To move critical cargo in interstate commerce safely and efficiently, the maritime industry needs strong, consistent safety and environmental standards. A vessel may pass through the waters of a dozen states in the course of a single voyage. Subjecting those vessel operators to duplicative or conflicting federal and state standards creates confusion, adds inefficiency, and increases costs to shippers who rely on maritime transportation. Federal primacy in the regulation of maritime transport allows federal agencies to take input from all stakeholders, including states, to establish a coherent regulatory regime.

 

AWO works with Congress to ensure the primacy of federal laws governing the operation of vessels in interstate commerce and to hold agencies accountable for actively defending federal authority over vessel operations.