http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=26 The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site related to Maritime en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=26 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2429 Our report found that FRAs safety regulations for internal rail flaw testing did not require the railroads to report the specific track locationsmilepost numbers or track milestested during these types of inspections. We also found FRAs inspection data system did not provide adequate information for determining the extent to which FRAs track inspectors have reviewed the railroads records for internal rail flaw testing and visual track inspections to assess compliance with safety regulations.We recommended that FRA revise its track safety regulations for internal rail flaw testing to require the railroads to report all track locations (milepost numbers or track miles) covered during internal rail flaw testing. We also recommended that FRA revise its Track Safety Compliance Manual and inspection data system by including specific inspection activity codes for its track inspectors to report on whether the record reviews the inspectors conducted were for internal rail flaw testing or visual track inspections. FRA agreed with our recommendations and has either taken or planned corrective actions. Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2429 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2419 The Office of Inspector General will conduct an audit of the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) Title XI Loan Guarantee Program. The objective of this audit will be to determine whether MARAD is in compliance with the recommendations contained in our 2003 and 2004 audit reports on the Title XI Loan Guarantee Program. Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2419 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2302 The Office of Inspector General plans to conduct an audit of the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) Maritime Security Program (MSP). Under the MSP, vessel operators receive more than $150 million of subsidy annually for maintaining operational requirements in support of national defense requirements. Our audit objective will be to determine if payments to MSP contractors were reduced if the minimum operating requirements were not met. Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2302 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1417 We issued our final report on our audit of inactive obligations in MARAD. We found that MARAD had implemented an effective program to monitor and liquidate unneeded obligations. The number of inactive obligations had declined more than 80 percent, from 1,246 in March 1999 to 212 in December 2002. The audit identified $24.4 million in unneeded obligations, $24 million of which belonged to MARADs Title XI Loan Guarantee Program. Letter Commitments in MARADs Title XI Loan Guarantee Program were not subject to the Office of Accountings review. We recommended and MARAD agreed to have the Office of Accounting review the Letter Commitments annually. Thu, 30 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1417 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1419 We issued our final report of our followup audit of MARADs Title XI Loan Guarantee Program. We initiated this followup audit as a result of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriation passed by Congress on April 16, 2003. The bill provided $25 million for the costs of new Title XI loan guarantees, but prohibited the obligations of these funds until MARAD has implemented the recommendations in our 2003 report. Tue, 28 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1419 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1312 We issued a final report recommending that MARAD immediately pay $164 million of a $379 million invoice from the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation for FYs 19942000. MARAD is required to reimburse USDA for excess oceanfreight costs incurred by foodassistance programs administered by USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development as a cost of complying with cargopreference statutes. These laws require shipment on privately owned and operated U.S.flagged Merchant Marine vessels. Wed, 05 May 2004 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1312 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1211 We initiated a followup audit of MARADs Title XI loanguarantee program to review recently developed final procedures that address recommendations from our March 2003 audit. We will also verify that MARAD has satisfactorily implemented the procedures. Our March 2003 audit, done in response to congressional requests, found that MARAD needed to strengthen oversight of all phases of the loanguarantee process and made five recommendations.Congress appropriated $25 million to MARAD in April 2003 for new Title XI loan guarantees, but required that before MARAD can access those funds, we must certify the agency has satisfactorily implemented recommendations from our March audit report. Mon, 24 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1211 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1115 We issued a memo to the Administrator of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) regarding the December 2002 application of Lake Express LLC for a Title XI loan guarantee to build a highspeed ferry to provide service on Lake Michigan. As part of the appropriation to MARAD for new Title XI loan guarantees, we are required to certify that the recommendations in our March 27, 2003 report had been implemented before MARAD could access those funds. Although this certification applied to the newly appropriated funds, the Secretary decided that it would be prudent for MARAD to adhere to OIGs recommendations on any new commitments, even those funded by prioryear appropriations. We also received a congressional request to review the application. We found in Lake Expresss application: (1) no modifications to the loanguarantee approval that would require MARAD to impose compensating provisions to mitigate any added risk; and (2) consistent with our recommendation, MARAD retained an independent financial analyst to review Lake Expresss business plan and capitalization and a market analyst to review their market research and demand forecast. Mon, 23 Jun 2003 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1115 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1105 The Inspector General testified before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee regarding our March 27 report on the Maritime Administrations Title XI LoanGuarantee Program. The IGs testimony focused on significant reforms that are needed in the program, including increased financial security in situations where MARAD waives any financial requirement, outside independent reviewers of guarantee applications, closer monitoring of the financial condition of the borrowers over the course of the loan guarantee, and better oversight of the physical condition of the vessels or shipyards for both current and defaulted loans. MARAD Administrator Capt. William Schubert and GAO Managing Director Thomas McCool also testified. Thu, 05 Jun 2003 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1105 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1058 We publicly released our review of the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) Title XI LoanGuarantee Program, conducted in response to a congressional request. We found MARAD needs more effective oversight of the loanapplication process, borrowers, vessels and shipyards constructed under loan guarantees, and foreclosed assets. We recommended that MARAD: (1) analyze the risks presented when it modifies criteria used to approve loans and impose provisions to mitigate those risks; (2) establish processes for external independent reviews of projects; (3) improve oversight of its borrowers financial condition; and (4) establish a process to monitor the physical condition of assets over the term of a loan guarantee; and (5) improve its return on foreclosed assets through better tracking of vessels and property constructed with loan guarantees. MARAD agreed with our recommendations. Thu, 27 Mar 2003 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1058