The Maritime Minute

News from The American Maritime Partnership, May 2, 2011

SECOND-ANNUAL “SAIL-IN” TO UPDATE CONGRESS ON BENEFITS OF STRONG AMERICAN MARITIME INDUSTRY:
Nearly 200 American maritime industry representatives from throughout the country will descend on Washington, D.C. for the second-annual “Sail-In” Wednesday, May 4. The broad grassroots education event is designed to update Members of Congress and Congressional staff about the many benefits of a strong U.S. maritime industry. “The Sail-In is an opportunity to update Congress about the critical role that the maritime industry plays in America’s economic and national security, especially during a time of war when our economy is struggling,” said James Henry, President of the Transportation Institute and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Maritime Partnership. “A wide array of maritime industry representatives from throughout the United States will visit Washington and share how U.S. shipyards, mariners and companies are working around the clock to keep our country safe.” Click here to read more.

Congressional officials and the public will have the opportunity to attend a photo exhibition about the American maritime industry on Tuesday, May 3. The display will highlight the industry’s essential contributions to the nation’s economy, job growth, security and military capability. The exhibit can be viewed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building’first-floor foyer.

BRAZIL TAPS AMERICAN SHIPYARD IN QUEST FOR ENERGY:
Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., has been selected to build three Platform Supply Vessels (PVS) for energy exploration off the coast of Brazil. “Today’s signing demonstrates that America’s shipbuilders can be competitive in international markets,” said U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda, as he awarded a $241 million loan guarantee for the project. “We will support these export opportunities for U.S. businesses and American shipyard workers wherever possible.” Construction of the vessels is expected to create 300 new local jobs over the next three-and-a-half years.

DID YOU KNOW
It was the United States that led the fight for safety after the TITANIC foundered on April 15, 1912. Under the leadership of Senator William Alden Smith (R-MI [1859-1932]), an inquiry was launched that would lead to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) treaty which, among other things, mandated that never again would a ship leave port without enough lifeboats to accommodate all onboard. The treaty also established the International Ice Patrol. Sen. Smith has another maritime tie. He blocked a treaty that would have exchanged part of Michigan for Canadian land near New England. The portion of Michigan that Smith saved is home to the Federal locks at Sault Ste. Marie that connect Lake Superior to the lower four Great Lakes. So critical to U.S. security are the cargos that move through these locks that during World War II U.S. troops were stationed at the “Soo.”