I recently spent four days on a commercial vessel while it transited from port to port delivering cargo. As a former mariner I really enjoyed being back out at sea, but I quickly realized how much has changed for the life of a mariner.
While an old sailor may think that STCW work hour restrictions and modern technology, i.e., global telecom and computerization, have made life at sea a tad less taxing mentally and physically, they would be wrong. While the mariner 35+ years ago worked without hour restrictions and did not have an iPhone to stay in touch with family or friends, shore leave was easier and work contracts were shorter.
Today, the fast pace of in-port cargo operations and visa restrictions make port leave a thing of the past for most mariners. On top of that, contract lengths are now generally six months for officers and nine months for ratings.
In short, life at sea is hard. One mariner said to me during the transit, “it would be nice to get a call every so often asking me how I’m doing.”
I know there are many organizations that support seafarers and hats off to them. More can be done by other stakeholders. If you are sitting at your desk and you have the phone number of a mariner, call them up this New Year and ask how they are doing. You will be surprised how much that small gesture means to them.
Blank Rome Maritime Group Named 2025 Transport – Shipping Firm of the Year in Annual Lexology Index Awards
Blank Rome has been named the Transport – Shipping Firm of the Year in the 2025 Lexology Index Awards. Lexology presents the Index Awards to individuals and firms that demonstrate exceptional performance based on the publication’s independent research. Only one firm is honored in each featured practice area. Read More >>>
Blank Rome Highly Ranked in Best Lawyers® 2026 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
Blank Rome was ranked nationally in 28 practice areas and regionally in 100 practice areas in the 2026 edition of “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers®. The firm was ranked Tier 1 nationally in Admiralty and Maritime Law, as well as Tier One regionally in Houston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Read More »
Keith B. Letourneau Named Maritime Attorney of the Year by Texas Lawyer
Partner Keith B. Letourneau has been named Maritime Attorney of the Year by Texas Lawyer and Law.com as part of the 2025 Texas Legal Awards. The Texas Legal Awards honor individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the legal profession and to the state of Texas. The Maritime Attorney of the Year award recognizes a legal professional who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and achieved significant success in maritime law over the past year. Read More »
Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Best Lawyers in America®
Blank Rome was recognized in the 2026 Best Lawyers in America survey, which ranked 235 firm attorneys in the annual categories of “Lawyers of the Year,” “Ones to Watch,” and “Best Lawyers” in 60 practice groups across 14 regions. Partners Keith B. Letourneau and Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., were recognized in the “Lawyers of the Year” category for Admiralty and Maritime Law in Houston and New York City, respectively. Additionally, 14 Maritime attorneys were recognized as “Best Lawyers.” Read More »
Chambers USA 2025 Honors Blank Rome Maritime Attorneys and Practices
Chambers USA 2025 nationally ranked Blank Rome’s Maritime practice and attorneys in the following areas:
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (New York) – #1 ranking
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York) – #1 ranking
The firm’s ranked Maritime attorneys include: Thomas H. Belknap, Michael Bell, William R. Bennett, Jeanne Grasso, John D. Kimball, Keith B. Letourneau, Richard Singleton, Anthony Salgado, Douglas Shoemaker, Matthew J. Thomas, and Jonathan K. Waldron. Read More »
Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices Highly Ranked in The Legal 500 United States 2025
Blank Rome’s Maritime group and attorneys have been highly ranked and recommended in The Legal 500 United States 2025. Researchers at The Legal 500 conduct annual, in-depth market research and gather information from individual law firms as well as feedback from peers and clients to form an objective analysis and prepare comprehensive rankings and editorial of the U.S. legal market.Read More »
Trump Administration Resource Hub
We invite you to visit our Trump Administration Resource Hub to explore our thought leadership provided by a team of attorneys dedicated to providing comprehensive analysis and actionable insights to help navigate the complexities and opportunities presented by the administration’s executive orders, policies, and regulatory changes.
Appellate Insights: Winning on Appeal
We are excited to introduce a new issue of Blank Rome Appellate Insights: Winning on Appeal, a monthly digital newsletter dedicated to appellate law. This publication highlights significant appellate court decisions, as well as trends and developments shaping litigation strategy across the country. In each issue, readers will find timely analysis, case spotlights, and commentary from our experienced Appellate Litigation team. To read the latest edition of Appellate Insights: Winning on Appeal, please click here.
The BR International Trade Report
The January 2026 issue of The BR International Trade Report, Blank Rome’s monthly digital newsletter, highlights international trade, sanctions, cross-border investment, geopolitical risk issues, trends, and laws impacting businesses domestically and abroad. Click here to read it.
The BR Privacy & Security Download
We invite you to read our January 2026 edition of The BR Privacy & Security Download, the monthly digital newsletter of Blank Rome’s Privacy, Security & Data Protection practice, which covers current trends and updates in the areas of state, local, and federal laws and regulations, U.S. litigation and enforcement, and international laws and regulations, as well as the group’s recent events and webinars, media activity, and news. To view the latest edition of The BR Privacy & Security Download, please click here.
