President Bush Dec. 4 signed into law a provision that will in time grant Mexican trucking companies access to roadways throughout the U.S., a decision that may reverberate in the domestic waterborne shipping industry.
The first U.S. food shipments to Cuba in 38 years arrived in Havana Dec. 16 aboard foreign-flag ships.
The Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO has called for a federal investigation of the U.S. company that administers the Liberian flag of convenience cargo and cruise vessel registry.
A major U.S.-based foreign-flag cruise line is cashing in on a consequence of the recent terrorist attacks on the U.S. by providing weekly inter-island service in Hawaii.
Pacific-Gulf Marine will operate the new heavylift vessel MV Industrial Challenger under U.S. registry, providing new jobs for American Maritime Officers members in the international shipping trades.
Critics of the 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act could attempt to exploit the recent collapse of American Classic Voyages Co. for legislative gain in the current Congressional session, American Maritime Officers National President Michael R. McKay warned Jan. 1.
The Senate Dec. 20 approved S.1214, legislation that would mandate port security and contingency planning and fund security improvements in the nation's maritime sector, while the U.S. continues to scrutinize the international shipping industry for connections to terrorist activity.
A coalition of seagoing unions and merchant vessel operators Dec. 6 endorsed legislation that would lower the cost of doing U.S.-flag business on the high seas.
U.S. and allied authorities are still tracking merchant ships believed to be owned or controlled by Osama bin Laden and his worldwide al-Qaeda terrorist network or their sympathizers.
