Page 27: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 1995)

(Kelly Article Continued from page 27)

AWO's Regulatory Agenda: Challenge Bt Change controversial certificates of finan- cial responsibility (COFR) rule, with which tank barge operators must comply by July 1,1995. In testimony before the House Coast Guard and

Navigation Subcommittee and for- mal comments to the regulatory docket, AWO called attention to the rule's potentially devastating im- pact on independent coastal tank barge operators, urging the USCG to suspend implementation of the rule if acceptable financial respon- sibility mechanisms cannot be de- veloped. AWO will monitor the

COFR implementation process closely as 1995 begins to assess the need for renewed advocacy efforts as the rule's effective date ap- proaches.

Preservation of the Jones Act, a key legislative underpinning of the

U.S. barge and towing industry, con- tinues to be an important objective

We've just taken another step ahead by going astern.

Highly Specified. Hamilton Jet

Manufactured In New Zealand by CWF Hamilton and Co. Ltd, P.O. Box 709, Christchurch, New Zealand, Ph: 64-3-348-4179, Fax: 64-3-348-6969.

Worldwide Distributors — Italy, Spain, UK, USA, Canada, India, France, Germany, Holland, Australia, Finland, Hong Kong,

Indonesia, Korea, Norway, Greece, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Denmark, Phillipines, Panama, South Africa. cwfoo53

Circle 215 on Reader Service Card © AHEAD. (2) ZERO-SPEED. Full steering effect in this mode. (3) ASTERN.

When you're firmly established as a world leader, it can be easy to become complacent.

But for HamiltonJet, quite the reverse is true... literally.

As the first to introduce the split duct deflector for superior astern thrust and vessel manoeuvrability, HamiltonJet has just advanced this concept another step.

The result is the patented HSRX servo- hydraulic follow-up control system. This major advance in applied hydraulics features a unique rotary valve integral with the deflector actuating cylinder.

The new HSRX gives full follow-up movement with enhanced reaction time and precision at the zero-speed position... simply. And all with inboard hydraulics for long life and easy maintenance.

HamiltonJet.

Definitely not astern in going ahead. of AWO's issue agenda as well. The

Jones Act Coalition and Steering

Group, comprised of AWO member companies and allied trade associa- tions and companies, oversaw the conduct of a consultant study aimed at marshaling the contemporary public policy arguments in support of the Jones Act and highlighting the economic value of the Jones Act to the nation. Completed at the end of last year, the study will serve as an important component of AWO's fu- ture advocacy work in the J ones Act's defense.

AWO's efforts in support of the

Jones Act took a new direction in 1994 as well. In September, the board of directors approved the recommen- dation of the Coastal Sector Com- mittee that a task force be estab- lished to monitor and protect the

Jones Act in the international trade arena. Funded by contributions from participating member companies, the task force will retain a consultant to advise AWO of key developments in international trade negotiations and to help craft a successful strategy to preserve U.S. cabotage laws in the face of international pressure.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

As AWO embarks on its second 50 years of service to the barge and towing industry, the challenge of competing successfully in an intense regulatory environment will con- tinue. Success in 1995 and beyond requires a continued emphasis on strong, fact-based advocacy; a re- newed commitment to government- industry partnership; and the com- bination of sector-specific focus and industry unity which underlie the association's promising new commit- tee structure. The challenges which dominated AWO's regulatory agenda in 1994—towing safety, OPA imple- mentation, preservation of the Jones

Act — will continue as we see 1995 unfold, and new ones will undoubt- edly arise. Learning from the hard-fought battles and building on the successes of the past will serve the association well as it navigates the challenges ahead.

Swiftships Delivers Waterjet

Powered Crew/Supply Boat

Swiftships Inc. of Morgan City,

La. recently delivered the MTV Mr.

Mel to Diamond Services Corp., also of Morgan City. The vessel is report- edly the first waterjet powered crew/ supply vessel in the U.S.

The all-aluminum boat measures 141 ft. (43 m) long and 26 ft. (8 m) wide, and has the capacity to carry 79 passengers, cargo, fuel and wa- ter, as well as up to 120 tons of deck cargo. During sea trials, the vessel attained speeds up to 28 knots. The unique vessel is powered by four

Detroit Diesel 12V92TA (DDEC) main engines, which drive four

Hamilton HM571 jet drives.

For more information on Swiftships

Circle 74 on Reader Service Card (For a view of tho uniquo crow/supply boot in action, lorn to pago 19)

March, 1995 85