Matthew J. Thomas, Jeanne M. Grasso, Kierstan L. Carlson, Natalie M. Radabaugh ● The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”) announced on May 21, 2025 that it is initiating a non-adjudicatory investigation into whether the: 1) vessel flagging laws, regulations, and/or practices of certain foreign governments,
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Navigating Emission Control Areas: Operational, Legal, and U.S. Enforcement Risks of MARPOL Annex VI’s Low Sulphur Fuel Requirements
Luke M. Reid, Jeanne M. Grasso, and Holli B. Packer ● The North American Emissions Control Area (“ECA”), which has been in force well over a decade, is one of four existing ECAs around the world. Effective May 1, 2025, the…
The SHIPS Act: The Advent of a New U.S. Merchant Marine Fleet?
Keith B. Letourneau ● In December 2024, Senator Scott Kelly (D. AZ), Representative Todd Young (R. IN), and then Representative Mike Waltz (R. FL) (now the President’s National Security Advisor) co-sponsored a bill to revamp shipbuilding in the United States. Titled…
Productively Pursuing and Maximizing Insurance Claims
Jared Zola ● Maximizing insurance claims starts with locating and notifying all potentially responsive coverages when facing a loss or claim. This article offers a 101 about what types of maritime-, transportation-, and shipping-related events insurance may cover and how to…
Chapter 15: A More Efficient Path for Recognition of Foreign Judgments as Compared with Adjudicatory Comity
Evan Jason Zucker, Jennifer K. Malow, and Michael B. Schaedle ● Chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which adopts the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law’s (“UNCITRAL”) Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, provides a streamlined process for recognition…
Spotlight on …
Get to know Blank Rome Maritime team members Kierstan Carlson, Holli Packer, and Noe Hamra. Kierstan Carlson How did you get into maritime law? Completely by chance. Coming out of law school, I knew I wanted to do “litigation and investigations” and “something international.” I…
RANKINGS
Blank Rome Global Leader: Chambers Global 2025 Ranks Blank Rome Attorneys and Shipping, Energy, International Trade, and Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practices Chambers Global 2025 recognized Blank Rome as a global leader in Shipping: Litigation, as well as Maritime partner John D. Kimball describing him as…
NEWS
Trump Administration Resource Hub We invite you to visit our Trump Administration Resource Hub to explore our thought leadership provided by a team of attorneys dedicated to providing comprehensive analysis and actionable insights to help navigate the complexities and opportunities presented by the…
Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Team (“SWERT”)
Blank Rome’s Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Team (“SWERT”) is an interdisciplinary group of Blank Rome attorneys and government relations professionals with decades of experience helping companies and individuals recover from severe weather events, including hurricanes, wildfires, mudslides, snowstorms, earthquakes, and…
New USTR Measures Target Chinese Maritime Sector: What You Need to Know
Matthew J. Thomas, Kathleen H. Shannon, Keith B. Letourneau, Douglas J. Shoemaker, Natalie M. Radabaugh, and Holli B. Packer ● The Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued a detailed notice on April 17, 2025, regarding actions and proposed actions in response…