Page 6: of Marine News Magazine (May 2012)

The approaching mid-year finds the marine industry ? particularly those players in the brown water side of the equation ? on a steady course towards recovery and indeed, prosperity. Unlike the oceangoing liner, bulk and tanker trades, where charter rates are not yet at a level that will support sustained growth, the inland and offshore oil support sec- tors report robust equipment utilization. That?s not to say that there won?t be stray storms to avoid along the way. Actually, there are. This edition of MarineNews appropriately focuses on variables that might otherwise cause the rapidly recovering sector(s) that we serve ? Offshore, Inland, Coastal, Great Lakes and Patrol ? to veer off course. What they all have in common is the tsunami of regulatory change lurking just over the horizon, as well as a host of challenges already here. You?ll find not one, but five entries in this edi- tion that touch upon all of it; from mariner credentialing to EPA VGP?s, ballast water treatment standards, a seafarer criminalization survey, an executive report from the National Maritime Center and a Subchapter M saga update. This is one primer that you can?t afford to miss. As a headline focus, we then turn our attention to Combat Craft, specifically those smaller platform entries that are fast becoming the maritime standard in the war on terror, piracy and port security tasks. These small, agile, speedy and hi-tech boats can?t fully replace the 600-foot assets of the world?s collective Navies, but it?s also true that their bigger cousins can no longer do the job without them. Literally hundreds of these craft ? from fabrication yards located on the East, Gulf and West Coasts ? are being churned out annually. To my way of thinking, it is just this type of craft that may well save U.S. shipbuilding. As an industry, we don?t often get things right, and when we do, we usually fail to spread the good news to the gen- eral public. It?s (in part) why our marine highway and shortsea shipping programs are stuck in neutral and the federal government continues to pour billions of dollars into high speed rail and highway projects to the general detriment of the most powerful island nation in the world and its waterfront. Nevertheless, MarineNews contributor Bob Kunkel this month shares the story of an INCAT training vessel being built largely on the goodwill of the maritime industry itself. Follow along as Kunkel describes a new Maritime Aquarium research vessel that will eventually deliver educa- tional benefits to thousands of children in the Tri-State area of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. It comes to fruition because maritime businesses and shipping have answered the call. Rounding out our coverage is an array of innovative (did I mention green, too?) propulsion ideas and high-tech gad- getry that promise to change the small boat platform forever; and, for good. Without a doubt, there IS a lot of good coming from the maritime sector lately. You just have to look for it. MarineNews is anexcellent place to start. SUBSCRIBESubscribe to the print or electronic edition of MarineNews at www.marinelink.com/renewsubscr/Renew04/subscribe.html or e-mail Kathleen Hickey at [email protected] DAILY NEWS via E-MAILTwice every business day we provide breaking news, tailored to your specification, delivered FREE directly to your e-mail. To subscribe visit http://maritimetoday.com/login.aspx POST & SEARCHJOBSJob listings are updated daily and help match employers with qualified employees. Post a position or keep abreast of new employment opportunities at http://www.maritimejobs.com ADVERTISEMN offers a number of print and electronic advertising packages. To see our editorial calendar and advertising rates, visit www.marinelink.com/AdvRates/Rates.asp Joseph Keefe, Editor, [email protected] Online Resources 6MNMay 2012EDITOR?S NOTEkeefe@ marinelink.comMN#5 (1-17):MN 2011 Layouts 5/7/2012 1:03 PM Page 6