Posted:
December 19, 2014
The Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, legislation that includes provisions to bolster the maritime industry and facilitate the transition from military service to work in the U.S. merchant marine, has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and was signed by the President December 18.
In an announcement released December 10, Congressmen Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Nick Rahall II (D-WV) - the chairman and ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee - were joined by Senators Jay Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and John Thune (R-SD) - the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee - in highlighting the importance of the legislation. Congressmen Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and John Garamendi (D-CA) - the chairman and ranking member on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee - championed key provisions that were included in the final bill to bolster the U.S. maritime industry and facilitate the employment of veterans in the U.S. merchant marine.
The legislation will reduce barriers faced by veterans with seagoing military experience when making the transition to work in the U.S. merchant marine. Among other things, the legislation will:
The provisions in this legislation, coupled with additional federal proposals, are expected to expand the presence of veterans in the U.S.-flag maritime workforce, and will support the Military to Maritime recruiting and career program.
The legislation requires the creation of a national maritime strategy that includes recommendations for easing regulatory burdens on U.S.-flag vessel owners, improving the competitiveness of the U.S.-flag fleet, increasing the domestic use of short sea shipping and enhancing U.S. shipbuilding capacity. This provision adds impetus to the work being done by the Maritime Administration.
The legislation also contains a provision to promote the use of U.S.-flagged vessels and the employment of American mariners in the transportation of liquefied natural gas being exported from U.S. deepwater ports. The bill requires a report to be presented to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee documenting the number of jobs that would be created each year by the use of American vessels to export LNG from the U.S.
Coast Guard authorization bill enacted with provisions to bolster maritime industry
The Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, legislation that includes provisions to bolster the maritime industry and facilitate the transition from military service to work in the U.S. merchant marine, has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and was signed by the President December 18.
In an announcement released December 10, Congressmen Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Nick Rahall II (D-WV) - the chairman and ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee - were joined by Senators Jay Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and John Thune (R-SD) - the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee - in highlighting the importance of the legislation. Congressmen Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and John Garamendi (D-CA) - the chairman and ranking member on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee - championed key provisions that were included in the final bill to bolster the U.S. maritime industry and facilitate the employment of veterans in the U.S. merchant marine.
The legislation will reduce barriers faced by veterans with seagoing military experience when making the transition to work in the U.S. merchant marine. Among other things, the legislation will:
- Extend the sea time "recency" threshold for military personnel from three months within the past three years to three months within the past seven years
- Maximize credit for military sea service, certification and training toward a Merchant Mariner Credential and STCW certification
The provisions in this legislation, coupled with additional federal proposals, are expected to expand the presence of veterans in the U.S.-flag maritime workforce, and will support the Military to Maritime recruiting and career program.
The legislation requires the creation of a national maritime strategy that includes recommendations for easing regulatory burdens on U.S.-flag vessel owners, improving the competitiveness of the U.S.-flag fleet, increasing the domestic use of short sea shipping and enhancing U.S. shipbuilding capacity. This provision adds impetus to the work being done by the Maritime Administration.
The legislation also contains a provision to promote the use of U.S.-flagged vessels and the employment of American mariners in the transportation of liquefied natural gas being exported from U.S. deepwater ports. The bill requires a report to be presented to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee documenting the number of jobs that would be created each year by the use of American vessels to export LNG from the U.S.