Page 70: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 1992)

Bill Introduced

To Revitalize

U.S. Shipbuilding

A bill has been introduced in the

House of Representatives by Con.

Thomas H. Andrews that would assist in the revitalization of the commercial shipbuilding industry in the U.S.

The bill, H.R. 5072, the Shipbuild- ing Promotion Act of 1992, requires the Secretary of Defense, concur- rent with the Department of De- fense budget request for fiscal year 1994, convene an interagency work- ing group to develop and implement a plan to ensure that U.S. commer- cial shipbuilding can compete effec- tively in the international shipbuild- ing market. If the Secretary of De- fense fails to submit such a plan to

Congress, the act contains language which would prevent the Depart- ment of Defense from entering into a contract for the construction, re- pair or purchase of any product or service with any company physi- cally located or headquartered in a nation that subsidizes its shipbuild- ing and repair industries. "The U.S. shipbuilding industry is in a crisis," said Congressman

Thomas. "Commercial shipbuild- ing in the United States has virtu- ally disappeared. As a member of the House Armed Services

Committee's Seapower Subcommit- tee, I have heard representatives of the Department of Defense testify over and over again that our ship- building industrial base is essential to the national security of the United

States. However, when they are asked what step they are taking to preserve the shipbuilding industrial base, they have no answers."

Gibbons Bill Passes

In House; Faces Test

From Senate, Bush

After much debate, the Gibbons

Bill, or as its more formally known, the Shipbuilding Trade Reform Act of 1992, H.R. 2056, was recently passed in the House. However, the bill faces a uphill battle in the Sen- ate.

The bill is designed to "try to ensure fair trade in the commercial shipbuilding and repair industries by providing additional trade rem- edies against subsidized and dumped foreign commercial ships."

The House rejected the Archer notion which would have sent the bill back to the Committee on Ways and Means in order to strike the shipbuilding trade reform provisions while retaining only the boat user fee provisions.

President Bush has already stated that he will veto the bill if left in its present form. The Adminis- tration feels that a multilateral agreement to eliminate shipbuild- ing subsidies is preferable to the

Gibbons Bill.

New Alaskan Bill

Limits Liability

From Oil Spills

A bill recently passed by the

Alaskan legislature would limit the liability of insurers or other parties supplying certficates of financial responsibility to tanker owners in the event of an oil spill.

State officials are prohibited by the bill from taking action against insurers for more than what is indi- cated on a COFR. The bill is de- signed to make it easier for tanker owners to obtain liability coverage.

The bill specifically limits the li- ability of a third party insurer or other group providing COFRs.

Vecom USA Creates

New Director Position

Vecom USA Inc., of New Orleans, has initiated the new position of technical director to enhance the company's quality of technical sup- port for its comprehensive range of marine chemicals and equipment, including AWT and LT-200 systems.

The new position will be filled by

Ray Tilley, who will be responsible for training personnel and coordi- nating technical support activities throughout the USA and Canada.

Mr. Tilley has extensive experience in the marine industry, including 16 years at sea and 15 years in shoreside management.

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