Dana Merkel focuses her practice on domestic and international marine transportation and environmental issues for clients worldwide. Clients include ship owners, operators, and managers; offshore construction companies; shippers, charterers; and terminals. Major areas of practice include:
- Compliance counseling under a myriad of international conventions and U.S. and foreign regulations
- Coastwise trade
- Offshore construction, oil & gas, and wind farm development
- Crew citizenship, including visa and entry issues
- Defense of administrative, civil, and criminal enforcement actions
- Internal investigations
- Pollution response
- Counseling on compliance and risk mitigation strategies
- Development of administrative and legislative solutions to maritime and environmental compliance challenges
- Vessel construction and flagging
- International trade and sanctions issues
Dana’s passion for the maritime industry began as a child growing up on Lake Superior, where she worked in marinas and on private yachts and small passenger vessels. She went on to graduate from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and worked through the International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots (“MMP”) as a Third Mate and Qualified Member of the Engine Department (“QMED”) on a variety of vessel types, including container, dry bulk, tanker, ro-ro, ice breaker, and research vessels. Dana also worked ashore managing crude and product transportation for a major U.S. oil company.
Dana conducts customized training sessions for clients and assists in creating and implementing effective compliance programs. She also writes and presents on issues impacting the maritime industry frequently, such as:
- “The Regulatory Landscape: Immigration & Employment for OSW,” at IPF Virtual, April 2020
- “The Broad Reach and Limitations of U.S. Forfeiture Law,” in Pratt’s Energy Law Report
- “Status of U.S. Jones Act and Its Implications to the U.S. Offshore Wind Industry,” at the 2020 U.S. Offshore Wind Round Table Discussion
- “Advances in Electronic Recordkeeping,” in Maritime Reporter
- “Opportunities and Challenges with Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS),” in Maritime Reporter
- “Let’s Talk Vessels (Construction and O&M),” at the 2019 Sea to Land Conference
- “New U.S. Effort in Strait of Hormuz Echoes Past Clashes with Iran,” in USNI News
- “MARPOL Compliance Alert: D.C. Court of Appeals Shuts the Door on APPS Relief,” in Mainbrace