensuring a seamless transition and uninterrupted service for customers. Post-integration, customers will benefit from a new single source for intermodal marine and domestic chassis leasing services over an expanded national footprint encompassing all major ports and railway terminals. These services will be powered by the REZ-1 asset management platform, which already trades in both the domestic and marine markets. Source: Atlantic Journal of Transportation
SPRING 2018 TRAINING SCHEDULE
February 8 - 9: Savannah, GA (MPM) Host GPA April 10 - 14: Houston, TX (MPE) Host HDR May 14 - 18: New York-New Jersey (MPE) Host PANYNJ
June 7 - 8: Portland, OR Continuing Education Host HDR
June 18 - 22: Milwaukee, WI (IMPE) Host MPA-IRPT Hosts: GPA-Georgia Ports Authority, HDR-HDR Engineering, PANYNJ-Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, MPA-Milwaukee Port Authority, IRPT-Inland Ports and Terminals Association. MPM-16 Hour Marine Port Manager Program MPE-36 Hour Marine Port Executive Program IMPE-36 Hour Inland Marine Port Executive Program Continuing Education-16 Hour Program -Accredited Marine Port Executive Certification
For additional information: Capt. Michelle Ross info@iampe.org
To register for classes, contact John Gleason at registration@iampe.org
FINAL 2017 PROGRAMS LAST WEEK TO BOOK
November 13-17 MPE Tampa, Florida
Hosted by Port Tampa Bay
December 5 IRPT Webinar Tariff Development-Inland Ports
Applications and information are available from info@IAMPE.org
Tampa Scholarship - We generally award 1 scholarship to a host recommended participant at each class who is a veteran, merchant mariner, law enforcement or fire professional. The upcoming Tampa Scholarship has been awarded to Caren Allen, a Senior Crime Analyst with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in Tampa.