Page 5: of Marine News Magazine (June 2013)

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-MAIL Twice every business day we provide breaking news, tailored to your speciÞ cation, 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 qualiÞ ed employees. Post a position or keep abreast of new employment opportunities at http://www.maritimejobs.com ADVERTISE MN offers a number of print and electronic advertising packages. To see our editorial calendar and advertising rates, visit www.marinelink.com/AdvRates/Rates.asp Online Resources EDITOR?S NOTEThe central theme to this month?s edition of MarineNews is an easy one to spot. The Editorial Calendar has something to do with that, of course, but current events also provided a measure of cooperation, as well. Within these pages, shortsea shipping, dredging, infrastructure, WRDA, the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) and a raft of other related issues are woven into a number of en- tries. Each emanates from a different origin or perspective, but all add up to just one thing: The nation?s poorly maintained marine waterfront is getting increased scrutiny from lawmakers, spurred, in part, by (better) organized stakeholders and the realization that the status quo is no longer good enough. In May, the Senate passed, by a vote of 83-14, a long-overdue Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Last reauthorized in 2007, the measure still has to clear the House but as we hope for the best, more than 55% of the locks and dams on the nation?s inland waterways system have exceeded their economic design life expectancy. Even as a maritime-indifferent U.S. Secretary of Transportation and arguably the least effective Maritime Administrator in recent history pre- pare to depart Washington, the successful passage of WRDA, coupled with language that would eliminate certain aspects of the HMT from shortsea legs, is now seemingly within reach. Separately, and also within these pages, maritime heavyweights and infrastructure advocates such as AAPA President Kurt Nagle, WCI President and CEO Mike Toohey and ? perhaps the most effective Maritime Administrator in history ? Sean Connaughton, current Secretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth of Virginia, all weigh in for a collective ?SITREP? on the domestic waterfront. Connaughton, in particular (unlike the Beltway gang that regularly withholds hundreds of millions of HMTF funds from fee-paying users) puts his money (or, more accurately; the taxpayer?s) where his mouth is. Shortsea Shipping is alive and well in the Com- monwealth; thank you very much. What they all say; matters. The elusive prize represented by a fully integrated intermodal system literally hangs in the balance.And, because waterways wouldn?t matter unless we also had boats to navigate those channels, ports, waterways and shipyards, the trends emerging within those essential businesses also mat- ter. When it comes to boatbuilding, it turns out that partnerships ? between vendors, buyers and yards themselves ? are emerging as a key ingredient in that effort. You?ll need to turn the page to  nd out why. We cover all of that and more this month. Last, but certainly not least, I had a lot of fun with this edition. That?s not to say that work isn?t always fun, but our  rst ever MarineNews Photo Contest provided me with the pleasure of vetting more than 1,000 photographs submitted by an enthusiastic readership. Given the scope and quality of that input, it wasn?t easy to decide which ones to include in this edition. That said; I think you?ll  nd that collec-tion of images to be one of your favorite parts of this month?s collective effort. Certainly, it was mine. [email protected] Keefe, Editor, [email protected] Download our AppsiPhone & Android MN 5www.marinelink.com MN June2013 Layout 1-17.indd 5MN June2013 Layout 1-17.indd 55/30/2013 11:03:30 AM5/30/2013 11:03:30 AM