House Passes Coast Guard Authorization Act

On April 1, 2014, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4005, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Authorization Act of 2014. Among other things, the bill would strengthen cargo preference authority and further require reports on the possibility of imposing a U.S.-flag requirement on liquefied natural gas exports and the international competitiveness of U.S. mariner licensing. The bill also includes a provision which would immunize fishing permits from the attachment of maritime liens, diluting the security of fishing industry creditors particularly where the value of the vessel lies primarily in her permits.