Page 21: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2004)

Government Update Ocean Policy Study:

Shortchanging Water Transport?

In August 2000, Congress directed the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is international liner trade to and from the hensive discussion of such things as off-

President to appoint a group of experts never discussed in the report, even United States. shore wind energy projects, it totally to study the policy of the United States though it is charged with regulating the While the report contains a compre- fails to mention issues related to con- with respect to the oceans and make rec- ommendations for changes. The legisla- tive mandate was broad - covering pro- tection of life and property; responsible stewardship; protection of the marine environment; enhancement of com- merce and transportation; expansion of human knowledge; improvement of capabilities and technologies; close cooperation among stakeholders; and

U.S. leadership in marine activities. The

Commission members were (and are) recognized leaders in a wide variety of marine endeavors. The Preliminary

Report of the U.S. Commission on

Ocean Policy, at 514 pages, is daunting.

Sadly, it is also incomplete.

The report devotes the vast majority of its length to stewardship of marine resources and protection of the marine environment. These are important issues, and the report makes a number of well-considered recommendations in these respects.

Where the report fails us is with regard to other - more traditional - uses of the sea. The chapter on supporting marine commerce and transportation is a mere ten pages in length. This despite the fact that approximately 90 percent of U.S. imports and exports travel by ship and that this international commerce is a major contributor to our economic well- being. Federal agencies involved with maritime commerce receive largely cur- sory treatment. While the U.S. Coast

Guard is mentioned various times, the

Maritime Administration (MarAd) is referred to only three times, and then more in passing than anything else. The

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Copyright 2004, Noran Engineering, Inc All rights reserved. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners

Circle 281 on Reader Service Card

Dennis L. Bryant, Senior Maritime

Counsel at the law firm of Holland & Knight, Washington, D.C., is a contributing editor of MR/EN.

June 2004 21