U.S. Maritime Administration

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...

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DOT spending $220 million to speed cargo at 18 ports

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Thursday released $220 million in federal funds for 18 coastal and inland ports aimed at speeding freight through the supply chain.

Rail and truck connections were highlighted at 11 of the 18 facilities receiving money. Eight of the grantees are located in “opportunity zones” created to improve economically distressed communities.

This latest round of Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) funding, made through the U.S. Maritime...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/dot-spending-220-million-at-18-ports

US Coast Guard to consider regulations on autonomous vessels

The country’s top maritime regulator is asking for the public’s view on the economic opportunities and the safety consequences of automated vessel technology as a precursor to potential regulations affecting commercial shipping in the United States.

In a Request for Information (RFI) scheduled to be published Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard has asked for responses to 16 questions on how automated commercial vessels and vessel technologies will affect U.S.-flagged commercial vessels as well as all...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/us-coast-guard-to-consider-regulations-on-autonomous-vessels

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