House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has released an interim staff memorandum providing an update on the Committee’s ongoing investigation into the United States Coast Guard (USCG) following allegations of pervasive sexual assault and misconduct.
The memorandum details how the USCG concealed “Operation Fouled Anchor” from Congress, failed to address both historic and persistent sexual misconduct at the USCG Academy, and neglected to help victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
Key Takeaways from the Interim Memorandum:
USCG leadership made a cognizant decision to withhold Operation Fouled Anchor and other related misconduct reviews from Congress and the public. Former USCG Commandant Karl Schultz admitted in a transcribed interview with Committee investigators that he personally made the decision to withhold Operation Fouled Anchor and other related misconduct reviews from Congress and the public.
Former USCG Academy leadership did not notify the proper authorities and refused to follow USCG policy when dealing with instances of sexual assault and misconduct. Former USCG Investigative Service (CGIS) Director, Michael Berkow, testified that most cases investigated under Operation Fouled Anchor were not properly handled when they…
The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index, which measures shipping rates for vessels transporting dry bulk commodities, recorded its fourth consecutive weekly decline on Friday, dragged down by losses across all vessel segments for the week.
The index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 4 points to 1,051 points on Friday, its lowest since late July 2023. The index was down about 10% for the week.
The panamax index fell 26 points to 995 points. The index also posted a weekly loss. Average daily earnings for panamax vessels, which usually carry 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain cargo, decreased $231 to $8,955.
The capesize index logged its fourth straight weekly loss despite gaining 11 points to 1,263 points on Friday. Average daily earnings for capesize vessels, which typically transport 150,000-ton cargoes such as iron ore and coal, increased by $92 to $10,474.
Iron ore futures retreated, but ended the week higher as investors assessed top consumer China’s latest pledge of further stimulus measures to shore up its faltering economy.
Among smaller vessels, the supramax index was down 2 points at 959 points, while also posting a weekly loss.
Two reports released this week, one on the upscaling of green hydrogen production, the other on upscaling CCUS, both point to a lack of government initiatives as hindering investment. Without the establishment of regulations and multi-lateral frameworks, big projects are floundering.
DNV’s latest Maritime Forecast to 2050 estimates that shipping’s demand for carbon-neutral fuels will be between 9 and 55 Mtoe in 2030 while the global cross-sector production volume of carbon-neutral fuel will be between 44 and 62 Mtoe.
Clearly, it will be nearly impossible for shipping to secure its share.
Like the availability for green fuels and CO2 sequestration sites, some of the prospects for improving ships’ operational efficiency are also dependent on forces outside shipping’s control. Another report released this week outlines how port delays are adversely impacting emissions. It predicts that optimizing port arrivals could reduce voyage emissions by up to 25%.
To meet the expectations of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, the IMO says a basket of candidate measures should be developed. Perhaps shipping will have to weave its own basket before it can add those measures to it.
The Blue Visby project is an example of how the industry…
Texas-based exploration and production company Beacon Offshore Energy has awarded a contract to Subsea7 for the work on Monument development in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
The project involves the installation of a high-pressure 27-kilometre subsea tieback to the Shenandoah Floating Production System (FPS), located in Walker Ridge Block 316 at water depths reaching up to 2,000 meters.
Subsea7’s scope of work includes the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of subsea equipment, including structures, umbilicals, production risers, and flowlines.
The company said the contract value is substantial, meaning it’s between $150 million and $300 million.
Offshore activities are expected to begin in 2026.
“We are proud to be involved in delivering this high-pressure deepwater subsea tieback on Monument. This project is the latest in a long-standing partnership with Beacon Offshore Energy, building on our strong track-record in delivering oil and gas projects in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico,” said Craig Broussard, Senior Vice President for Subsea7 Gulf of Mexico.
Marine geosciences and offshore construction support services firm Next Geosolutions has acquired a multi-purpose survey vessel (MPSV) from Beitveit Holding for $7.1 million.