The seafarers of today’s global fleet are the lifeblood of our industry, working tirelessly to keep ships operating safely from port to port. “Perseverance” may not be the first word that comes to mind when asked to describe a mariner. Yet, it may be the most accurate when taking into account the time most mariners spend at sea, working away from family and friends for months on end, through heavy storms and rough seas. Working at sea is a grind. And there are no vacation days to recalibrate or take a deep breath.
It is my belief that it is up to us: the onshore maritime community that benefits from those who go to sea, to support our seafarers whenever we can. One way to help is to donate your time or money to an association that directly helps mariners. This year, the Seamen’s Church Institute (“SCI”) will hosted its Mountain Challenge from September 25 to 28 at Sunday River Resort in Maine. More than 50 teams of three maritime industry professionals will compete in challenges that involve hiking more than 30 miles of rugged terrain, mastering obstacles, and canoeing the Androscoggin River. Perseverance is a must to complete the course.
The goal is not to win, but to raise funds to benefit SCI and its noble mission of compassionately serving mariners and seafarers. If you wish to support an SCI Mountain Challenge team, more details and information on how to donate are available here: scimountainchallenge.org.
Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Best Lawyers in America®
Blank Rome was recognized in the 2026 Best Lawyers in America survey, which ranked 235 firm attorneys in the annual categories of “Lawyers of the Year,” “Ones to Watch,” and “Best Lawyers” in 60 practice groups across 14 regions. Partners Keith B. Letourneau and Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., were recognized in the “Lawyers of the Year” category for Admiralty and Maritime Law in Houston and New York City, respectively. Additionally, 14 Maritime attorneys were recognized as “Best Lawyers.”Read More »
Jeanne M. Grasso Recognized in Corporate Counsel’s 2025 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards
Partner Jeanne M. Grasso was recognized in Corporate Counsel’s 2025 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards as a winner in the Law Firm Lifetime Achievement category. This distinguished honor recognizes women who, through years of dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment, have profoundly impacted the legal profession by excelling in their careers, breaking barriers, advocating for change, and paving the way for future generations.
Chambers USA 2025 Honors Blank Rome Maritime Attorneys and Practices
Chambers USA 2025 nationally ranked Blank Rome’s Maritime practice and attorneys in the following areas:
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (New York) – #1 ranking
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York) – #1 ranking
The firm’s ranked Maritime attorneys include: Thomas H. Belknap, Michael Bell, William R. Bennett, Jeanne Grasso, John D. Kimball, Keith B. Letourneau, Richard Singleton, Anthony Salgado, Douglas Shoemaker, Matthew J. Thomas, and Jonathan K. Waldron.Read More »
Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices Highly Ranked in The Legal 500 United States 2025
Blank Rome’s Maritime group and attorneys have been highly ranked and recommended in The Legal 500 United States 2025. Researchers at The Legal 500 conduct annual, in-depth market research and gather information from individual law firms as well as feedback from peers and clients to form an objective analysis and prepare comprehensive rankings and editorial of the U.S. legal market. Read More »
We invite you to visit our Trump Administration Resource Hub to explore our thought leadership provided by a team of attorneys dedicated to providing comprehensive analysis and actionable insights to help navigate the complexities and opportunities presented by the administration’s executive orders, policies, and regulatory changes.
Appellate Insights: Winning on Appeal
We are excited to introduce Blank Rome Appellate Insights: Winning on Appeal, a monthly digital newsletter dedicated to appellate law. This publication highlights significant appellate court decisions, as well as trends and developments shaping litigation strategy across the country. In each issue, readers will find timely analysis, case spotlights, and commentary from our experienced Appellate Litigation team. To read the September edition of Appellate Insights: Winning on Appeal, please click here.
The BR International Trade Report
The September 2025 issue of The BR International Trade Report, Blank Rome’s monthly digital newsletter, highlights international trade, sanctions, cross-border investment, geopolitical risk issues, trends, and laws impacting businesses domestically and abroad. Click here to read it.
The BR Privacy & Security Download
We invite you to read our October 2025 edition of The BR Privacy & Security Download, the monthly digital newsletter of Blank Rome’s Privacy, Security & Data Protection practice, which covers current trends and updates in the areas of state, local, and federal laws and regulations, U.S. litigation and enforcement, and international laws and regulations, as well as the group’s recent events and webinars, media activity, and news. To view The BR Privacy & Security Download, please click here.
The maritime industry, as a whole, is extremely collegial and driven by personal relationships. I have been very lucky to have developed so many personal friendships that grew from business relationships. In particular, as a maritime lawyer, I have been fortunate to have travelled to many places, near and far, and have worked with many impressive people across the globe. One of those people was Jim Lawrence. For those who did not have the pleasure of knowing Jim, he was, among other things, the founder of MTI Network, and led Marine Money’s and the Connecticut Maritime Association’s annual conferences.
