U.S. Department of Defense

Feds dodging US-flag ship cargo rules, GAO reveals

US aid cargo being unloaded

Government watchdogs have found that a lack of oversight by maritime regulators is allowing federal agencies to evade laws requiring that certain amounts of international cargoes move on U.S.-flag ships.

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “Actions Needed to Enhance Cargo Preference Oversight,” which will be the focus of a congressional hearing Wednesday, concluded that without additional efforts by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) to develop regulations and enforce...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/feds-dodging-us-flag-ship-cargo-rules-gao-reveals

First US military jet carrying baby formula from Europe to arrive Sunday

A large, gray military jet touches down on runway on a sunny day, as smoke comes off the tires.

A U.S. military aircraft on Sunday will deliver the first batch of baby formula from Europe to Indianapolis under Operation Fly Formula as the Biden administration accelerates efforts to alleviate a domestic shortage.

The White House announced Saturday that a U.S. Air Force cargo jet will transport 132 pallets of Nestle’s Alfamino Infant and Alfamino Junior formula from Ramstein Air Base in Germany to the Indianapolis airport. From there the shipment will be trucked to a Nestle Health Science...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/first-us-military-jet-carrying-baby-formula-from-europe-to-arrive-sunday

Washington may reinstall Capitol fence ahead of trucker convoy

U.S. Capitol Police are considering reinstalling temporary fencing around the Capitol in case an anticipated trucker convoy threatens to disrupt President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s delegate to Congress, requested a briefing on the issue Wednesday from U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Thomas Manger.

“Chief Manger is ensuring that USCP is coordinating with law enforcement partners, including the Secret Service and D.C....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/washington-may-reinstall-capitol-fence-ahead-of-trucker-convoy

World’s largest aircraft lessor expands globally to meet capacity demand

Even as retail stores across the nation reopen and compete with e-commerce sales, e-commerce continues its fight upward. According to data from the National Retail Federation, the positive year-over-year growth of U.S. online sales in 2021 will sit between 18% and 23%, contributing to overall retail sales growth of up to 13.5%. 

In an interview with FreightWaves, Mike Berger, chief commercial officer for Ohio-based Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), spoke candidly about the growth of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/worlds-largest-aircraft-lessor-expands-globally-to-meet-capacity-demand

Defense Department conscripts 6 airlines for Afghanistan evacuation

Two white passenger jets with blue accents sit on tarmac under stormy clouds.

The U.S. Department of Defense on Sunday activated its Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), designed to augment military airlift during national emergencies, and is compelling six airlines to help with the evacuation of U.S. citizens and other at-risk refugees from Afghanistan. 

The order from U.S. Transportation Command pulls a total of 18 widebody aircraft into service, including planes from two companies that predominantly provide commercial all-cargo service. Atlas Air (NASDAQ: AAWW) and Air...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/defense-department-conscripts-6-airlines-for-afghanistan-evacuation

Yellow defends transparency of CARES Act loan

Yellow Corp. [NASDAQ: YELL] CEO Darren Hawkins is confident he can show lawmakers that his company’s $700 million CARES Act loan being scrutinized in a new congressional probe is in full compliance with the loan terms.

“Please be assured with respect to your question regarding our ‘eligibility for and use of the funds’ that the Subcommittee’s inquiry and Yellow Corporation’s documents will conclusively confirm that the information the Company provided in applying for the loan was completely...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/yellow-defends-transparency-of-cares-act-loan

Congress escalates probe into Yellow’s $700M COVID loan

Congress is stepping up its scrutiny of Yellow Corp. (NASDAQ: YELL) and its $700 million CARES Act relief loan following reports alleging the company may have been ineligible for the funds and then misused them.

In letters sent on Thursday to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Lloyd Austin, Yellow CEO Darren Hawkins and Crowley Logistics, Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, requested documents on whether...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/congress-escalates-probe-into-yellows-700m-covid-loan

Maritime History Notes: Tankers landed for Apollo program

WWII ships converted for Apollo program

In May of 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed America to landing an astronaut on the moon by 1970. Preparations to accomplish this amazing feat began soon thereafter. In addition to the actual rocket and space capsule, worldwide communication monitoring and tracking of the space shot were of major concern. This is where three laid-up World War II T-2 tankers supplied the solution.

T-2 Tanker (Photo: Captain James McNamara)

The three were chosen from a class known as Mission tankers of the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/maritime-history-notes-tankers-landed-for-apollo-program

DOD planning ‘every logistical detail’ of COVID vaccine distribution

U.S. military personnel unloading equipment from back of a

U.S. military leaders and logistics specialists are working on multiple fronts to ensure rapid distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Efforts include reducing red tape for imports and exports of clinical trial materials and coordinating logistics plans with public health jurisdictions across the country.

The Department of Defense is essentially serving as a lead logistics provider, applying its vast logistical capabilities to coordinate with private sector manufacturing and freight transportation...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dod-planning-every-logistical-detail-of-covid-vaccine-distribution