Attached at Annex A, please find the monthly report prepared by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) for February 2023. 

The report covers the following:-  

1. Outlines a reintroduction of the American Port Access Privileges Act to the new congressional session. The new bill (HR 1013) would (inter alia) provide preferential berthing to US flag vessels; ensure that USCG orders do not impede with new preferential berthing of export carrying vessels; require cargo bookings to be made 7 days in advance to port operators; and presents a secondary berthing preference for commercial vessels which carry significant US exports within the cargo. 

2. Noted that following publication of the US National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonisation, in which there was an apparent prioritisation for road, rail and air recommendations, there is now an active effort to issue a maritime specific decarbonisation plan led by MARAD alongside USCG, EPA and the Department of Energy. 

3. Links to a US Maritime Advisory were made available on the prominent threats to commercial vessels. Highlighted threats include explosives boats, limpet mines and explosive unmanned aerial vehicles as well as navigation disruption, the Yemen conflict, piracy, and the Suez Southern anchorage. 

4. An additional link to a US Maritime Advisor lays out findings from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) 2022 Annual Threat Assessment. It raises an awareness on potential cyber vulnerabilities to maritime equipment. 

The  ICS Secretariat will monitor closely the issues outlined in the reports above, and members are kindly invited to direct any comment or question on the attached reports to Meme Lamlum, ICS Policy Officer(meme.lamlum@ics-shipping.org).