MarAd unveils information system

MarAd unveils information system The U.S. Maritime Administration said it is making information on the condition and performance of the Marine Transportation System — including U.S. ports, vessels, waterways and intermodal connections — available through an Internet site.
   Access to the site is free, but the government is requiring users to apply for a subscription and state why they want access to the information.
   The system, dubbed MarView, will provide access to more than 2,500 links to transportation data sources, giving statistics on intermodal freight transportation and on trained and licensed mariners. It provides real-time tracking of vessels, plus physical attributes information on national and international ports, vessels, and related facilities. MarView provides real-time information on waterways and facilities and background facts about domestic and foreign shipbuilding and repair yards.

Connaughton

   Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton said, “Through MarView, we know instantly how much traffic is going through a port on any given day, plus how much goes through in a year and what kind of facilities a port has.
   “When Hurricane Ike approached the Texas coast, MarView enabled us to keep an eye on a ship that was in trouble,' he said. 'We knew where it was, its physical capacity, and who owned it — instantly. Without MarView, such information might have taken several days to get.”
   For more information or to subscribe, visit www.marview.gov.