U.S. DOT’s Acting Deputy Maritime Administrator to deliver a keynote Address at 6th North America’s Marine Highways Conference, April 1

NEWARK, NJ (March 12, 2009) — James E. Caponiti, Acting Deputy Maritime Administrator, U.S. Department of Transportation, will deliver a keynote opening address at the 6th Annual North America’s Marine Highways Conference, taking place April 1 and 2 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, Jacksonville, Florida.

“Are We There Yet?” is the theme of the event, produced by The Journal of Commerce Conferences (www.joc.com/conferences). Caponiti’s speech will begin at 9 a.m. on April 1.

James Caponiti began his Federal career in 1973 at the Cost of Living Council. He joined the Maritime Administration in 1974 — when it was under the Department of Commerce — as an Economist in the Office of Subsidy Administration.

Caponiti was appointed Acting Deputy Maritime Administrator in January of this year and is responsible for overseeing the full range of programs and management of the Maritime Administration. He also is the Chairman of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Planning Board for Ocean Shipping (PBOS), a position he has held since his election in October 1997. The NATO PBOS is responsible for developing and maintaining plans for civil shipping support to deploy NATO military forces during times of crisis and war.

His other Agency appointments include Senior Executive Service Assistant Administrator; SES Associate Administrator for National Security; Director, Office of Sealift Support; Chief, Division of Subsidy Analysis; Chief, Division of Subsidy Rates; Chief, Division of Ship Operating Costs; and Director, Office of Ship Operating Assistance.

In 1993, Caponiti served on a detail to the Merchant Marine Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he worked closely with its chairperson, Congressman William Lipinski, in developing legislation to revitalize the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Over the course of his career, Caponiti has earned a number of awards including the Maritime Administration's Bronze Medal Award for his outstanding contributions to the Operating-Differential Subsidy Program, the Department of Transportation’s Silver Medal Award for outstanding dedication and performance in advancing the Administration's merchant marine assistance programs and the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement Program; the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive; the Secretary of Transportation’s War on Terrorism Award; and the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive.

About the conference

The North America’s Marine Highways Conference will be vital for shippers, short-sea operators, ports and others. It will address when vessel operators should be able to move freight on coastal routes, rivers and the Great Lakes; the challenges and opportunities for short sea in North America; legislative, regulatory and technology developments; and commercial ventures as well as success stories regarding battling highway congestion.

Specific topics will include:

• America’s Deep Blue Highway

• The Green Highway

• Show Me the Money, Show Me the Ship

• Save the Intercoastal

• Operations – Hub and Spoke

• Operations – Point to Point

• Operations – Great Lakes

• Operations – Kick-start

To register for the 6th Annual North America’s Marine Highways Conference, contact JoC Conferences at (760) 294-5563, at events@joc.com or go to http://www.joc.com/conferences. For sponsorship information, contact Anne Morris at +1-818-341-3585 or at amorris@joc.com.