MARAd Mysteries – Part I

The best thing we can say about the current Maritime Administration (MARAd) leadership is that it provides bloggers with plenty of material.  Word went out last week that Rear Admiral Philip Greene would be stepping down from his role as Superintendent of the U.S....

ILO History and Seafarer Rights

I spent this past week at the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland participating in the tripartite committee that crafted guidelines for the medical examination of seafarers.  While it is often easy to get lost in the weeds when creating these...

TSAC, Tugs, and Manning

The United States Coast Guard published a Notice for Proposed Rule Making in August, 2011 requesting public comment on, among other things, proposed regulations which will require implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS) aboard towing vessels.  For towing...
Judge, Jury, & Executioner

Judge, Jury, & Executioner

When an accident occurs aboard a merchant cargo vessel in U.S. waters the first responders after emergency medical personnel are usually the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).  The USCG conducts an investigation, interviews crew members and witnesses.  Formal statements are...