In an effort to promote the reduction of maritime-related emissions and strengthen maritime cybersecurity, Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, the United States Senator for Massachusetts, has introduced two maritime bills in advance of the annual Maritime Administration Reauthorization Act’s consideration by Congress. The first bill, the Expanding Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance Program Act, supports research on zero-emission port and vessel technologies and authorizes an additional $3 million for the Maritime Administration’s Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance Program to research and support activities related to zero-emission technologies in the maritime sector. The second bill, the Enhancing Maritime Cybersecurity Act, increases awareness of cyber risks and best practices for security in the maritime sector by instructing the Maritime Administration to work with the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security to ensure the availability of resources that can help maritime operators identify, detect, protect against, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents.
