MarEx Mailbag: Reader Response to Last Week's Editorial

MarEx readers weigh in on previous online editorial about the ongoing effort to repeal parts of the Harbor Maintenance Tax as a way to prop up Shortsea Shipping.

In our August 21st e-newsletter, we published an editorial entitled, " America's Marine Highway: A gaping window of opportunity." The piece centered on the elimination of the shortsea component of the HMT. Read the August 21st editorial by clicking HERE. Also, check out (just a few) of our reader's comments on the article below:

* * *

Joseph,

Excellent article, message reaches out. HMT to me needs to happen ASAP, time's a wasting.

Keep up the good work,

Berny

Bernard List, PPM®
14 Shamrock CT
Homosassa, FL 34446
ESCO Marine, Inc

* * *

Dear Mr. Keefe,

The HMTF is still needed for dredging and maintaining safe and reliable navigation channels. Our Coalition along with about 100 or so other organizations are members of a coalition (RAMP) to urge spending the HMTF for its intended purpose. Who is advocating for eliminating the Fund? I acknowledge that the industry in the Great Lakes is sponsoring legislation to secure exemption from the tax, and while this may be important to support short sea shipping there, the HMTF should not be eliminated.

Ellen Joslin Johnck
Executive Director
Bay Planning Coalition
San Francisco, CA

MarEx Editor's Remarks: To be fair, I just went back and read my editorial again, and in the beginning, I probably do not make it perfectly clear that I am referring to the ShortSea component of the HMT only. Later in the piece, I do make that distinction. Apologies for any confusion there. But, on the other hand, the shortsea component of the HMT contributes little or nothing to the HMT bottom line, primarily because there is no shortsea shipping because of it. It makes little sense to tax the same cargo twice. One final letter is shown below:

* * *

Joe –

Outstanding article. The title "America's Marine Highway: A gaping window of opportunity" is perfect!!

As you probably know our company is well known for our expertise and work in short sea shipping and support of America's Marine Highways. We have new clients now that have asked us to develop business models and feasibility studies for new operations and have proposals to others for similar work. Since the President signed the Energy Bill last December which included new mandates in support of Short Sea Transport, there has been a renewed energy of interest in developing and establishing new Marine Highways.

Congress also appears to be more energized and with any luck HMT waiver legislation just might get passed – which would be a miracle considering it's an election year. Hopefully with strong lobbying by all of us in the maritime industry, maybe the two political parties will forget partisan politics long enough to take a unified action and approve the HMT waiver legislation. The cost to the government is essentially an insignificant loss of revenue, but will pay significant long term dividends in incentivizing new transportation capacity that is so badly needed to support our nation's economic growth.

Sorry for the soapbox, but that's really what it's all about – in a nut shell.

As you know, I am a founding member of the Short Sea Cooperative, now known as the Marine Highways Cooperative and serve as Secretary. With your permission I would like to distribute your article to the membership of the Cooperative. Also, I will distribute to all of our "Maritime Advisors" internally.

Thanks again for a very timely and well titled article.

Mark Yonge, Managing Member
Maritime Transport & Logistics Advisors, LLC
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

MarEx Editor's Remarks: Thanks for writing, Mark. Permission granted on all counts.

Link to newsletter archive