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Washington, D.C.: Maritime Issues Flood House, Senate As the summer turns to fall, there are several urgent, pending issues which the U.S. government must act on. Perhaps most pressing is an amendment to a bill, which if passed, will prohibit U.S. flag carriers from flagging out until at least January of 1995. According to a spokesman for the Committee on Merchant Marine & Fisheries, an amendment to H.R. 1964, which is the Maritime Administration's authorization bill for fiscal year 1994, would prohibit Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena from authorizing vessel operators from changing flags (on vessels 3,000-gt and larger) un- til January 1994. H.R. 1964 passed the House and at press time was pending action in the Senate. Other news from Washington, D.C. follows. House Subcommittee Passes Maritime Security And Competitiveness Act The Maritime Security and Com- petitiveness Act of 1993(H.R.2151) was passed on July 29 by the Mer- chant Marine Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fish- eries Committee. The Maritime Security and Com- petitiveness Act intends to reduce needless government regulation of U.S. flag carriers and encourage in- vestment in new, efficient and eco- nomical vessels. The bill also ad- dresses vessel operational require- ments. Vessel operators will be pro- vided with payment under the Op- erating Differential Subsidy (ODS) to the tune of $2.3 million a vessel for FY '96, and $2.1 million a vessel for ten subsequent years, which is a cut from the $3-4.5 million the op- erators currently receive under the program. Cargo preference provi- sions are also included in the bill. These provisions will eliminate the three-year waiting period for eli- gible vessels and make foreign-built ships of 12,000-gt or less eligible for cargo preference if they were con- structed before May 19, 1993. For- eign-built vessels constructed after that date must be built in unsubsidized yards in order to be eligible. Other bills under consideration by the House include: changes to maritime tax and vessel deprecia- tion laws, which have already been moved by the maritime panel and await action by other committees; a shipbuilding promotional initiative and a separate mechanism to pay for maritime revitalization through new cargo container fees; and in- creased passenger cruise ticketfees. Navy Vessel Transfer Bill Approved The vessel transfer bill, H.R. 2561, has been passed by the Sen- ate and is awaiting the Presiden signature. H.R. 2561 authorizes the trans] of ten naval vessels and equipme to Argentina, Australia, Chi Greece and Taiwan, with five vi sels going to Turkey. The U.S. cov stand to obtain about $30 million leasing fees over the next few ye< from the transfers. The U.S. will be able to obtain additional $180 million in trainii supplies, support and repair co during the lease times, according Congressman Ben Gilman (R-N Defense Authorization Bill Clears House, Contains Ntl. Shipbuilding Initiative The FY '94 Defense Authori tion Bill has been cleared by House Armed Services Commit and includes the National Shipbu ing Initiative. The committee is seeking, ami other things, a program to introd new technological approaches shipbuilding and ship products ; ULTRASONIC THICKNESS TESTING CAN BE DONE ON DECKS, BULKHEADS, TANKS & HULL PLATES WITHOUT GRINDING SPOTS IN VALUABLE COATINGS! • Coatings DO NOT have to be removed -measures only the metal thickness • Do not have to destroy the integrity of perfectly good and costly coatings • No costly coating repairs • Saves time and money • Available in a variety of hand held models • Uses the multiple echo measuring technique CYGNUS INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 3127 Annapolis, MD 21403 Tel.: 410-267-9771 Fax: 410-268-2013 ABASCO ... The only fully integrated manufacturer of oil response and recovery products in the United States. 363 W. Canino Road Phone (713) 931 -4400 Houston, TX 77037 FAX (713) 931-4406 • Booms • Skimmers • Sorbents • Dispersant Systems • Bladders Emergency Spill Response Kit Shown + 42 Circle 151 on Reader Service Card Circle 23 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering
