"Marine Highways" Concept to Take Load off Roads Gains Momentum
CHANTILLY, VA (September 5, 2007): 'Marine Highways,' a transportation and shipping concept that would use coastal 'short sea' shipping routes and inland waterways to relieve congestion on the nation's highways, will be the focus of a free, live Webcast Sept. 14.
The 'Marine Highways' concept is quickly gaining favor with policymakers, especially in light of recent concerns over the integrity of the country's landside transportation infrastructure. Thanks to legislation currently before Congress (H.R. 2701), the Marine Highways idea is rapidly gaining mainstream acceptance.
The free national Town Meeting Webcast featuring maritime industry and government experts will help educate the public and the media on this new initiative. The Webcast, which will start at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) Sept. 14, will originate from the K&L Gates Media Center in Washington D.C.
This Webcast will be featured live on Maritime TV (http://www.MaritimeTV.com) and is sponsored in part by "Tell America," a campaign to educate the public on the importance of revitalizing the U.S. maritime industry. The Webcast will feature a second panel that will focus on issues related to U.S. maritime security.
“We at the U.S. Maritime Administration are excited about participating in this national Webcast to make the public aware of how our 'Marine Highways' are a cost effective, yet under utilized, method for the movement of passengers, containers, and bulk cargoes that is especially fuel efficient, safe, and reliable,” stated Sean T. Connaughton, Maritime Administrator at the Department of Transportation. “Accelerated use of the waterborne transportation mode holds forth a special promise for tomorrow in reducing traffic congestion, enhancing freight flow, expanding freight capacity, and providing a new pathway for hazardous materials.”
“Because of the momentum and promise of 'Marine Highways,' we already are seeing strong interest in participating in this Webcast among the public and the media. To handle the expected high number of viewers, we are preparing our Web servers for heavy traffic," says Dave Gardy, Executive Producer at Maritime TV and CEO of its parent Internet TV Network, TV Worldwide. “With the recent issues regarding the stress on America's highway infrastructure, 'Marine Highways' is being viewed as a viable solution.”
Webcast Panel Moderator Vice Adm. Al Herberger, USN (Ret.), former Maritime Administrator said, “As a national priority, we must expand the overall carrying capacity and efficiency of the U.S. domestic transportation system by increasing waterborne shipping services, providing American shippers and the transportation industry the broadest possible range of safe, reliable and cost competitive transportation options.”
• At press time, Webcast panelists included:
Roger Bohnert
Deputy Associate Administrator, Intermodal System Development
U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration
Paul H Bea Jr
Principal PHB Public Affairs
Edward V. Badolato
President and CEO Integrated Infrastructure Analytics, Inc.
R. Adm. Norman Saunders, USCG (ret.)
Vice President for Corporate Development with Science Applications
International Corporation (SAIC)
Owen Doherty
Director, Office of Security, U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime
Administration
The live video Webcast is available for free to the general public and members of the press at http://www.MaritimeTV.com and http://www.TellAmericaTV.com. Participants should have the free Windows Media Player installed prior to viewing the event. Questions can be directed to 703-961-9250, ext. 235.
Those interested in attending in person at the K&L Gates facility at 1601 K Street, NW in downtown Washington, D.C. should contact Ms. Kristen Vetula [email protected] or (202) 661-3826
Additional information about America's 'Marine Highways' Initiative is available at http://www.marad.dot.gov/MHI/index.asp. Other information regarding the revitalization of the U.S. maritime industry is available in several recent "Tell America" event Webcasts (http://www.TellAmericaTV.com). These include the 74th observance of National Maritime Day on May 22 when representatives of the U.S. government, Congress, industry management and labor organizations united in appealing for what one dignitary termed a "revolution" to address a "looming transportation crisis" in the maritime industry. Most recently, on June 18, Maritime TV featured the live Webcast of Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) commencement address to the United States Merchant Marine Academy's class of 2007.
• About TV Worldwide and Maritime TV
As a pioneering global Internet broadcasting and streaming media company, TV Worldwide (http://www.tvworldwide.com) developed the first Internet TV network of community-based Internet TV channels, including Maritime TV (http://www.MaritimeTV.com). Each channel serves targeted, special interest demographic audiences worldwide, ranging from the community of people with disabilities to the Homeland Defense industry. Fortune 500 companies, 15 federal government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, and numerous International Associations, including the National Association of Broadcasters, use TV Worldwide's live and archived state-of-the art video streaming content applications and Internet TV channels. In recognition of the company's unique achievements in new media, TV Worldwide was selected by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) to Webcast the 58th annual Emmy awards for Technology and Engineering in December of 2006. TV Worldwide has been named one of the streaming video industry's "Hottest Streaming Companies" by Streaming Magazine and CEO Dave Gardy was honored by the magazine as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Streaming Media. Mr. Gardy also currently serves as the President of the International Webcasting Association (IWA). (http://www.Webcasters.org)