Capt. Mary Landry promoted to Rear Admiral
 Club's Maritime Person of the Year for 2006 & Local Captain of the Port promoted to admiral and will serve at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters

Photo: Captain Mary Landry after receiving her Commendation from Rear Admiral David Pekoske.
 
Capt. Mary E. Landry, a Buffalo native, will be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard, here, during a Dec. 22, 2006, ceremony in front of family and friends. Rear Adm.-select Landry will serve as assistant commandant for Governmental and Public Affairs at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. beginning in January 2007. Since her graduation from Officer Candidate School in May 1980, Landry has had various assignments on the East Coast, the Gulf Coast, the West Coast and in Hawaii.

Serving the majority of her career in the Maritime Safety and Security field, Landry was assigned as a ship inspector from 1985-1989, followed by assignments in marine casualty investigations, marine environmental response, contingency planning and operations. As Landry rose in rank, she served as executive officer at Marine Safety Office Boston and as commanding officer of Marine Safety Office Providence, R.I., where her area of responsibility included Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

As executive officer in Boston on Sept. 11, Admiral Landry worked with more than 500 personnel who stood up the port security posture for the Port of Boston. The work included developing security protocols for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Ships and other high-risk vessels calling in the port of Boston, so that critical energy supplies were maintained for New England. Her tour as commanding officer in Providence included overseeing the response to the 2003 Buzzards Bay, Mass., oil spill, and working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to formalize the process for reviewing safety and security protocols for citing new LNG facilities. With applications for two facilities in the Northeast and approximately 30 more throughout the United States, Landry's work was used as a model for development of a guidance document that was applied to all applications nationwide. In 2004, Landry was called back from Providence to assist as the senior Coast Guard representative in the multi-agency command post for the Democratic National Convention. She also served as chief of staff for the TOPOFF 3 Exercise, which was the Department of Homeland Security's first Top Officials Exercise subsequent to release of the new National Response Plan.

Landry has earned Masters Degrees from both Webster University and the University of Rhode Island. She also completed the one-year Harvard National Security Fellowship program. Landry's military decorations include the Coast Guard Legion of Merit, the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Coast Guard 9-11 Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, the Commandant's Letter of Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, and other service awards.

Landry is married to Captain Mark Landry who is assigned as the chief of response for the First Coast Guard District, Boston, Mass. They have two children: Michael, 22 and Katelyn, 17.

 

 Lady of Grace lost at sea with all hands
  Search called off 30-January-2007



The following was reported on the CapeCodToday.com web site.

The Coast Guard confirmed today the fishing vessel Lady of Grace sank in Nantucket Sound 11 nautical miles north of Nantucket after divers from the Massachusetts Law Enforcment council positively identified the 75-foot dragger as laying on its port side in 36 feet of water.

The vessel's one life raft was found still in its case and attached to the boat.

The crew of the 75-foot dragger is identified as Antonio Barroqueiro, Rogerio Vendura, Mario Farinha, and Joao Silva. No members of the crew have yet been located.

Coast Guard rescuers said it appeared unlikely the crew would be found alive in the frigid waters. The life raft was the crew's best chance for survival, rescuers said. However, two Coast Guard cutters continued searching through the night, using massive search lights and a grid system to scan the ocean surface. "We are going to, tomorrow, make some sort of a decision on what the next step is - but the search will continue throughout the night," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Lauren Downs.

The winter months have proved deadly to fishing communities along New England's rocky coast. On Dec. 20, 2004, five of six crew members of the 75-foot Northern Edge died when the boat sank off Nantucket in 8- to 10-foot seas and 30-degree weather, with winds gusting to 45 knots. It was the deadliest fishing accident off New England in nearly 15 years. In 1991, six crew members of the Gloucester-based Andrea Gail died in what was later dubbed the "Perfect Storm."

Coast Guard Cutter Hammerhead, an 87-foot patrol boat home ported in Woods Hole, Mass., brought the dive team members to the scene, at which sonar and video equipment earlier detected an image which was thought to be the missing boat.

Coast Guard aircraft and surface vessels searched for the fishing boat since early Saturday morning after it did not arrive at New Bedford harbor as expected. The search for the vessel's crew continues.

