On August 12, 2025, Alaska Marine Lines, which operates barge services to Hawaii and Alaska, announced that it will no longer ship electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) on its vessels. The prohibition on EVs and PHEVs took effect immediately for barges to Hawaii, Central Alaska, and Western Alaska, and took effect on September 1 for barges to Southeast Alaska. The company attributed the change to “the increased complexity and fire risk associated with shipping large lithium-ion batteries on vessels at sea.” EV fires pose unique difficulty for firefighters, ranging from the difficulty of extinguishing the fire to the gases released. The announcement comes about two months after a cargo ship carrying thousands of new vehicles, including EVs and PHEVs, caught fire off the coast of Alaska and burned for weeks before eventually sinking.Continue Reading Alaskan and Hawaiian Barges Will No Longer Carry EVs Due to Concerns Regarding Fires
Crowell Presents on Maritime Compliance Webinar
This May, Crowell’s Erik Woodhouse spoke on a panel hosted by Windward/RUSI Centre for Finance & Security that explored the implications of the 2025 OFAC maritime sanctions advisory for compliance in the maritime sector. Erik is an International Trade partner and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions
Department of Justice Launches Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force
On March 27, 2025, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced the launch of an Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force, described as an initiative dedicated to eliminating “anticompetitive state and federal laws and regulations that undermine free market competition.” The creation of the task force follows President Trump’s signing of Executive Order (EO) 14192, which advocates for executive policy that alleviates “unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on the American people.” The EO instructs federal agencies to review all regulations that impose burdens on small businesses and interfere with private enterprise.Continue Reading Department of Justice Launches Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force
United States Trade Representative Proposes Actions, Requests Comments on China’s Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors
On February 21, 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced its proposed actions following the Section 301 investigation of China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. To learn more, read Crowell’s International Trade Law blog post USTR Proposes Actions, Requests Comments on China’s Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding
New Russia Sanctions Imposed by EU and UK, but Not the US
The EU and UK released new sanctions against Russia on February 24, 2025, including related to the maritime, trade, infrastructure, and financial services sectors, to mark the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For the first time, the United States did not do the same. To learn more, read our Client Alert Coalition