The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
November 20, 2024
GovTravels 2025 – Register Now!
Mark your calendar and register today for the GovTravels Symposium, happening February 24-27, 2025, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, VA. The National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) and the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), in association with the General Services Administration (GSA), are looking forward to welcoming you to this key event where decision makers from government and industry convene to collaborate on and learn about passenger travel concerns. […READ MORE…]
NDTA & Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Toy Drive & Event
NDTA and Toys for Tots are recruiting your support to help Santa’s Elves!
How does Santa get around to all the children in just one night?
He has LOTS of help: Elves, Marines, & YOU!
Join NDTA in our effort to support the Annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program. Please send or bring any new, unwrapped toys to our office between Friday, November 8 and Friday, December 6, 2024. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
US Signs Icebreaker Pact with Finland, Canada
American, Canadian and Finnish officials committed to the joint development, construction and maintenance of polar icebreakers with the signing of the Icebreaker Collaborative Effort Pact in Washington. The collaboration comes as the US and its adversaries, such as Russia and China, eye the Arctic for new resource and shipping lane opportunities.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas spoke about the great power competition, detailing the progress of the Russian and Chinese icebreaker efforts and what their Arctic capabilities would mean for the US if left uncontested in his opening remarks at the pact signing. Yielding the Arctic reserves of energy, rare earth minerals and sea lanes would have severe consequences for the American people, Mayorkas said. […READ MORE…]
WASHINGTON – The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced plans to invest nearly $580 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund 31 port improvement projects in 15 states and one US territory. As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, this funding will help increase both capacity and efficiency at coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports, and inland river ports. The port improvement projects will strengthen supply chain reliability, create workforce development opportunities, enhance freight efficiency, lower costs, reduce emissions, and improve the safety, reliability, and resilience of our ports. […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
Coast Guard Cutter Stratton Returns to California Following 110-day Arctic Deployment
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) returned to its Alameda homeport on Nov. 4, after completing a 110-day patrol in the Arctic Ocean, Chukchi Sea and Bering Sea. Stratton departed Alameda on July 18 and patrolled the Alaskan Inside Passage to Juneau, Alaska, throughout the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and into the Arctic Ocean. The crew supported US strategic interests in the high latitudes and ensured the safety and compliance of domestic fishery operators.
New Navy Ship USS Nantucket Commissioned While ‘Stern to Stern’ with the Oldest Navy Ship
The USS Nantucket was commissioned at a ceremony in Boston, Mass., on Nov. 16, three years after it was first launched and five years after construction began. The USS Nantucket is a littoral combat ship, or LCS. LCS-class ships are small, agile vessels meant for operating in near-shore environments. The LCS class has two variants — Freedom and Independence, each of which is built by a different industry team. Lockheed Martin leads the construction of Freedom-variant ships like the Nantucket, while Austal USA heads the building of Independence-variant ships.
Marine Corps Codifies Amphibious Combat Vehicle Standards After Rocky Start, New Deployments
The Marine Corps has announced new standards on training and operations for its Amphibious Combat Vehicle, or ACV, as it continues to deploy the 32-metric-ton machine in key training after early launch troubles. Two ACVs rolled over in the surf during separate amphibious exercises in 2022, causing the Marine Corps to issue a monthslong pause on waterborne operations for the vehicle. No Marines were injured in those mishaps, the service said, but the events pushed the Corps to review safety, training and operations procedures for the ACV moving forward.
US Military’s New Counter-UAS System Tested, Can Detect Up to 500 Targets
The United States showcased the Cerberus XL C-UAS, a reliable system featuring long-range sensors and counter-UAS technology, at a recent military exercise.
The system, which has the ability to detect up to 500 simultaneous targets and operate in extreme conditions, is modular and adaptable for air, ground, and maritime threats, providing multi-domain situational awareness for air security in areas like military sites, airports, seaports, borders, and critical infrastructure, US tech company Teledyne FLIR points out.
US Navy to Develop F/A-XX Next-Generation Fighter Independently of Air Force NGAD
The US Navy is developing a 6th generation fighter jet, called F/A-XX. The Air Force previously said the two programs are interconnected and is sharing its developments, but the Navy now says it will develop its aircraft independently. The revelation was part of an interview released to Aviation Week by Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly, director of the air warfare division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
AIT Worldwide Logistics Releases 2024 Sustainability Report
Global supply chain solutions leader AIT Worldwide Logistics is pleased to announce the release of its 2024 Sustainability Report. The document is available to download from the company’s website and encapsulates AIT’s advancement of sustainable practices in the logistics sector throughout the previous year.
“In 2023, we made great strides in our sustainability initiatives, from enhancing the accuracy of our data tracking to rolling out electric vehicle programs across multiple regions,” said AIT’s Chairman and CEO Vaughn Moore.
Enterprise Mobility Upholds Legacy of Military Support
Enterprise Rent-A-Car® once again is teaming up with Progressive Insurance® to honor veterans through the 12th annual Keys to Progress® veteran vehicle giveaway program. The program empowers veterans and military organizations across the nation by providing vehicles annually, helping them reclaim their independence and improve their quality of life.
This year’s giveaway features vehicles purchased by Progressive from Enterprise Mobility’s US fleets, with Enterprise Rent-A-Car also providing six months of auto insurance to each recipient. The 90 vehicles given away this year brings the total number of donated vehicles from this annual program to more than 1,100 vehicles since 2013.
ORBCOMM® Accelerates with Announcements of New Solutions at Intermodal Europe Event 2024
ORBCOMM debuted its next generation of container monitoring solutions at the Intermodal Europe event in the Netherlands to meet the market’s needs for greater supply chain visibility. The latest generation of its dry container IoT solution is designed to increase container security, protect cargo integrity and improve asset visibility. Shipping lines can use the new technology to investigate the possibility of fire, detect unauthorized container access, receive alerts to possible container damage and provide higher levels of asset visibility to customers.
US Ocean and Waterman Logistics Increase Cargo Solutions and Alternatives in the Pacific
US Ocean LLC and Waterman Logistics, Inc., announced increased vessel availability of multi-purpose and roll-on/roll-off assets in the Pacific in response to high demand for cargo transportation. The companies are responding to customers seeking carriage of cargoes to and from Japan, Korea, China, and Southeast Asia as well as other world-wide locations.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.