For years, US mariner credentialing relied on fragmented systems, inconsistent records, and limited transparency—leaving mariners, shipowners, and operators exposed to hidden risk.

That is about to change.

In Episode 44 of the ShorelineHudson Maritime Risk Podcast, Captain Thomas Brown is joined by US maritime attorney and former US Coast Guard lawyer Benjamin Robinson (Chalos & Co.) to unpack the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General’s findings into Coast Guard credentialing failures—and the sweeping reforms now underway.

We explore:

This episode is essential listening for anyone operating vessels into US waters, or responsible for ensuring their crews are compliant, qualified, and defensible when the Coast Guard comes aboard.

Foreign-flagged vessels calling at U.S. ports now face a significant new operational challenge: the Department of Homeland Security has implemented a $1,000 immigration parole fee, effective 16 October 2025, for any non-exempt alien who is paroled into the United States. This includes vessel crew members requiring medical treatment under certain circumstances. In this episode, ShorelineHudson’s Global Policy Advisor Andrew Baskin sits down with our Head of Claims Deborah Stabile to unpack what the new fee means in practice, why parole is now being denied in some cases, and what shipowners must do to protect their crews, avoid unnecessary delays, and stay compliant when trading to the United States.

Confusion reigns in the wake of Washington’s last-minute amendments to the USTR Section 301 maritime measures.

In this episode, Captain Thomas Brown and Washington D.C.–based policy advisor Andrew Baskin break down what’s changed, who pays, and why these new U.S. port fees are about far more than economics.

From vessel classifications and deferral windows to Pay.gov payment challenges for foreign shipowners, the discussion separates fact from speculation. The episode also unveils how ShorelineHudson’s newly launched USTR Fee Clearing and Payment Service helps operators stay compliant, avoid port delays, and maintain good-faith standing with regulators and charterers alike.

If your fleet trades to the U.S., this is essential listening.

This week, the U.S. begins enforcing port fees on Chinese-built, flagged, or operated vessels under new Section 301 tariff measures.

These fees are assessed against the operator listed on the vessel’s COFR — a fact with far-reaching implications for shipowners, managers, and charterers.

In our latest Client Advisory and Podcast (Episode 41), we explain:

In this episode of the ShorelineHudson Maritime Risk Podcast, Captain Thomas Brown sits down with Hila Sasson, Director of Product Marketing at Windward, to discuss one of the most pressing and least understood risks facing global shipping today: GNSS jamming and AIS spoofing.

From phantom port calls and vessels “sailing on land” to entire fleets suddenly losing navigational capability in conflict zones, these invisible threats are already disrupting trade, complicating compliance, and raising the stakes for shipowners worldwide.

Listeners will gain:

Whether you’re a shipowner, broker, insurer, or maritime risk professional, this conversation will help you see through the fog of modern navigation risks.

In this episode of the ShorelineHudson Maritime Risk Podcast, we explore how the maritime sector is confronting the growing challenge of cyber risk with data-driven clarity. Our guests include Rob Vasquez, CEO of Beacon Technologies, Rick Siebenaler, CEO of the Maritime Cybersecurity Institute and academic sponsor of this fully funded research initiative, and Sean Jensen, ShorelineHudson’s cyber expert and program facilitator. Together, they discuss the Maritime Cybersecurity Institute’s vessel cyber risk analysis program powered by CYFAX+ and how it is transforming the way shipowners, operators, and regulators visualize, assess, and act on vessel-level cyber threat intelligence. If you're ready to understand what it truly means to "see the threat," this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Speakers:

Rob Vazquez – Beacon Technologies

Rick Siebenaler - Maritime Cybersecurity Institute

Sean Jensen - ShorelineHudson

The countdown is on - in this critical episode, your host, Captain Thomas Brown sits down with ShorelineHudson’s cybersecurity lead Mike Malito to unpack the U.S. Coast Guard’s new Final Rule on Cybersecurity, a sweeping update to the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) that mandates a national baseline for cyber readiness across all regulated U.S. ports and terminals. With the July 2025 deadline fast approaching, this episode delivers a clear, actionable roadmap for compliant facilities. From identifying a cyber officer to rolling out mandatory staff training, conducting risk assessments, and drafting a compliant cyber plan, Mike breaks down exactly what’s required, and how ShorelineHudson’s PortLogix™ and Acrisure’s Cybersecurity Blanket can help facilities of all sizes comply without breaking the bank. Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the most significant regulatory shifts in U.S. port security.

In this follow-up to episode 36 of the ShorelineHudson Maritime Risk Podcast, Captain Thomas Brown is joined again by U.S. trade policy expert Andrew Baskin to unpack the now-finalized U.S. port fee regime targeting Chinese-linked vessels.

With tariffs topping $1 million per voyage in some cases, strategic exemptions, and geopolitical backlash brewing in Beijing, we explore how this policy is already reshaping vessel operations, trade alliances, asset values — and possibly the future of American shipbuilding.

From rerouted cargo to retaliatory threats, this episode dives deep into the policy’s impact and the unintended consequences for shippers, carriers, and global trade at large.

As U.S. policymakers reconsider controversial port fees targeting Chinese-built ships, uncertainty still looms for shipowners, charterers, and global supply chains. In this episode, Captain Thomas Brown speaks with Washington-based policy advisor Andrew Baskin to unpack the latest developments, explore the commercial risks for Far East owners, and explain how time-chartered vessels could be affected.

In this episode of the ShorelineHudson Maritime Risk Podcast, Captain Thomas Brown sits down with Tim Gerland, Senior Vice President ShorelineHudson and leading expert on U.S. environmental compliance, to unpack the U.S. Coast Guard’s sweeping update to its Marine Environmental Response Guidelines.

🔍 What’s changed?

Whether you manage a fleet, oversee regulatory compliance, or simply want to stay ahead of industry changes, this is a must-listen conversation packed with actionable insights.

🎧 Tune in and get informed on how to navigate the new U.S. environmental regulatory landscape.