I first became acquainted with Jim when he emceed the annual Admirals’ Dinner at SUNY Maritime College. Laughter came easy while Jim spoke. Jim’s accomplishments and reputation preceded him well before I got to know him better in 2015 while we both were working on the El Faro matter. The knowledge and guidance Jim provided to his clients during times of crisis was invaluable. Jim’s smile and sunny disposition were, to me, his hallmark during those times of crisis.
On behalf of the Blank Rome Maritime team, thank you Jim for your friendship. Our crew is one less, we sail shorthanded, and so we mourn, but to Jim we say:
The firm’s ranked Maritime attorneys include: Thomas H. Belknap, Michael Bell, William R. Bennett, Jeanne Grasso, John D. Kimball, Keith B. Letourneau, Richard Singleton, Anthony Salgado, Douglas Shoemaker, Matthew J. Thomas, and Jonathan K. Waldron.Read More »
Blank Rome Global Leader: Chambers Global 2025 Ranks Blank Rome Attorneys and Shipping, Energy, International Trade, and Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practices
Chambers Global 2025 recognized Blank Rome as a global leader in Shipping: Litigation, as well as Maritime partner John D. Kimball describing him as “an experienced practitioner who handles complex shipping disputes. His practice sees him work on commercial and environmental litigation, among other disputes.”Read More »
When you start at the bottom there is a lot of room for growth!
“We now have promise that the shipbuilding industry will flourish again, and that the skills possessed by its trained personnel will not be lost to the industry. We have promise that the American Merchant Marine will be equipped with the number and types of vessels necessary for our international trade and our national security.” That statement was included in a message published by President Harry S. Truman on August 18, 1948.
WWII led to a massive shipbuilding program in the United States, producing over 5,500 vessels over a few years time, including the famous Liberty ships. By 1948 the fleet had been reduced to around 2,500 ships. And, notwithstanding President Truman’s statement in 1948, seven years later, the American merchant marine deep-sea fleet was cut in half to 1075 ships.
Today, the United States builds about 0.2 percent of the world’s tonnage annually, while China, Japan, and Korea build 90 percent of the world’s tonnage.
The infrastructure, financing, legislation, and training that will be required to resurrect shipbuilding in the United States will need sustained unwavering support from federal, state, and local governments with significant cooperation from the private sector. Absent an “all-hands-on-deck” movement that lasts for a decade or more, history will repeat itself and American ship building will not progress.
Blank Rome Maritime is excited for the future of shipbuilding in the United States and has a team prepared to provide legal services to clients financing and building new vessels.
Blank Rome Global Leader: Chambers Global 2025 Ranks Blank Rome Attorneys and Shipping, Energy, International Trade, and Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practices
Chambers Global 2025 recognized Blank Rome as a global leader in Shipping: Litigation, as well as Maritime partner John D. Kimball describing him as “an experienced practitioner who handles complex shipping disputes. His practice sees him work on commercial and environmental litigation, among other disputes.” Read More »
Political turmoil in the United States, war in the Middle East, and invasion and occupation in Europe. The time period: 1973–74; which confirms the aphorism that Winston Churchill repeated in a speech he gave in 1948 to the British House of Commons, that “those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” If you were H. G. Wells’ Time Traveler and transported in time from 1974 to 2024 and began reading headlines in the newspaper you would be reasonable to conclude that not much has changed. However, if you were a shipping man in 1974 and joined the Time Traveler, you would notice massive change.
In 1974, vessels built in the United States, Great Britain, and Denmark dominated the list of new ship buildings with no mention of China. Today, vessels built in China dominate the list of new launches. And, in 1974 the largest container ship in the world was the Hamburg Express with a capacity of 2984 twenty-foot equivalent units (“TEUs”). Today, the largest container ship in the world is the MSC Irina with a capacity of 24,346 TEU–a whopping increase of 800 percent. But, the most important changes that have occurred in the maritime industry involve the rules, regulations, and norms of the international maritime shipping community focused on safety, starting with the 1974 SOLAS Convention, which specified minimum safety standards for the construction, equipment, and operation of ships.
Change for the sake of change is rarely beneficial. Thoughtful and purposeful change directed by the stakeholders in any venture typically ends with positive results. The maritime industry is a great example. The rules, regulations, conventions, and industry norms promulgated and promoted by the international shipping community–International Maritime Organization, Flag State, classification societies, owners, managers, etc.,—which primarily focus on safety of personnel, the environment, and the vessel, while also considering the commercial implications of such rules, have been extremely effective since 1974 in reducing harm to personnel, the environment, and vessels and, consequently—in my humble opinion—the maritime industry is a model for other industries to follow when change is necessary.
