Jeff R. Vogel

Practice Areas

Jeff focuses his practice on strategic and operational matters affecting the United States maritime industry and on government contracts across all industries. In the maritime space, Jeff routinely represents ocean carriers, maritime industry groups, and marine terminal operators in regulatory and financial matters before the Maritime Administration (MARAD), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM). He provides counsel on a wide range of federal maritime programs, including the Maritime Security Program (MSP), Cargo Preference, Title XI Federal Ship Financing Program, Capital Construction Fund (CCF), Construction Reserve Fund (CRF), and Deepwater Ports licensing. He regularly advises vessel operators regarding regulatory and contractual issues arising under the Jones Act, Passenger Vessel Services Act, Dredging Statute, and American Fisheries Act (AFA), ensuring compliance with U.S. citizenship and vessel documentation requirements.

Jeff regularly oversees complex transactions involving the reflag of vessels in to and out of the United States, including use of the MSP expedited reflag process and corresponding USCG Navigation and Inspection Circular 01-13. As part of this practice, Jeff counsels clients on the use of statutory trusts and negotiates bareboat charters, time charters, and financing agreements to meet his clients’ needs.

As part of his transactional practice, Jeff has overseen the negotiation and administration of countless vessel construction contracts for both commercial and government shipbuilding projects. Notably, Jeff has served as counsel to the government’s first vessel construction manager, overseeing the construction of the National Security Multi-Mission Vessels, which serve as the next-generation platform for U.S. merchant mariners.

In addition to his traditional maritime work, Jeff oversees Cozen O’Connor’s government contracts practice, through which he counsels clients on all major maritime and sealift contracts, including the Universal Services Contract–9, MARAD and Military Sealift Command (MSC) ship manager and general agent contracts, the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement, the Voluntary Tanker Agreement, and MSC time and voyage charters.

A significant portion of Jeff’s practice is also dedicated to serving as general and compliance counsel for multiple national maritime industry groups that represent the interests of U.S. marine terminal operators and U.S.-flag vessel operators. In this capacity, Jeff ensures that these organizations operate in compliance with U.S. and international competitions laws, and advises such organizations on cutting-edge maritime legislative and regulatory matters.

Prior to joining the Cozen O’Connor, Jeff worked at MARAD as the Acting Assistant Chief Counsel for Maritime Programs and Lead Attorney for Maritime Support Programs, where he led a team of attorneys overseeing all legal aspects of MARAD’s national security and financial programs including MSP, Cargo Preference, Title XI, CCF, CRF, and the Jones Act.

Professional Memberships

President, International Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Washington, DC;

Maritime Law Association of the United States

Publications

“US Midterm Elections Bring Changes, Uncertainty in Congressional Maritime Leadership,” Marine News, November 4, 2022

“Congress, GAO Set Their Focus on Cargo Preference Fixes,” Maritime Logistics Professional, November 4, 2022

“Maritime Antitrust Immunity in Crosshairs,” Marine News, April 7, 2022.

“Feds Struggle to Address Supply Chain Capacity Issues,” Marine News, November 2, 2021

“Dredging Up Federal Funding for Inland Ports and Waterways,” Marine News, August 25, 2021

“Ready Your Salad Fork for Biden’s Offshore Energy Plans,” Marine News, April 1, 2021