The Biden Administration recently issued the latest round of U.S. sanctions against Russia, focusing on (1) secondary sanctions applicable to foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”) that engage in certain transactions in...more
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA” or “Act”), which took effect last month, ushers in a new era of supply chain diligence for importers. The Act creates a rebuttable presumption that any goods produced in whole...more
Stakeholders in offshore wind construction projects, including vessel owners and operators, project developers, and equipment manufacturers, should ensure that their plans for offshore wind development take into consideration...more
New Development -
The Baltic and International Maritime Council’s (“BIMCO”) Documentary Committee adopted several new clauses and contracts at its recent meeting held on January 25, 2021. Included were: (1) a new charter...more
PT Bukit Muria Jaya (“BMJ”), an Indonesian corporation, recently agreed to pay a criminal fine of more than $1.5 million and to strengthen its compliance program after violating the U.S. sanctions regime. Similarly-situated...more
Ransomware demands have surged during the pandemic. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued an advisory pertaining to the financial implications of succumbing...more
Note from the Editor -
Happy (almost) spring! Every year seems to be a new adventure and a new challenge, and this year, on top of the dramatic new International Maritime Organization 2020 bunker regulations that have now...more
Note from the Editor -
As another year comes to a close, it is a perfect opportunity to evaluate the challenges and opportunities that we faced—and hopefully, embraced and overcame—as well as the goals we will set for the...more
General -
1 Which are the key ports in your jurisdiction and what sort of facilities do they comprise? What is the primary purpose of the ports?
The US has a large and diverse marine terminal industry. In terms of...more
NOTE FROM THE EDITORS -
All of us here at Blank Rome wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season and start to 2019.
We are pleased to present our final 2018 edition of White Collar Watch, which includes timely...more
12/14/2018
/ Bribery ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Crimes ,
Corporate Misconduct ,
Criminal Penalties ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
White Collar Crimes
The recent arrest of a top executive of a Chinese company follows the U.S. Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) newly announced “China Initiative.” The initiative consists of a task force aimed at identifying suspected Chinese...more
Note from the Vice Chair -
Happy fall! As the seasons change, so do the issues confronting the maritime industry...or not. Over the past few years, several topics have consistently remained in the headlines and as a thorn...more
10/12/2018
/ Coast Guard ,
Cybersecurity ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Federal Arbitration Act ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Imports ,
Maritime Transport ,
Ports ,
Shipping ,
Tariffs ,
Trump Administration ,
USTR ,
Vessels
What #MeToo Means for the Maritime World -
The #MeToo movement has shone new attention on issues for employers in the maritime industry seeking to ensure that seafarers and shore-based personnel can participate in a work...more
Global companies must evaluate complex legal and regulatory risks in the wake of the U.S. decision to re-impose sanctions on Iran. While the White House has set 90- and 180-day transition periods, some measures warrant close...more
Ballast Water Management: The Conundrum Continues -
It has been about 15 months since the U.S. Coast Guard (“USCG”) type-approved the first three ballast water management systems (“BWMSs”) in December 2016; three more...more
5/3/2018
/ Ballast Water Management ,
Chapter 11 ,
Coast Guard ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Cybersecurity ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Drones ,
Email ,
Hurricane Harvey ,
Hurricane Irma ,
Jones Act ,
Maritime Transport ,
Outer Continental Shelf ,
Technology ,
Trump Administration ,
Vessels
Action Item: On September 28, 2017, Acting Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) Secretary Elaine Duke issued a 10-day Jones Act waiver in the interest of national defense and in response to the devastation caused by...more
Maritime -
ACTION ITEM: On September 12, 2017, Acting Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) Secretary Elaine Duke issued a new Jones Act waiver for refined products, effectively broadening and extending the previously...more
Action Item: On September 8, 2017, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) Elaine Duke granted a seven-day waiver of the Jones Act in the interest of national defense. The waiver was issued to...more
Welcome to the summer 2017 edition of Mainbrace. To say we live in interesting times would be a serious understatement. We read headlines on a daily basis that challenge traditionally accepted notions of how governments...more
6/20/2017
/ Anti-Corruption ,
Antiboycott Requirements ,
Arbitration ,
Coast Guard ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
International Arbitration ,
Jones Act ,
Punitive Damages ,
Vessels
As we launch into a new year, uncertainty remains the word of the day. Whatever your political leanings, it would be hard to dispute that the inauguration of the Trump administration augurs change on many fronts, from...more
1/31/2017
/ Ballast Water Management ,
Bid Protests ,
Coast Guard ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
GAO ,
Hackers ,
Maritime Transport ,
Risk Management ,
Trump Administration
Action Item: The creation of the National Jones Act Division of Enforcement (“JADE”) signals that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has made Jones Act outreach and enforcement a national priority. U.S. and foreign...more
As the July 1, 2016, effective date for the SOLAS Regulation VI/2 amendments quickly approaches, unanswered questions and difficulties complying with varied international and domestic implementations loom large. In an effort...more
6/15/2016
/ Chapter 11 ,
Coast Guard ,
Debtors ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Export Controls ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ,
Maritime Transport ,
Self-Reporting ,
Shipping Cargo ,
Vessels
As with the world economy, the shipping markets are currently experiencing a major bout of volatility. The wide range of matters we are handling in our maritime law practice certainly reflects the current swings the shipping...more
10/16/2015
/ Anthem Blue Cross ,
BP ,
Coast Guard ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Compliance ,
Cuba ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cyber Crimes ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Data Security ,
Due Diligence ,
Environmental Policies ,
Estate Tax ,
GAO ,
Gift Tax ,
Hackers ,
Maritime Transport ,
Merger Agreements ,
Migrants ,
Non-Resident Aliens ,
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Shipping ,
Shipping Cargo ,
Sony ,
Syria ,
Tax Rates ,
Trade Policy
Action Item: The Administration further implemented its new Cuba policy facilitating passenger vessel service to Cuba and opening opportunities in Cuba’s maritime, telecommunications, and construction sectors. Considering the...more
In this issue:
- A Note from the Editor
- Congress and Administration Take Cautious Approach to Crude Exports as Oil Prices Fall
- Meet Blank Rome—Fairfield Sentry: Comity, Seller’s Remorse, and Chapter...more