The vessel, Sea Admiral, will be renamed NG EXPLORER, and will be used for geophysical, geotechnical, environmental and UXO surveys.
The NG EXPLORER, with a length of 58 meters and a width of 14 meters, is an MPSV built in 2010 and equipped with a Dynamic Positioning Class II (DP2) system and diesel-electric propulsion that will raise the Italian flag and be operational from the first quarter of 2025.
The ship will undergo refitting work, with an additional investment estimated of up to $5.2 million, in order to make it even more efficient and functional for the high-tech activities for which it is destined
“In light of the company’s growth, the acquisition of this new vessel asset represents an important opportunity for the group and is part of our growth plans to expand our owned fleet with vessels carrying out specific activities pertaining to the NextGeo Group.
“The transaction is part of the growth and development strategy we declared during the IPO and allows us to expand our service offering in the market. With this acquisition, we bring the number of owned offshore…
Shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has secured an Approval in Principle (AiP) from certification body Bureau Veritas for its standard Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit (FPSO) design, which includes the latest developments in advanced digital solutions to support more energy efficient operations.
Standard FPSO design of Hanwha Ocean measures 340 meters in length and 62 meters in width, with a crude oil storage capacity of 2.38 million barrels and a production capacity of 190,000 barrels per day.
The FPSO is designed to accommodate topsides of up to 55,000 tons and 17,600 square meters, with a hull that can operate for up to 20 years without dry docking.
The FPSO will incorporate technologies such as zero-flaring, GHG monitoring, and an energy management system to comply with environmental regulations.
It will also feature advanced digital solutions, including cybersecurity, digital twin, and predictive maintenance due to their complexity, use of cutting-edge tools, and their transformative potential across industries.
Hanwha Ocean’s transition to an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation, and Operation (EPCIO) solution provider offers products such as FPSOs, floating liquified natural gas (FLNG)s, Offshore Renewables, and other…
Taiwan raised its alert level on Monday saying China has set up seven zones of reserved airspace and deployed naval fleets and coast guard boats in what a security source described as the first military drills across a broad swathe of the region’s waters.
A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters that China currently has nearly 90 navy and coast guard ships in waters near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands and the East and South China Seas, of which around two-thirds were navy vessels.
Beijing’s defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, had been expected to launch another round of exercises in response to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s trip to the Pacific, which included stopovers in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam, security sources had told Reuters.
China has set up seven “temporary reserved areas” of airspace to the east of its eastern Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, Taiwan’s defence ministry said in a statement, adding those zones are valid from Monday to Wednesday.
Such zones are temporarily reserved and allocated for a particular user during a set period, though other flights can pass through with permission from…
In fact, the advertising of alcohol products in the United States more than quadrupled from 1971 to 2011! Because of this, early drinking is a big concern. This is compared to those who begin drinking at age 21 or later. It makes the brain depend on alcohol’s chemicals, which makes it harder 12 step programs for addiction recovery to quit.
Understanding alcohol addiction
Seth brings many years of professional experience working the front lines of addiction in both the government and privatized sectors. Let them know that their situation doesn’t have to remain the way it is and offer them options for treatment. You can help someone who can’t stop drinking by talking to them about their behavior and how it affects them and others around them. This study indicates that the consumption of one liter of alcohol per capita increases divorce rates by 20%. But you can help your partner see reasons to get help with the right approach. You could arrange with family members, close friends, colleagues, or a professional intervention specialist to confront them in a non-coercive way.
Small wins, such as abstaining from alcohol for a certain number of days or attending therapy sessions consistently, should be acknowledged and praised. Additionally, provide emotional support and be patient during their journey, understanding that setbacks may occur. Help your spouse create a supportive environment by removing triggers and temptations from the home. These therapeutic approaches can help couples navigate the challenges of addiction, rebuild trust, and develop healthier ways of relating to one another. In couples therapy, the therapist helps the couple navigate the challenges that arise from addiction, facilitating open and honest communication.
