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A new report by UMAS, commissioned by The Ocean Conservancy titled "The Maritime Fleet of the USA-the current status and potential for the future" shows, for the first time, the scale of U.S. shipping fleet emissions and opportunities to decarbonise the sector. In 2018, carbon emissions from all U.S.-flagged vessels amounted to around 26 million tonnes, approximately 2.4% of global shipping emissions. Domestic shipping voyages accounted for about 70% of carbon emissions from the U.S.-flagged shipping fleet, which presents a unique opportunity for U.S. actions to effectively decarbonize the American maritime sector.

Chronic low-frequency noise from commercial shipping is a worldwide threat to marine animals that rely on sound for essential life functions. Although the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recognizes the potential negative impacts of shipping noise in marine environments, there are currently no standard metrics to monitor and quantify shipping noise in U.S. marine waters. However, one-third octave band acoustic measurements centered at 63 and 125 Hz are used as international (European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive) indicators for underwater ambient noise levels driven by shipping activity. We apply these metrics to passive acoustic monitoring data collected over 20 months in 2016-2017 at five dispersed sites throughout the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone: Alaskan Arctic, Hawaii, Gulf of Mexico, Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (Northwest Atlantic), and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (Northeast Pacific). To verify the relationship between shipping activity and underwater sound levels, vessel movement data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) were paired to each passive acoustic monitoring site. Daily average sound levels were consistently near to or higher than 100 dB re 1 μPa in both the 63 and 125 Hz one-third octave bands at sites with high levels of shipping traffic (Gulf of Mexico, Northeast Canyons and Seamounts, and Cordell Bank). Where cargo vessels were less common (the Arctic and Hawaii), daily average sound levels were comparatively lower. Specifically, sound levels were ∼20 dB lower year-round in Hawaii and ∼10-20 dB lower in the Alaskan Arctic, depending on the season. Although these band-level measurements can only generally facilitate differentiation of sound sources, these results demonstrate that international acoustic indicators of commercial shipping can be applied to data collected in U.S. waters as a unified metric to approximate the influence of shipping as a driver of

Ship strikes of whales are a growing concern around the world and especially along the U.S. West Coast, home to some of busiest ports in the world and where ship strikes on a number of species including blue, fin, and humpback whales have been documented. This trial program examined the feasibility, logistics, industry cooperation, and effectiveness of placing an observer on board a commercial ship. An experienced marine mammal observer went on five voyages, spanning over 8 days on ships operating between U.S. West Coast ports. Daylight observations were conducted over 68 h and covered over 1300 nm as ships transited between three ports [Seattle, Oakland, and LA/Long Beach (LA/LB)]. Sightings of large whales were reported on all (n = 42), totaling an estimated 57 individuals that included humpback, blue, fin, and beaked whales. Close encounters of large whales occurred (on one occasion a near miss, estimated at 40 m, of two humpbacks), and on another, a ship chose to alter course to avoid whale sightings in its path identified by the observer. All ships personnel cooperated and voluntarily aided in the observations even after initial skepticism by some crew about the program. While most effort on mitigating ship strikes along the U.S. West Coast has focused on shipping lanes, the vast majority of these sightings occurred outside these lanes and on the transit routes, emphasizing the need for added attention to these areas. This experiment demonstrates the effectiveness and promise of observations from ships providing critical information on whale locations at risk to ship strikes.

U.S. Ballast Water Bill Awaits President's Signature.

U.S. Coast Guard Families Receive Back Pay After Shutdown.

U.S. Container Ports Seeing Impact of China's Coronavirus Slowdown.

It's true that ice is melting in the Arctic, but this doesn't mean the U.S. no longer needs icebreaker ships to operate in the region. And right now, the U.S. needs more than what it currently has.

The Board of Directors at Maersk Group has appointed Søren SKOU as the new CEO of A.P. MØLLER-MAERSK A/S, replacing Nils S. ANDERSEN, who will leave Maersk and the changes to come into effect on July 1, 2016.

U.S. Navy Rescues 10 From Iranian Ship on Fire.

OBAMA, MODI Work To Deepen U.S. - India Cooperation On Maritime Security.

VIDEO: Chinese Trawler Collides with S. Korean Patrol Boat.

S. Korea to make film of Somali piracy raid.

S.Africa deploys warship to fight piracy: report.

S. Korea charges pirates with attempted murder.

Pirates killed U.S. couples after warning: court papers.

S. Korean ship attacked by pirates in Indian Ocean.

U.S. sanctions Iranian port operator, airline.

Contract Negotiators for U.S. West Coast Ports Reach Tentative Deal.

U.S. Coast Guard chief optimistic about icebreaker ship funding.