Marine Log - December 2008 - (Page 38) MARINEHIGHWAY sors. The sponsors are encouraged to develop coalitions and public/private partnerships with the common project objective. Potential partners can include vessel owners and operators, third party logistics providers , trucking companies, shippers, port authorities, local, state or regional transportation planners, or any combination of entities working in collaboration under a single application. Can- ICE CLASS TANKERS didate projects can be new starts or existing Marine Highway operations for which expansion or improvements suggest maximum public benefits. The projects selected will be based upon a cost-benefit analysis and technical review of the information supplied by the applicant, on the bases of overall project benefit and project return on investment/feasibility. DON’T TAKE A RISK insure with FISK! • Commercial Watercraft • Workers Compensation: USL&H and MEL/Jones Act • Worldwide Package Policies • Excess Liability/Umbrellas • General Liability/Ship Repair • Contractor’s Equipment Coverage: Waterborne & Submerged • Full Range of Employee Benefits: Life, Health, Disability, Dental, Vision & More DOT/MARAD PROJECT SUPPORT DOT/MarAd support for the selected project services would take a number of forms. Direct MarAd Title XI loan guarantee funding and participation in the MarAd Capital Construction Fund tax deferral program would be first steps for vessel financing, together with DOT TIFIA-form assistance for terminals, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds for terminal planning and construction and for support for start-up operations. More importantly, DOT and MarAd would themselves become the effective co-sponsors for the selected projects, to work with the Sponsors to identify the most appropriate Departmental actions to support the projects. This would start with the coordination of actions within DOT, with DOD for vessel design, and with State DOTs and MPOs and DOD for terminal and highway connector infrastructure design and funding, and would go on to the promotion of, and coordination for, the success of the Projects within the federal government, and with ports, state DOTs, MPOs and other government bodies, and private sector decision makers. And, as detailed in a series of listings, this support might include: identifying resources, obtaining access to land or terminals, developing landside facilities and infrastructure and working to remove barriers to success; designating the project as an “Environmental Stewardship and Transportation Infrastructure Project” under Executive Order 13274 to expedite permit approvals; working with other federal entities and with State and local governments to include the project in transportation planning; and maintaining an ongoing liaison with the Project managers to provide support and identify lessons learned and best practices for other projects in the Marine Highway program. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS MarAd is off to a good start. The magnitude and complexity of the short sea transportation puzzle has been recognized and the Marine Highway Corridor and Marine Highway Project formulations should provide a satisfactory working framework. The challenges are significant, but we have every reason to be optimistic concerning MarAd’s success. ML H. Clayton Cook Jr. is a Counsel in the Seward & Kissel LLP’s Corporate Finance Group. www.marinelog.com John W. Fisk Company Insurance 4833 Conti Street New Orleans, LA 70119 Toll free: 888.486.5411 Phone: 504.486.5411 Fax: 504.482.1475 Since 1952 www.jwfisk.com 38 MARINE LOG DECEMBER 2008 http://www.jwfisk.com http://www.jwfisk.com http://www.marinelog.com
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