The Coast Guard conducted 25 separate searches covering over 6,000 square miles using an HU-25 Falcon jet and an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod. On the water, Coast Guard Cutters Bainbridge Island, Hammerhead and Seneca have been involved in the search, as well as small boats from Stations Menemsha, Brant Point and Woods Hole.

ENDS

Notes: According to a USCG source, the USCG was able to obtain the vessel's last known position using the NOAA Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) which tracks over 1500+ fishing vessels, via satellite. It appears that the EPIRB (Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon) was not activated.

 

 US Transport Infrastructure "Can't Keep Up"
  APL’s Americas boss John Bowe speaks at recent conference

THE US's aging transportation infrastructure can’t keep up with relentless world trade growth according to APL’s Americas boss John Bowe. The senior executive of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines’ container arm warned that, if it isn’t overhauled, consumers and the US economy will pay a steep price.

“The U.S. economy has been transformed by unprecedented growth in containerized imports,” Mr Bowe told an audience of academic, business and transportation industry leaders at the third annual Innovations in Transportation symposium held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. “Growth in the transportation infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. If we don’t fix this, supply chains will bog down, consumer prices will go up and the economy will suffer.”

To address the problem, Mr Bowe called for public-private collaboration leading to: a national freight policy; significant new investment in the U.S. rail network; and increased productivity at U.S. ports. He cautioned, however, that government can’t be counted on to pick up the massive cost of infrastructure improvement. “The private sector will have to play a larger role,” said Bowe. “But we’ll look to government to provide incentives that stimulate investment.”

 

 Nationally known Port Security Advocate speaks at URI Conference
 Stephen Flynn says port security vital to U.S. maritime transportation system

KINGSTON, R.I.—In order for port security initiatives in the United States to be effective, the country must think about security as it relates to both the maritime transportation system and the transportation industry as a whole, according to Stephen E. Flynn, the Jeanne J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and former White House security adviser.

In his opening remarks before moderating a panel discussion for an audience of academics, port security experts and shippers at the Global U8 Consortium International Conference on National Security, National Disasters, Logistics and Transportation at the University of Rhode Island this past Monday, Flynn highlighted what the U.S. needs to do ensure its ports are prepared in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster.

“There is probably no other critical infrastructure—besides port security—in the U.S., where so much of it is in foreign hands,” said Flynn. Having a proactive approach to maritime security is vital, he said, especially when one considers that 60 percent of U.S.-based marine terminals are leased to foreign companies and 98 percent of all containerships that arrive in the U.S. each day are enclave vessels.

Flynn added that the practice of engaging global partners to discuss the optimal ways of securing ports as it relates to the maritime security system is something that the U.S. is not “particularly good” at doing.

“If there is a major security breach, such as a dirty bomb that ends up at a distribution center far away from where it originated, and we cannot identify the source, and Americans do not have confidence in the risk-management regimes that are put in place that manage that, I can guarantee that our government will behave irrationally from a risk standpoint,” said Flynn. “And we will close up all our ports down and inspect our way to a sense of security.”

The ripple effect of this, noted Flynn, is that it would likely halt the global trade system within two weeks.

Flynn cited the situation from earlier this year, in which a proposed takeover of U.S.-based ports by Dubai Ports World (DPW) was lambasted by U.S. politicians because of national security concerns, to bolster his point.

“Americans by and large—especially their elected representatives—are overwhelmingly ignorant about how the global transportation and logistics system works,” said Flynn, explaining the DPW backlash.

“They have a woeful under appreciation of its value and of the critical role it plays in our prosperity. We are in a desperate race to educate the American public about this issue. Part of the challenge is the [maritime transportation and logistics industry] is an off-shore industry. We need to work our way through these complex issues.”

He went on to say, “The threat here is not the act of terror itself. The threat here, which we saw with DPW, was how the American politicians would respond to a perceived breach of security, which they feel threatens their communities.”

And in that context, Flynn said, if the U.S does not get things right soon in regard to securing its ports, not only will this country suffer, but the international community will as well.



