24 AUGUST 2018 • FOGHORN By Ed Welch, PV A Legislative Director LEGISLATIVEREPORT Congress Considers Marine Safety Legislation B ig events– environmental disasters, vessel casualties, acts of terrorism – often precipitate changes in maritime law and policy. The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska brought the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and the grounding of the New Carissa on the Oregon coast in 1999 prompted Congress to require that non-tank vessels have spill response plans. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, led to enactment of the Maritime Transportation Safety Act. The 1983 sinking of the coal carrier Marine Electric off the Virginia capes resulted in legislation creating the Coast Guard’s famed rescue swimmer program. Now it appears that the loss of the U.S.-flagged El Faro and the deaths of its entire crew of 33 seafarers off the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin in 2015 may result in a new round of leg- islative changes. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives recently developed the Maritime Safety Act of 2018 (H.R. 6175). On July 25, the full House of Representatives attached the language of the bill to another bill, S. 756 (the “Save our Seas Act”), a bill dealing with ocean debris, and approved it. To examine the El Faro casualty, the Coast Guard convened a three-person Marine Board of Investigation, led by Captain Jason Neubauer, an officer well known to many PVAmembers. In September 2017, the Board produced a 1.800.777.0714 toll free www.merequipment.com 8-500kW Marine Generators // Pull harder in the harshest marine environments // More copper & premium corrosion resistance // Superior motor starting & low operating temps // Better fuel economy & longer engine life // Easy to service & worldwide dealer support // Proudly made in America WINDOWS DOORS HATCHES CEILING & WALL PANELS ACOUSTIC FIRE RATED WEATHERTIGHT WATERTIGHT WOOD & METAL HONEYCOMB VINYL & RESIN FLOORS MARINE FLOORING SYSTEMS CABIN & GALLEY FURNITURE Pointing to Perfection Director: Steve Hadik (207) 841-5083 shadik@psmaritime.com | www.psmaritime.com