WASHINGTON, D.C., April 19, 2024 – His Excellency Wendall K. Jones, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, today met with Louis E. Sola, Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission, during which they discussed maritime issues of common interest to The Bahamas and the United States.
Specifically, Commissioner Sola and Ambassador Jones focused on the topics of maritime sustainability and port infrastructure enhancements as potential areas to work together. In addition, they discussed other potential opportunities for cooperation between the maritime sectors of both nations, such as regulatory measures and economic incentives that strengthen the maritime industry.
On November 15, 2018, Sola was nominated to the Federal Maritime Commission by President Donald Trump and was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 2, 2019. He was sworn into office on January 23, 2019, during the government shutdown for a five-year term expiring June 30, 2023. However, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 provided Sola up to two years holdover period to be replaced or renominated.
Sola has been actively advocating for the reduction of Green House Gases in maritime transport through greater efficiency and the use of alternate marine fuels by reaching out to stakeholders and government to form an Alternate Marine Fuels Challenge to reduce emissions. In an open letter to President Joe Biden, Sola called for the private sector to form an alternative marine fuel coalition ‘to determine the appropriate standards and benchmarks for seeking progress in decarbonisation’, which should also receive government financial support.
SOURCE: Wikipedia
