U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Jones Act waiver for Puerto Rico relaxes rules on foreign tankers

National Guard delivering water in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona

The Biden administration has approved a “temporary and targeted” Jones Act waiver to boost fuel supplies to hurricane-battered Puerto Rico. But supporters of the law argue the waiver is unnecessary and could disrupt recovery operations on the island.

“In response to urgent and immediate needs of the Puerto Rican people in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, I have approved a temporary and targeted Jones Act waiver to ensure that the people of Puerto Rico have sufficient diesel to run generators...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/jones-act-waiver-for-puerto-rico-relaxes-rules-on-foreign-tankers

FreightWaves Classics: U.S. Customs and Border Protection has key freight responsibilities

Trucks wait in line to be inspected and cross the border. (Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, numerous changes were made at federal agencies. For example, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was founded on November 25, 2002. Among the agencies that are part of DHS is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP. 

CBP became the first comprehensive border security agency in the U.S. on March 1, 2003. The agency’s focus is to maintain the integrity of the nation’s boundaries and ports of entry.

Before the creation of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classics-us-customs-and-border-protection-has-key-freight-responsibilities

US maritime group fears waiver abuse by fuel shippers

A group representing U.S. domestic maritime interests has warned the Biden administration that the Jones Act waivers issued by the government to address fuel shortages could be used by shippers to make money off the crisis.

In a letter to President Joe Biden on Thursday, the American Maritime Partnership (AMP) urged the administration to reject any waiver of the Jones Act — a law that requires all cargoes moving domestically to be loaded into American vessels — unless U.S.-flag ships are...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/us-maritime-group-fears-waiver-abuse-by-fuel-shippers

US greenlights fuel transport by foreign ships

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has waived the Jones Act to allow a foreign shipping company to move domestic fuel supplies to help shore up fuel supplies on the U.S. East Coast.

“In the interest of national defense, I have approved a temporary and targeted waiver request to an individual company,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement late Wednesday.

“This waiver will help provide for the transport of oil products between the Gulf Coast and East Coast ports to ease...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/us-greenlights-fuel-transport-by-foreign-ships

Biden readies critical supply chain review

President Joe Biden is preparing to make good on a campaign promise to review critical supply chains and reduce American dependence on imports for pandemic-related equipment and materials.

In July 2020, while he was officially still the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Biden laid out a plan to help the U.S. prevent shortages of critical products needed in times of crisis. The plan was in response to what he and others saw as failed efforts of the Trump administration during...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/biden-readies-critical-supply-chain-review

COVID-19 taking bite out of the driver pool

Trucking companies are realigning hiring practices to focus on experienced drivers as the supply of student drivers falls dramatically because of COVID-19.

The shift is a direct result of driving schools that have closed and state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) that have either cut back hours or shut down entirely during the pandemic. This is constricting the pipeline of entry-level drivers that many carriers rely on for more than half of their driver positions.

“A lot of the driving schools...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/covid-19-taking-bite-out-of-the-driver-pool

DOT doubles progress in human trafficking fight

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) more than doubled a goal staked out earlier this year to get 100 pledges in 100 days to raise awareness of human trafficking in the transportation sector.

Over 200 companies and organizations answered the call for the effort that DOT Secretary Elaine Chao made in January. Those that have signed on to the effort “are joining the Department to ensure that America’s transportation systems are not hijacked to facilitate human trafficking,” said U.S....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dot-doubles-progress-in-human-trafficking-fight

FBI and Homeland Security to investigate cyber attack demanding bitcoin at Port of San Diego

From NBC San Diego:

The Port of San Diego was a victim of a ransomware attack and is partnering with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the matter, Port CEO Randa Coniglio said in a statement released Thursday.

Hackers breached the Port’s information technology systems on Tuesday and demanded payment in Bitcoin, the agency said, though the amount was not disclosed.
Ransomware works by encrypting a user’s data and holding the decryption key until the ransom is paid.

It...

http://www.longshoreshippingnews.com/2018/09/fbi-and-homeland-security-to-investigate-cyber-attack-demanding-bitcoin-at-port-of-san-diego/

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