The United Nations estimates that the world ocean economy–often referred to as the “blue economy”–is worth $1.5 trillion U.S. dollars annually.  It follows then, that a strong, competitive U.S. maritime industry is vital to the national and economic security strategy of the United States.  To accomplish that goal, both modernizing and expanding our ports and...Read More

A new report released in Dec. 2022 by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) calculates the contributions of often-overlooked portions of the ocean economy, concluding that regional marine research and education, state expenditures related to the ocean, and coastal electricity production in the mid-Atlantic area support 38,000 jobs and $25.5 billion in annual...Read More

Some offshore renewable energy regulations (mostly pertaining to offshore wind) dealing with workplace safety and environmental compliance will be transferred from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), the U.S. Department of Interior announced yesterday, Jan. 17, 2023. A joint notice to lessees outlines the transfer of...Read More

On Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the availability of two draft Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for two new offshore wind projects for public review and comment, thereby advancing the regulatory process for construction to begin.  Known as the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project and the Sunrise...Read More