Getting Support for Loved Ones of Alcoholics
Treatment for AUD can include counseling, support groups, and medication. Keep in mind that someone with alcohol dependence usually goes through a few stages before they are ready to make a change. No matter your background or expertise, your loved one will likely need outside help. Substance use disorder is a primary, chronic, and progressive disease that sometimes can be fatal.
Dealing with a spouse with an alcohol addiction can be incredibly challenging and emotionally taxing.
If your spouse’s behaviour is threatening the safety and happiness of your family, it may be time to prioritize their needs and your own.
If someone you care about is struggling with alcoholism, there are ways you can support them on their journey to recovery.
How can you live your best life and still support your struggling loved one?
Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), it is a free and anonymous program that allows participants to discuss the struggles they’ve faced while navigating life with alcoholic loved ones.
Don’t blame yourself
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD), Charlie Health is here to help. Offer to accompany them to addiction treatment if they feel more comfortable with your presence. Trust within the relationship can be severely tested or broken due to broken promises, lies, and the unpredictable behavior that often accompanies alcoholism. As mentioned, being the spouse of a person with AUD can be incredibly challenging and emotionally exhausting.
If you are experiencing physical or mental health issues, safety concerns, or financial instability due to your spouse’s drinking, it may be time to consider leaving the relationship. Alcoholism is a risk factor for domestic violence, and partners of alcoholics may find themselves living in fear of their spouse’s reactions and the potential for violent outbursts. The stress of living with an alcoholic spouse can manifest in physical health issues. The stress of dealing with a spouse’s alcoholism can lead to physical and mental health issues, as well as financial and social problems. There is still hope if you live with an alcoholic spouse, although the road may be long and require a lot of recovery.
Depending on lifestyle, budget, and severity of their disease, finding what works best for your spouse may take some time and adjustment.
You can maintain your peace while supporting their recovery by setting clear boundaries and encouraging them to get treatment.
There are several good ways to check if someone has a problem with alcohol.
By approaching the conversation with empathy, understanding, and a genuine desire to help, you create a foundation for collaboration in addressing the challenges of alcoholism together.
If family members try to “help” by covering up for their drinking and making excuses for them, they are playing right into their loved one’s denial game.
But alcohol kills that… In fact, you will struggle with sexual performance and finding words to tell your spouse how you feel.
If alcohol is the go-to solution when your partner is feeling stressed, you may have a subtle case of alcoholism on your hands.
Reset Your Mind: Benefits of Inpatient Mental Health Care
If someone in your life is clearly in need of alcohol addiction treatment but refuses to go, you may be wondering if you can force them to enter rehab. Fortunately, if you remain supportive, patient and compassionate, Drug Overdose Facts you can help them regain a life that’s happier, healthier and free from alcohol. This comes across as counter-intuitive, but many people unknowingly enable their spouse’s alcohol addiction. Some are good enough to convince their spouse that they are the problem, therefore whenever your alcoholic partner blames you for everything, don’t believe it.
Understanding effective strategies is crucial for supporting your partner’s recovery journey and managing the emotional toll it may take on you. Navigating life with a spouse who struggles with substance use disorder (SUD), particularly alcohol use disorder (AUD), presents significant challenges that can profoundly impact both people and their relationship. Many family members of someone struggling with alcohol dependency try everything they can think of to get their loved one to stop drinking. The literature gives various forms of active and passive actions on the part of wives of alcoholics which turns out adaptive for them.
Another 93% of them used pleading their partners for not drinking as engaged coping style. Some of the often used engaged coping styles included actions such as sitting together and talking about drinking, which was reported to be used often by 93.4% wives. Table 2 depicts the problems faced by the wives of alcoholic clients in terms of frequency distribution of rating done by them.
It needs the support of all family members. Once you convince your partner to go to treatment, the staff at the rehab center will know what to do next. They can also help you identify additional ways to make sure your spouse consents to treatment. They can provide you with support, guidance, and helpful resources to assist you through this difficult time.
