Regulation – Professional Mariner

01 Jun

New ad campaign calls on Trump to end Jones Act waiver

Rich MillerMaritime NewsJones Act, Regulation

(WASHINGTON) — The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, has launched a new national campaign calling on President Trump to end the 150-day unprecedented Jones Act waiver and put American workers, American businesses and American maritime strength first. The Jones Act is a fundamental national security law that requires vessels moving cargo from point to…

26 May

IMO adopts first global code for autonomous ships

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsAutonomous shipping, IMO, Regulation

(LONDON) — The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a new International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) to support the safe integration of AI-enabled and remotely operated commercial ships into global shipping. The MASS Code sets out a comprehensive, goal-based framework to ensure that remotely controlled or autonomous ships are designed and operated to a level…

29 Apr

New IMO guidelines target ships flying false flags

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Regulation, shipping

(LONDON) — The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Legal Committee has approved a new set of guidelines to improve transparency and due diligence in ship registration, as well as prevent fraudulent registrations and misuse of flags. The guidelines help to close a key regulatory gap for the maritime industry, given there is currently no binding international framework to regulate the registration…

12 Jan

IMO details raft of new shipping rules in force from Jan. 1

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Licensing and training, Regulation, shipping

(LONDON) — A set of amendments to key International Maritime Organization (IMO) treaties and codes entered into force on Jan. 1. They include the following: Preventing and responding to bullying, harassment and sexual assault Amendments to the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code) aim to prevent and respond to violence and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual…

23 Dec

U.S. halts five East Coast wind projects, cites security risks

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsoffshore wind, Regulation, technology

(WASHINGTON) — The Trump administration said Monday it is pausing leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast due to what it said were national security risks identified by the Pentagon, NPR reported. The pause, effective immediately, is the latest step the administration has taken to hobble offshore wind in its push against renewable energy…

21 Nov

Repeat violators among 13 illegal charters cited in Miami

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsLicensing and training, Regulation, U.S. Coast Guard

(MIAMI) — Coast Guard Sector Miami law enforcement officers, along with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, terminated 13 illegal charter voyages last weekend on Biscayne Bay and Miami River. The operators of vessels The Round and Second Wind were reportedly violating active federal captain of the port (COTP) orders. All 13 vessel voyages were terminated and cited violations.…

12 Nov

ABS board appoints John McDonald as chairman, CEO

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsRegulation, shipping

(NEW YORK) — The American Bureau of Shipping's board of directors appointed John McDonald as the new chairman and chief executive officer of ABS at a meeting on Tuesday. In the culmination of a well-planned succession process, McDonald, the serving ABS president and chief operating officer (COO), will take over on Jan. 1, 2026, when present ABS Chairman and CEO…

18 Sep

Crowley receives ISO certification for quality and safety best practices

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry NewsRegulation, shipping

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) — Crowley has been certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards by ABS Quality Evaluations, an accredited registrar for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Widely considered as the worldwide standard for quality management and environment systems and practices, the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification reinforces Crowley's commitment to quality, safety and sustainability and recognizes the…

11 Aug

Fatal mainmast failure spurs new Coast Guard recommendations

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty NewsRegulation, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — On Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, at approximately 10:12 a.m. the schooner Grace Bailey, owned by Grace Bailey Navigation Co., experienced a catastrophic mainmast failure during a routine voyage, resulting in multiple passenger injuries and one fatality. The four-day excursion around Penobscot Bay began on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in Rockland, Maine, with 33 people on board, including 26…

07 Aug

Hawaii shipbuilding CEO gets 13-year term for fraud

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsRegulation, shipbuilding

(WASHINGTON) — A formerly married couple was sentenced Tuesday for their roles in a more than decade-long scheme to defraud hundreds of investors out of millions of dollars in connection with Semisub Inc., a Hawaii-based company. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Curtiss E. Jackson, 72, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Jamey Denise Jackson, 62, currently of Cochester,…