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:

• Why thousands of drug, alcohol, and misconduct cases were never properly tracked
• How multiple Coast Guard databases failed to speak to each other
• What the new MEAM digital enforcement system means in practice
• Why mariners will now have direct online access to their own case files
• And how increased transparency will impact Port State Control, crew vetting, detentions, and legal exposure

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.