The Maritime Minute

News from The American Maritime Partnership, March 29, 2012

AMP TO ADMINISTRATION: U.S. VESSELS READY, WILLING & ABLE TO TRANSPORT FUEL TO NORTHEAST: With concerns that refinery closures in the Northeast may cause gas prices to increase further, the American Maritime Partnership (AMP) notified the Administration that American vessels have ample capacity to transport petroleum to the region from the Gulf of Mexico. AMP’s letter comes after a federal analysis omitted key data about the domestic shipping industry’s overall capacity. “Today, there is more than adequate American tank vessel capacity to address any additional refinery closures,” the AMP Board of Directors wrote in a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Click here to read more.

NAVY LEAGUE POLICY STATEMENT SAYS JONES ACT VITAL TO NATIONAL SECURITY: A recently released annual policy statement from the Navy League of the United States says the Jones Act is critical to U.S. economic, homeland and national security. The policy statement says the Navy League supports “The Jones Act and Passenger Vessel Act, which are important to economic and national security because they protect critical national infrastructure and provide added sealift capacity through the VISA, an expanded pool of trained and experienced mariners to crew U.S. government-owned sealift assets and help sustain the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industrial base that is vital to the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.” Click here to read more.

SHIPPING SEASON UNDERWAY ON GREAT LAKES: The Great Lakes Jones Act fleet has shaken off its winter slumber. The first ship got underway on March 5 and the active fleet has been steadily growing since then. The March 24 opening of the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., means shipping is in full swing again. Click here to read more.