North America's Marine Highway Conference

The growth of international trade is challenging the capacity of America’s transportation system. While highways and railroads are jammed with cargo, our coastal trade lanes and inland waterways are transportation assets that have been largely overlooked. North America's Marine Highways—Short Sea Shipping’s Next Steps, the conference sponsored by the Journal of Commerce and the U.S. Maritime Administration, will consider the opportunities and obstacles to building short sea shipping network as a viable and environmentally-friendly commercial freight alternative for the United States, Canada and Mexico. Now in its fifth year, this JOC conference has earned a reputation as the leading forum to discuss issues ranging from vessel finance to government policy affecting waterborne commerce in North America.

Dynamic topics for this growing trend:

Coastwise and inland carriers

Environmental compliance

Green vessels with new technology

Prospects for international and domestic services, including the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and rivers.

Ship financing

New case studies including success stories throughout North America

Expanding the marine highways for what short sea shipping could look like

Congressional developments for the Harbor Maintenance Tax exemption

 

Agenda：

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

 

7:45 AM  -  8:45 AM Continental Breakfast 

 

7:45 AM  -  4:45 PM Registration 

 

8:45 AM  -  9:00 AM Welcoming Remarks

Robert G. Edmonson, Senior Editor and Washington Bureau Chief, The Journal of Commerce

Jerry A. Bridges, Executive Director, Virginia Port Authority

 

9:00 AM  -  9:30 AM Keynote Address: Approach to America’s Marine Highways

Sean T. Connaughton, Maritime Administrator, U.S. Department of Transportation

 

9:30 AM  -  10:45 AM Roundtable #1: The Great Debate

Should the government actively support freight transportation by water as a matter of public policy?  Should the government keep hands off and let the marketplace decide what mode best severs shippers' needs?  Should the government find ways to help the industry get under way without creating market distortions?  The government's role is one of the most hotly-debated subjects on America's marine highways.  Four of the best minds in the industry will share their points of view.   

10:45 AM  -  11:15 AM Morning Networking Coffee Break 

 

11:15 AM  -  12:15 PM Roundtable #2: Short Sea Shipping in North America - New Partners and New Information

Groups as diverse as truckers, organized labor and metropolitan planners all will have parts to play in the developing marine highways and the landslide infastructure to support them.  How do we from the partnerships we'll need to find the best course through all hazards?

12:15 PM  -  1:45 PM Luncheon Address   

1:45 PM  -  3:00 PM Roundtable #3: Inland and Coastal Carriers; Progress

Short sea shipping is happening.  These poineers will discuss how they found their markets, and what it takes to keep shippers satisfied with the service they're getting.

3:00 PM  -  3:30 PM Afternoon Networking Coffee Break 

 

3:30 PM  -  4:30 PM Roundtable #4: Legislative Policy and Outlook

Congress has taken steps to clear obstacles to the industry, but there's more.  The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission report calls for a national transportation policy.  The domestic maritime industry will be affected by a new cargo liability convention that the United Nations is expected to consider later this year.

4:30 PM  -  4:45 PM Closing Remarks

Robert G. Edmonson, Senior Editor and Washington Bureau Chief, The Journal of Commerce

 

5:00 PM  -  8:00 PM Networking Reception 

   

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

 

8:00 AM  -  9:00 AM Continental Breakfast 

 

8:00 AM  -  3:30 PM Registration  

 

9:00 AM  -  9:10 AM Opening Remarks

Robert G. Edmonson, Senior Editor and Washington Bureau Chief, The Journal of Commerce

 

9:10 AM  -  9:40 AM Opening Address

Erik F. Johnson, Chairman Emeritus, International Shipholding Corporation

 

9:40 AM  -  10:30 AM Roundtable #5: Ship and Port Infrastructure Financing

As in politics, money is the mother's milk that will nourish a growing domestic maritime industry.  The private sector has begun to look at martitime infastructure as a new field for investment.  Will they find a market?  Can the government provide incentives or guarantees to sweeten the deals?

10:30 AM  -  11:00 AM Morning Networking Coffee Break 

 

11:00 AM  -  12:00 PM Roundtable #6: River Talk, Short Sea Feeders

All over the world, inland water transportation is a booming business in containerized cargo, but what about the United States?  There are no statistics to compare with the rest of the world, and there is research to say what the U.S. needs to improve river transportation.  What are the key factors: Ship technology?  Government regulation?  Labor?  Competition from trucks and trains?  Construction costs?  Lack of landslide infastructure?  Or is it all of the above?

12:00 PM  -  1:30 PM Networking Luncheon 

 

1:45 PM  -  3:15 PM Roundtable #7: Environmental, Economic, Security Issues and New Technology in Shipbuilding

Vessel emissions, air and water, and vessel security will be the things that the vessel owners and operators will face in the future.  What will ship builders do to meet new environmental and security standards?  Why should builders accept the challenge of building a new and efficient domestic fleet?  How will America's marine highways improve the environment and benefit the nation's economy and security?

3:15 PM  -  3:30 PM Closing Remarks

Robert G. Edmonson, Senior Editor and Washington Bureau Chief, The Journal of Commerce