Should I leave my spouse if they don’t stop drinking?
If your spouse refuses to recognise their behaviour as a problem, it can be incredibly difficult to know how to help them. It can be stressful and worrying to witness someone you love fall victim to alcohol abuse, and you may also be taking on more household duties and responsibilities. It is therefore critical to prioritize self-care and seek support. You may feel helpless, frustrated, and terrified about the health and future of your household.
The appropriate approach for alcoholism treatment depends on the extent of the addiction and whether the individual is trying to drink less or quit alcohol altogether. Living with an alcoholic spouse can bring legal problems arising from their poor decisions. Having an alcoholic spouse makes it more difficult to quit or reduce alcohol intake.
If your partner is willing to get help, help them find counselors, therapists, Rehab for pregnant women and support groups. Withdrawal symptoms from abrupt alcohol cessation may be dangerous and potentially fatal, so don’t try to force them to stop drinking without medical intervention. Trying to get them to stop drinking on their own may not only be a waste of time, but it could also be dangerous. It’s important to seek help immediately if your partner is physically or emotionally abusive towards you or your kids. While this might seem like a harsh decision, it may be the only way to make an alcoholic understand the gravity of their situation. If they are willing to get help, you should have suggestions on how to change their drinking habits or get treatment in cases that have become severe.
This is because they might not want to admit they have a problem or are ashamed of their heavy drinking. We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times.
When you approach your partner about your concerns, it is crucial that you are able to bring specific examples of how their drinking has negatively affected both of your lives. When you approach the conversation with love, understanding, and a deep desire to simply see your partner at their healthiest, productive conversations are much more likely to follow. Suffering from this disease produces a lot of guilt and shame, which often leads partners to dismiss the severity of their addiction. Learning about the disease model of AUD and what kind of treatment is required to sustain sobriety will equip you with both the knowledge and empathy needed to get your partner the help they need. It may also lead to a lack of individual social life as leaving your partner alone at home can cause more stress and anxiety than it’s worth to attend an event. You may feel like you must bargain to get your partner to events or ask them to monitor their drinking.
Online communities and local support groups offer additional avenues for connection, making it easier than ever to find a group that resonates with you. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep are foundational, but emotional self-care is just as important. Boundaries are not about punishment—they are about self-preservation and rebuilding a sense of agency in your life. These therapies focus on helping you reframe negative thought patterns and reduce the emotional intensity of distressing memories.
The unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 4.8% (not seasonally adjusted) in November 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
These data have been updated on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Unemployment in Transportation dashboard. In November 2024, the transportation sector unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points from 4.5% in November 2023 and was above the pre-pandemic November 2019 level of 3.3%. Unemployment in the transportation sector reached its highest level during the COVID-19 pandemic (15.7%) in May 2020 and July 2020.
Unemployment in the transportation sector was higher than overall unemployment. BLS reports that the U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, in November 2024 was 4.0% or 0.8 percentage points below the transportation sector rate. Seasonally adjusted, the U.S. unemployment rate in November 2024 was 4.2%.
Seasonally adjusted, employment in the transportation and warehousing sector rose to 6,627,200 in November 2024 — up 0.1% from the previous month and up 1.4% from November 2023. Employment in transportation and warehousing grew 15.5% in November 2024 from the pre-pandemic November 2019 level of 5,735,900. By mode (seasonally adjusted):
Two F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, fly over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln, flagship of Carrier Strike Group Three, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass
The Philippines held maritime drills with the United States and Japan inside its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, its military said on Friday, two days after a maritime confrontation with Beijing around a disputed shoal.
The drills, which brought together a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft, Philippine Navy ship BRP Andres Bonifacio and a C-90 small plane, and Japan’s Murasame-class destroyer JS Samidare, are the Philippines’ latest round of exercises with allies this year in the face of an increasingly assertive China.
The exercises were conducted “in a manner that is consistent with international law, and with due regard for the safety of navigation, and the rights and interests…
