Al Franken

  • On May 22, the Water Resources Reform Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, containing major recommendations of the Capital Development Plan (CDP), was passed by a vote 91-7 in the Senate.  As MarineNews was going to press, President Obama finally signed the bill into law.  The conference agreement had passed the House on May 20 by an overwhelming 412-4 vote. 
    The bill contains four key elements of the Capital Development Plan that were included in the House WAVE 4 (H.R. 1149) and Senate RIVER Act (S. 407) bills, both strongly supported by WCI:

    • Olmsted Federalization: permanent cost-sharing for the remaining cost of the Olmsted project will be 85% General Fund, 15% Inland Waterways Trust Fund, freeing up approximately $105 million per year for funding other Trust Fund priority projects with Olmsted funded at $150 million per year.
    • Definition of Major Rehabilitation Project Eligible for Inland Waterways Trust Fund: increased from current law level of $14 million to $20 million and adjusted annually for inflation.
    • Prioritization of Projects: based upon risk of failure and economic benefit to the Nation.
    • Project Delivery Process Reforms: based upon CDP-recommended reforms to better achieve on-time and on-budget performance.


    The bill also increases annual target appropriations levels for spending of funds from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF), with full use of HMTF funds by 2025. Implementation of many provisions in WRRDA will not happen immediately, as the Corps and the Secretary of the Army first must develop and provide guidance with respect to the provisions before they can be implemented.
    Of WRRDA’s passage, WCI Chairman Matt Woodruff said, “The nation’s towboat operators, shippers, and labor, port, conservation and agriculture stakeholder members of WCI applauded today’s passage of WRRDA. This bill – and, we hope, law – will create American jobs, increase U.S. exports, keep our nation competitive in world markets, and enhance the reliability of the nation’s waterways transportation mode and critical supply chain link. Today, Congress got it done and voted to keep America moving!” 
    There are many champions whose leadership led to a strong WRRDA outcome. Chief among them are Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer and Ranking Member David Vitter, and House T&I Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, Vice Chairman Jimmy Duncan, and Ranking Member Nick Rahall; House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs and Ranking Member Tim Bishop;  Rep. Ed Whitfield and Rep. Daniel Lipinski and the 31 co-sponsors of WAVE 4: Waterways are Vital for the Economy, Energy, Efficiency, and Environment Act (H.R. 1149); and Senators Bob Casey, Lamar Alexander, Mary Landrieu, Amy Klobuchar, Tom Harkin, and Al Franken for authoring The RIVER Act: Reinvesting in Vital Economic Rivers and Waterways Act (S. 407).
    Last January, at the State of the Union address, President Obama said, “We’ll need Congress to protect more than three million jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills this summer.”  
    On WRRDA, Congress got it done and got it done right.



    (As published in the July 2014 edition of Marine News - http://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MaritimeNews)
     

  • Bob Casey (D-PA), and co-sponsored by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS). They are:  Changing Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) cost-sharing for the over-budget Olmsted lock and dam

  • MR Feb-24#25  in operation  maintenance intervals to make sure that  What’s)
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    MATTHEW HART, MANAGER & PLATFORM LEADER, MARINE & STATIONARY POWER SYSTEMS, WABTEC fuel blends up to 100% are in operation maintenance intervals to make sure that What’s the biggest challenge today, running on both biodiesel and re- our engines don’t have to be touched in your job? newable diesel blends.

  • MN Feb-24#40  performance bonds for the original MPSV contracts. 
“The vessel)
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    yard. Eastern secured the contract to complete the builds from Zurich American Insurance Company, the issuer of the performance bonds for the original MPSV contracts. “The vessel structure is mostly complete with the vast HOS Panama City Fla. based Eastern Shipbuilding Group majority of the mechanical

  • MN Feb-24#16  it is from 
international organizations 
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  • MN Feb-24#14  do 
tors. “We bring in the specialists who know the material)
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clarity and precision in visual captures of underwater envi-
ronm)
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    operations. Likewise, the Voyis Discovery Stereo Camera is a widely applicable piece of technology offering high level clarity and precision in visual captures of underwater envi- ronments and immediate creation of real-time 3D models. The integration of both opens up unparalleled capacities in aquaculture

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    market and because of the internal investment it is available on the ef? ciency and effectiveness of AUVs? now without development risk. It is dif? cult to narrow it down to a single piece of technol- ogy, there have been several waves of technology that have How the U.S. Navy demands for autonomous

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international collaboration. This incorporates)
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    Discovery Credit: NOC bon output, with an ambition of reaching net zero by 2040. MFP to be able to undertake the same project management and international collaboration. This incorporates everything from International Collaboration asset management, freight requirements, customs and export li- One element

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rone)
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Knot systems 
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  • MT Nov-23#11  I have given the characteristically “political” 
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    lows us to undertake more science. More science means more I recognize I have given the characteristically “political” understanding of our ocean and this is a good thing. When we view here; the pro’s, the con’s and no de? nitive answer. Let step into the world of data visualization through AI then

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engineering specialist Scanunit believes that)
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MARITIME
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M A R I N)
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  • MN Nov-23#47 teries. All of this happens seamlessly through Stewart)
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    teries. All of this happens seamlessly through Stewart and ning, the towboat is expected to have an estimated 27% Stevenson’s power management system.” reduction in emissions compared to a conventional towing Propulsion is provided by two 575 KW Danfoss elec- vessel, the company added. tric motors that

  • MN Nov-23#40  for success was 
important. All parties stayed in 
their)
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    Feature Shipyards TOTE “It took some time to get [the VCM process] right,” he added, “but the demand for success was important. All parties stayed in their lanes. This was make or break for industry.” – Ben Christian, VP for Business Development and New Construction, TOTE Services ed, “but the

  • MN Nov-23#10  Act Dredging Commercial Fleet Orderbook Over Past)
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  • MN Nov-23#6  Waterways Op- is a retired naval of?  cer who writes on maritime)
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    the same energy as HFO. On board engine. While operating on LNG, it is ship, this is a major storage issue, espe- designed to reduce methane emissions cially because low ? ashpoint fuel tanks on a 50 percent load point by up to 56 conventionally require cofferdams. Although space penalties can be ad- percent

  • MR Nov-23#68  courtesy Dave Meron
International Efforts Accelerate 
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were, Janne Klemola, General Manager, Product Manage-
ment)
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