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USCG Seeks Show Leave Relief

Lloyd's Register Fairplay–Daily News Service quoted Blank Rome's Jeanne Grasso in their report on the World Maritime Day conference in New York.

Efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard could improve U.S. shore leave access, but questions linger on pending legislation designed to aid seafarers.

Speaking at the World Maritime Day conference in New York yesterday, Blank Rome partner Jeanne Grasso noted that language in two pending bills would require terminals to provide shore leave systems at no cost to seafarers.

But the language does not specify who would pay for shore-leave services: the terminal or the ship operator. “I don’t think this will be a cure-all,” she warned.

“We get it,” said USCG Rear Admiral Brian Salerno on shore leave concerns, stressing that the USCG is acutely aware of how demoralising lack of shore leave is for seafarers.

He revealed that the USCG issued a new directive yesterday to all field commanders to “vigorously engage [terminal] facilities that have not complied with the spirit of the regulation” by effectively denying shore leave. But the USCG does not believe it has the legal authority to force terminals to provide shore leave access “because that would essentially be taking private property, which violates the takings clause of the Constitution”, said Salerno.

He added that the USCG is working with the department of homeland security on the port security grants “to see if we can include criteria for facilities to apply for grant money to help enable seafarer access”.

"USCG Seeks Show Leave Relief" appeared in Lloyd's Register Fairplay-Daily News Service on October 24, 2008.


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This article appeared in Lloyd's List on October 24, 2008. For more information visit www.lloydslist.com