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Association News At Sea & Ashore
April 2024
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Maritime Association News | |
On Tuesday, March 26th, 2024, we woke up to the news of the awful tragedy in Baltimore and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. While we wait for the NTSB investigation and report to be completed and for pieces of the bridge to be removed, the resiliency of the Maritime industry is clear and evident.
We heard very early on that this would cause a major disruption to shipping along the East Coast for a long time. In the days after the tragedy, the Port of NY & NJ and Virginia offered help, and shippers began diverting cargo. Both ports opened up their criteria for truckers from Baltimore and CBP worked on clearing paperwork on cargo destined for Baltimore to other ports along the East Coast. Norfolk Southern Railway has also begun running trains between the Port of New York and New Jersey Baltimore to transport containers that have been rerouted.
Since the incident, the Coast Guard has opened two alternative navigation channels in the vicinity of the bridge for commercially essential vessels. The crew, still onboard the Dali, have been visited by local seafarer centers and they stand waiting to support in any way needed.
While more information will emerge in the coming months, the maritime industry truly answered the call. Ports, people, and the government are working to keep the cargo moving so as not to cause a monumental supply chain disruption. It is remarkable what the industry is capable of when faced with an issue.
To stay informed, visit the Key Bridge Response 2024 Website by clicking the link below.
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The Coast Guard has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register related to proposed updates to cybersecurity requirements for MTSA-regulated U.S. flagged vessels, Outer Continental Shelf facilities, and U.S. facilities.
Comments are due by April 22, 2024.
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The Coast Guard is working to replace its current credentialing system with a more technologically advanced, secure, agile, and user-friendly system to reduce risk and improve customer service to mariners and the maritime industry. The anticipated replacement system will be web-based, allowing direct virtual interaction between the Coast Guard and maritime industry stakeholders. This NPRM updates information submission procedures, proposes new payment procedures, and makes technical updates, setting the stage for the new system.
Comments are due by May 13, 2024.
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The EPA announced two Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). $3 billion in funding is available from the Inflation Reduction Act to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure and climate and air quality planning at U.S. ports.
NOFOs Close on May 28, 2024.
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The U.S. Coast Guard is accepting applications to fill seven vacancies on the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (Committee). This Committee advises the Secretary of Homeland Security, via the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to national maritime security, including enhancing the sharing of information related to cybersecurity risks that may cause a transportation security incident between relevant Federal agencies and State, local, and tribal governments; relevant public safety and emergency response agencies; relevant law enforcement and security organizations; maritime industry; port owners and operators; and terminal owners and operators.
Applications must be received by May 28, 2024
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The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will be holding public hearings on the 2024 New Jersey Energy Master Plan. The 2024 EMP will be a public-facing document that incorporates progress information acquired through inter-agency collaboration and stakeholder feedback to build upon the 2019 EMP and help New Jersey reach its goal of 100% clean energy by 2035, amongst other key clean energy and climate goals and benchmarks.
Comments are due by June 12, 2024.
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Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Informational Pipelines
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To find out more on how to become a member of the Maritime Association of the Port of NY & NJ, please click the link below. | The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with two Department of the Interior bureaus: the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to strengthen interagency cooperation in the advancement of safe and environmentally sustainable non-mineral (renewable) energy development, including offshore wind, on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). | |
The Federal Maritime Commission issued its final rule governing demurrage and detention billing requirements. Common carriers and marine terminal operators must bill for demurrage and detention and clarifies who can be billed, within what timeframe, and the process for disputing bills.
Most of the rule takes effect on May 28, 2024, except the contents of the invoice, approval of which is pending with the Office of Management and Budget.
| The Maritime Association is happy to share news about its members. If your organization is receiving an award or has other notable news, contact us! | | |
New York & New Jersey Harbor News | | | |
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Bergen Point Tide Station Damage | |
In the early morning hours of March 11th, crucial real time tide data in the Kill Van Kull waterway stopped transmitting. It was later discovered that the Bergen Point West Reach station, located just west of the Bayonne Bridge, on Staten Island, fell into the water during a storm event. This has led to what’s expected to be a long term data outage from this station. The observations are part of NOAA’s PORTS - a decision support tool that improves the safety and efficiency of maritime commerce and coastal resource management. NOAA has begun the process of seeking stakeholder feedback (pilots, USCG, industry) and will coordinate with stakeholders to determine next steps for a replacement station either along the KVK waterway or closer to Port Elizabeth. The Bergen Point West Reach station collected and publicly disseminated valuable tidal data for over 30 years and served the needs of many users.
PORTS data is invaluable for the maritime community and is used daily by professional and recreational mariners to safely navigate constantly changing conditions. NOAA’s New York/New Jersey Harbor PORTS is sponsored locally by partners such as the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey (PANYNJ) and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) and collects and disseminates data for tides, currents, wind and bridge air gaps.
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Since 1873, the Maritime Association has advocated, protected, and encouraged trade through the commercial maritime industry in New York and New Jersey.
As a nonprofit trade association, the Maritime Association serves its members by affecting policy change on local and national levels while promoting the regional industries' maritime services at sea and ashore.
Stakeholder engagement is vital to the Maritime Association in order to ensure the security of maritime assets, the sustainability of the marine environment, and grow the competitiveness of port services.
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