Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.

The Coast Guard announced a contract of up to $6.13 million for up to 10 Special Purpose Craft-Ice Rescue Transport Second Generation boats known as SPC-IRT IIs to provide search-and-rescue capability to the frozen waterways of the Great Lakes.

Awarded to 1000 Island Airboats of Marion, Wis., the contract includes an initial $4.9 million order for eight 25-foot SPC-IRT II boats, specialized transport trailers, operator training and technical data support.

According to the announcement, the contract has a three-year period of performance, and the first two boats are expected to be delivered in December.

Boats are to be stationed in Cleveland, Marblehead, Ohio, Saginaw River, Essexville, Mich., Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Based on a proven design, the service said, the SPC-IRT II will replace legacy aluminum-hulled ice rescue boats that are approaching or have reached the end of their service life.

“These new boats will provide Coast Guard crews a dependable, mission-ready capability to conduct search-and-rescue operations and all-hazard missions in the challenging winter environment of the Great Lakes,” said Rear Adm. Russell Dash, commander, Coast Guard Great Lakes District.

Deepwater LNG Port License

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the approval of an $8.2-billion deepwater liquefied natural gas port license application November 3 for ST LNG, LLC at “historic speed.”

With construction expected to begin next year, the port will be built approximately 10.4 miles offshore Matagorda, Texas, and at full capacity will include 20 platforms, four LNG floating storage units, four mooring systems and 7.7 miles of pipeline.

The port location is expected to move vessel traffic away from more congested on-shore areas, reducing vessel collisions and safety risks.

“By slashing red tape and modernizing our licensing processes, the Trump administration is delivering a massive economic boom for the people of Texas,” Duffy said.

“Building this state-of-the-art port will also generate thousands of jobs in the Gulf and cement our nation’s status as the number one energy exporter in the world.”

Great Lakes Advisory Board

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking nominations for the Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB), whose charter will be renewed for an additional two-year period.

“The purpose of the GLAB is to provide advice and recommendations to the EPA administrator through the Great Lakes national program manager on matters related to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and on domestic matters related to the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement,” the EPA stated.

Nominations must be submitted by January 15 via email to davicino.alana@epa.gov with the subject line ‘‘GLAB Nominations 2027.’’

For additional information, contact Alana Davicino at 312-886-2307 or davicino.alana@epa.gov.

Demurrage And Detention Symposium

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is scheduled to host a symposium on March 31 in Washington, D.C. to bring together scholars conducting research on demurrage and detention (DnD) practices and policies and industry experts to share insights regarding the use of DnD to incentivize cargo fluidity and velocity.

The FMC said it is accepting submissions from individuals interested in sharing their papers examining the policies and effects of DnD and is especially encouraging the submission of papers that develop and/or evaluate methodologies for setting DnD charges above compensatory costs in order to maintain and demonstrate an effective incentive.

February 15 is the deadline for submission of the papers with notification to authors to follow on March 1. The FMC said those interested in submitting a paper should send an executive summary, extended abstract or completed paper to Grace Wang at WWang@fmc.gov.

The symposium is to be held at FMC Headquarters, 800 N. Capitol St., N.W. Washington, D.C., 20573.

For more information, contact Wang or contact Melina Reilly at MReilly@fmc.gov.

Avoiding Water Conflicts

The Western Water Cooperative Committee is scheduled to host a meeting November 17-18 in Denver, Colo., to finalize the by-laws and discuss identified opportunities and proposed recommendations to avoid or minimize conflicts between Corps projects and state water rights and water laws.

Open to the public, the meeting is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. MST on both days.

It will take place at Homewood Suites Denver, Downtown-Convention Center, 550 15th St., Denver, Colo.

Comments or requests to speak should be submitted in writing to Sean Smith, ATTN: CEEC, 441 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20314-1000 or by email at WWCC@usace.army.mil (the preferred mode of submission).

For additional information, contact Sean Smith at 202-761-0301 or WWCC@usace.army.mil or Virginia Rynk at 202-761-4741 or WWCC@usace.army.mil.

Merchant Marine Academy Board Of Visitors

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Board of Visitors is scheduled to meet November 12 in Washington, D.C.

Open to the public only virtually, the two-hour meeting is set to begin at 2 p.m. EST at the U.S. Department of Transportation Headquarters, Dr. Gladys West Room, Ninth Floor, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Information about the board is posted at https:// www.usmma.edu/about/leadership/board-visitors.

For additional information, contact Michael O’Hagan at 516-726-6048 or ExternalAffairs@usmma.edu.

IMO Teleconference Preparation

The Department of State is scheduled to conduct a public teleconference meeting at 10 a.m. November 13 to prepare for the 85th session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 85) to be held at IMO Headquarters in London, U.K., from November 30 to December 3.

Those who plan to participate may contact Lt. Justus Martin at 571-610-0444 or Justus.D.Martin@uscg.mil.