Final rule details Coast Guard cybersecurity requirements

Final rule details Coast Guard cybersecurity requirements

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday published a final rule in the Federal Register concerning cybersecurity in the nation's marine transportation system. Here is a summary of the document: The maritime industry faces increasing cybersecurity threats as it increasingly relies on cyberconnected systems. The purpose of this final rule is to safeguard the marine transportation system (MTS) against…
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MarAd advisory: Global disruptions to maritime GPS, AIS

MarAd advisory: Global disruptions to maritime GPS, AIS

(WASHINGTON) — GPS disruption affects maritime navigation in various parts of the world. Mariners are encouraged to take the following precautions: • Develop plans for responding to GPS disruptions that affect safe navigation of vessels prior to getting underway. • When a GPS outage occurs, incidents should be reported as soon as safely possible to the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation…
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MarAd advisory: Threats to IT systems, automated cranes

MarAd advisory: Threats to IT systems, automated cranes

(WASHINGTON) — This advisory from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) seeks to alert maritime stakeholders of potential vulnerabilities to maritime port equipment, networks, operating systems, software and infrastructure. Foreign companies manufacture, install and maintain port equipment that creates vulnerabilities to global maritime infrastructure information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems. In the past few years, the U.S. government has…
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Newly issued MMCs include verification scan code

Newly issued MMCs include verification scan code

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — On Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard began issuing merchant mariner credentials (MMCs) with an embedded credential verification scan quick-response (QR) code. The QR code, located in the upper-right corner of each MMC photograph/personnel page, can be scanned using a smartphone camera. The unique code, when scanned, will open the Coast Guard’s Homeport credential verification page of the…
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MarAd advisory: Combat threat in Black Sea, Sea of Azov

MarAd advisory: Combat threat in Black Sea, Sea of Azov

(WASHINGTON) — Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in late February 2022, commercial vessels have reportedly been struck by projectiles and experienced explosions in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. There have also been reports of moored and drifting naval mines. While some past actions may have targeted specific commercial vessels due to their association with certain countries…
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Canada’s Davie plans to invest in U.S. shipbuilding

Canada’s Davie plans to invest in U.S. shipbuilding

(LEVIS, Quebec) — Davie, Canada's largest shipbuilder, has announced its intention to make a significant, long-term commitment to the American shipbuilding industry. Pending final site and partner selection, the commitment would include a major investment in a U.S. shipyard. Davie’s decision coincides with a series of actions announced by the U.S. government to boost the efficiency, resilience and competitiveness of…
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U.S., Canada, Finland to partner on polar icebreakers

U.S., Canada, Finland to partner on polar icebreakers

(WASHINGTON) — The leaders of the United States, Canada and Finland on Thursday announced their intent to create the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, which is a trilateral arrangement to collaborate on the production of polar icebreakers and other capabilities, alongside United States’ allies and partners, labor and industry. This collaboration is intended to strengthen the shipbuilding industry and…
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Carpenter: U.S. must renew its commitment to maritime

Carpenter: U.S. must renew its commitment to maritime

By Jennifer Carpenter The United States must renew its commitment to a strong, reliable American maritime capability to confront emerging threats. China’s aggressive shipping expansion poses significant challenges to the United States and our allies. Global tensions have highlighted the vulnerability of maritime supply chains, and our domestic waterways remain a potential pathway for increasingly belligerent adversaries to cause harm.…
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MarAd advisory: Crew kidnappings in Gulf of Guinea

MarAd advisory: Crew kidnappings in Gulf of Guinea

(WASHINGTON) — Over the past year, pirates, armed robbers and kidnapping for ransom (KFR) groups are known to have operated in the Gulf of Guinea off Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana and Togo. During this period, they targeted a variety of vessels including tankers, containerships, general cargo vessels and passenger vessels. These groups have boarded vessels up to 300 nautical…
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