Unpacking The Latest News From D.C.

Washington, D.C.—In his March 4 address to Congress, President Donald Trump shared his plans to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry to boost the nation’s defense industrial base.

“I am announcing tonight that we will create a new office of shipbuilding in the White House and offer special tax incentives to bring this industry home to America, where it belongs,” Trump said.

That effort will include both commercial and military shipbuilding, the president said.

Key Republicans in Congress seemed more than ready to receive that challenge.

“We must all work together to solve the issues facing us,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, speaking at the recent nomination hearing for John Phelan to serve as secretary of the Navy. “Just about every major shipbuilding program is behind schedule, over budget or irreparably off track.”

Matthew Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America, applauded Trump’s move to create the White House Office of Shipbuilding.

“Strengthening the industry-government collaboration is the key to reaching any demand signal to ensure that America remains a global leader in maritime power for decades to come,” Paxton said in a statement.

To further enhance national security, Trump also repeated his goal of reclaiming the Panama Canal.

“We’ve already started doing it,” he said. “A large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal and lots of other things having to do with the Panama Canal and a couple of other canals.”

Trump’s Tariffs

President Donald Trump announced a hold on 25 percent tariffs on most Mexican and Canadian goods on March 6, announcing they would not go into effect until April 2. He also granted a month-long reprieve to major automakers General Motors, Ford and Stellantis and left the door open for other sectors to receive temporary relief as well.

The delay on 25 percent tariffs applies to those goods covered by the USMCA free trade treaty. Trump’s executive actions followed a phone call March 6 with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and negotiations between the president’s administration and Canadian officials.

Trump already had announced plans for reciprocal tariffs to kick in April 2. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the month-long relief for the three automakers was tied to that date.

IWUB Meeting

The Inland Waterways Users Board (IWUB) is scheduled to meet April 3 in Paducah, Ky., to receive briefings and discuss investments, projects and the status of the nation’s inland waterways system. Open to the public, the meeting begins at 9 a.m. Central Time at the Paducah-McCracken County Convention and Expo Center, Cumberland Room, 415 Park St., Paducah, KY 42001. The online virtual portion of the meeting can be accessed at usace1.webex.com/meet/ndc.nav. The public call-in number is 844-800-2712, the international toll is 1-669-234-1177, the access Code is 199 117 3596, and the security code is 1234. Participation in the meeting is on a first-to-arrive basis with registration for members of the public who wish to participate to begin at 8:15 a.m. on the day of the meeting. Anyone may participate in the meeting, file written comments or statements with the committee or make comments during the meeting at the times and in the manner permitted by the committee.

For additional information on participating or requesting special accommodations, contact Paul Clouse at least five days prior to the meeting by phone at 202-768-3157, by email at Paul.D.Clouse@usace.army.mil or by physical mail at the Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CEIWR–NDC, 7701 Telegraph Road, Casey Building (Room H221), Alexandria, VA 22315-3868.

Ballast Guidelines

The Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance reminded companies and vessels they must use chemicals listed in the Operations, Maintenance and Safety Manual (OMSM) for their particular ballast water management system (BWMS) to avoid possible fines and safety concerns for crews and the inspectors.

The Coast Guard has been made aware of the use of unauthorized chemical products in some systems, the agency stated on the service’s Maritime Commons blog.

“Use of the incorrect chemical product for treatment invalidates the type approval for the BWMS and could result in ineffective treatment,” the agency stated. “During BWMS checks, Coast Guard Inspectors verify that the chemical manufacturer and type on the chemical storage tank matches that required through the OMSM. Operators must ensure that the proper listed chemicals are being used for the BWMS to prevent the issuance of deficiencies or fines for not operating the type approved BWMS in accordance with the system’s OMSM.”

The agency added that using non-approved chemicals can result in safety concerns for the crew, vessel and inspectors and could result in the BWMS failing to meet system testing standard.

NMC Numbers

The National Maritime Center (NMC) and the Suspension and Revocation National Center of Expertise (S&R NCOE) announced their legacy 304-433-xxxx numbers are no longer accessible after a transition to a web-based Microsoft Teams system.

“It is important to note this transition does not impact the NMC’s Customer Contact Center telephone number,” NMC stated, adding 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662) remains as the primary contact telephone number for NMC operations. “However, the Customer Contact Center will no longer be able to directly transfer calls to specific points of contact (POC). Instead, the agent will take your information and email the appropriate POC.”

Those wishing to speak to S&R NCOE representatives should call 206-815-6873 or email SRNCOE@uscg.mil.

Reports of sexual assault and harassment may still be made to the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) via the tipline CGISTips@uscg.mil, the CG Tips app, the National Command Center at 202-372-2100 or the S&R NCOE at Sashreport@uscg.mil.

Updates to www.uscg.mil/nmc as new call-in numbers are established over the next several weeks will be available. For additional information, contact the NMC Customer Service Center by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil or calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

Coral Care

With corals under attack by disease in Florida and the Caribbean, the Coast Guard is encouraging vessel owners and operators to become familiar with existing ballast water requirements, ballast water management recommendations and biofouling management and cleaning regulations and recommended practices.

Known as stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), the Coast Guard said, the disease is highly destructive and can wipe out entire colonies of corals in a matter of weeks. Many different coral species are susceptible to SCTLD, including reef-building species and those that are federally listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.

According to the Office of Operating and Environmental Standards, scientists do not know what causes SCTLD, but the disease can be spread through water and sediment and a microbial agent (e.g., bacteria or viruses) is suspected. Ballast water may facilitate the spread of SCTLD into regions that are currently unaffected by the disease, such as the Pacific, the agency said.