Matson Navigation Company has threatened not to purchase two vessels being built at Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard but will instead time-charter them back from a new owner with lower crew costs.
In a hard-hitting speech this month in Washington, Senator John Breaux (D-LA) underscored the need to reauthorize the Maritime Sec-urity Program (MSP) prior to the legislation?s expiration on September 30, 2005.
U.S. intelligence officials have identified approximately 15 ships around the world that they believe are controlled by Osama bin Laden?s al Qaeda.
The Department of Defense?s (DOD) use of foreign-flag ships crewed by non-U.S. citizen seafarers to transport military equipment and supplies represents a major weakness in DOD?s force protection system aimed at securing the nation from terrorists acts at U.S. seaports.
Statute requires additional mariner identification and background checks
Sweeping legislation aimed at improving security at U.S. seaports and preventing terrorist acts was approved by Congress on November 14 and is expected to be signed by President Bush.
On October 16, U.S. District Judge William Alsup invoked the provisions of the anti-Union Taft-Hartley Act and issued an injunction that prohibits strikes or lockouts during an 80-day ?cooling off? while representatives of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) attempt to reach agreement for a new contract. Alsup?s decision followed a temporary restraining order issued on October 8, which compelled waterfront employers to open up 29 affected West Coast ports and allow longshoremen to return to work.
The Maritime Administration (MarAd) launched an investigation that led to recommendations designed to stop the transportation of American military cargoes aboard foreign-flag vessels.
In the wake of the award of eight Large Medium-Speed Roll-On/Roll-Off (LMSR) vessels to Maersk Lines, Ltd. by the Military Sealift Command early this month, Patriot Contract Services, a division of American Ship Management, filed a protest with the General Accounting Office requesting that the award be suspended pending a thorough review and investigation.
The House Armed Services Committee?s Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine on July 16, held its first in a series of hearings aimed at reauthorizing the Maritime Security Program (MSP) prior to its expiration on September 30, 2005.
On May 29, Matson Navigation Company signed a contract with Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard for two new containerships. The first vessel under construction is scheduled for delivery in June 2003. The second in April 2004.