Story appeared in Logistics Management magazine

 

 Rhode Island Sea Grant sends three Knauss Fellows to Washington
 



January 18, 2007-- Rhode Island Sea Grant is sending three graduate students to Washington, D.C., for one-year, $41,500, National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships. Jingjie Chu, Elizabeth Etrie, and Yong Jiang are among 44 Fellows who will begin working in the federal government on marine and coastal issues starting February 1, 2007.

Chu, a University of Rhode Island (URI) Ph.D. candidate in environmental and natural resource economics, will be working for NOAA Fisheries’ Aquaculture Program Office. At URI, Chu has served as a research assistant on projects examining economic impacts of aquaculture products.

“Aquaculture is a new industry but has a very good future,” she says, adding that she is excited to be part of the decision-making process in establishing regulations for offshore marine aquaculture in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Chu, a native of Inner Mongolia, China, says that China has the largest aquaculture industry in the world, and could benefit from America’s experiences and vice versa. “I hope I can be involved in this kind of coordination,” Chu says of her post-fellowship plans.

Etrie, a student in the joint-degree program at Roger Williams University (RWU) and URI, received a juris doctor degree from RWU in 2006 and is a master’s degree in marine affairs candidate at URI. She will be working in the State Department’s Office of Marine Conservation.

Etrie served as a sternwoman on a lobster boat for three years before completing her undergraduate degree and saw firsthand some of the regulations imposed on the lobster industry.

“These regulations provided me the opportunity to see the commercial fishing industry perspective, which ranges from acknowledging the need for regulation in order to maintain the industry in the long run, to outrage at the restrictive nature and subsequent financial harm such regulations cause. In deciding to pursue my graduate degrees, I wanted to contribute to both the industry and the protection of the ocean that sustains it.”

Jiang, a URI Ph.D. candidate in environmental and natural resource economics, will be working at the National Science Foundation’s Biological Oceanography Program, Division of Ocean Sciences.

Jiang is looking forward to rounding out his academic and research accomplishments with experience in how government operates. Jiang, who has a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and a master’s degree in environmental planning and management, is focusing on using economics to promote efficient and effective environmental policy.

He says, “Policymakers, in many cases, don’t incorporate well-grounded economic suggestions in their decision making. One reason may be that economic suggestions fail to take into account the real-world situation for which they are intended.” Jiang hopes that the practical experience he gains as a Knauss Fellow will help him to bring effective and innovative natural resources management ideas to his native China.

The Knauss Fellowship, established in 1979, matches highly qualified graduate students interested in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources with hosts in the federal legislative or executive branches of government.

Rhode Island Sea Grant is located at URI and is part of NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program, which promotes the conservation and sustainable development of marine resources for the public benefit. Story from URI News

 

 Industry Networking Night Tuesday, February 6, 2007   MASSPORT TOUR ORGANIZED BY CONECT - COALITION OF NEW ENGLAND COMPANIES FOR TRADE CONECT Presents "Industry Networking Night", Tuesday, February 6, 2007 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm

International Cargo Center of New England

Bring a guest to meet and mingle with CONECT members and friends, and get acquainted with:

Massport’s new Executive Director, Tom Kinton
Port of Boston’s CBP officials
Local Legislators
Top members of Massport’s Maritime Department
Top members of Massport’s Aviation Department
CONECT’s Board of Directors and Executive Staff

Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as our hosts, International Cargo Center & Boston Freight Terminals, offer tours of this brand new state-of-the art facility. Formal introductions of all above special guests will be made, followed by informal conversations and one-on-one discussions with attendees about issues of interest to importers, exporters, forwarders and brokers, carriers and many others with an interest in cargo.

Who Should Attend This Event?

• Importers & Exporters
• Brokers and Forwarders
• Seaport & Airport Users
• International Bankers & Lawyers
• Transportation Providers
• Insurance Providers
• Logistics Specialists and Third Parties
• Supply Chain Consultants
• Anyone Who Depends Upon International Trade & Transportation for Business!

A post-event free tour and tasting at the Harpoon Brewery Visitor Center has been arranged from

6:15 – 7:30 pm. (It is just across the street from ICC.)

Networking Event Cost: $15 per person in advance, $20 at the door.
Bring a guest and be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble!

To Register: Go to www.conect.org or fax form below to: 508-481-2161 and send payment to:
CONECT, 11 Main Street, Southborough, MA, 01772