Reported by Mike Schuler for gCaptain.
A group of top maritime labor leaders in the U.S. is urging Congress to restore nine Federal Advisory committees on maritime safety after their membership was abruptly terminated.
The committees—staffed by maritime industry experts—provide critical input to the U.S. Coast Guard on issues ranging from towing safety and licensing to offshore operations and the transportation of hazardous materials on U.S. waterways.
In a letter dated February 18, 2025, to House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Chair Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS) and Ranking Member Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), the six maritime union leaders called for the immediate reinstatement of the committees. The signatories include leaders from the American Maritime Officers (AMO), Seafarers International Union (SIU), International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P), and Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), among others.
According to the labor leaders, the committees play a vital role in shaping policy, improving safety standards, and ensuring that frontline maritime professionals have a voice in regulations that directly affect them.
The decision to abruptly terminate committee membership, signed by Acting DHS Secretary Benjamin C. Huffman, has sparked concerns across the industry, particularly in the wake of major maritime disasters such as the allision of the M/V Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which resulted in loss of six lives and billions in economic and infrastructure damage.
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