Benjamin Robinson joined Chalos & Co. P.C. this month. Ben brings with him extensive experience in the maritime and transportation sectors.  During his two decades as an active duty officer in the Coast Guard, Ben served in both prosecution and defense roles and handled matters from the earliest stages of investigation through the appellate level. Notably, Ben served as the Coast Guard’s Deputy Chief of the Environmental Law Division, where he was the service’s subject matter expert in maritime environmental crimes, maritime pollution liability, and environmental regulatory matters.   Ben began his Coast Guard career as a vessel inspector with leadership experience in both the port state control and flag state vessel inspection missions.  He also led Coast Guard maritime accident investigations and litigated merchant mariner credential suspension and revocation proceedings.   Immediately before joining Chalos & Co., Ben was an attorney adviser with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, the federal agency charged with the economic regulation of rail, motor carrier, pipeline, and domestic ocean shipping transportation.

Ben was graduated cum laude from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with a B.S. in Marine Engineering and Shipyard Management and a Third Assistant Engineer’s License in 2004. He attended Seattle University School of Law where he was a member of the Editorial Board of the Seattle Journal of Environmental Law and was graduated cum laude.

Bar Memberships and Qualifications

Washington Bar Association (2011)
Maryland Courts (2024)
Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (2017)
Associate Member & current Salvage Committee Vice Chair, Maritime Law Association of the United States (2022 to present)
Third Assistant Engineer (2004-2009)
Professional Engineer in Training, N.Y. State (2004)

Recent Publications & Presentations

• The Right to a Jury Trial in Cases under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 22 Benedict’s Mar. Bull. 87 (2024)
• Maritime Environmental Enforcement: Past, Present, and Future, PROCEEDINGS-THE COAST GUARD JOURNAL OF SAFETY & SECURITY AT SEA (Fall 2022).
• Carbon and Compliance: Trends and Tension in the IMO’s Emerging De-carbonization Program, Proceedings-The Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea (Fall 2022)
• Clearing up the Bounds of “Clear Grounds:” The Past, Present and Future of the Port State Control Threshold for Intervention, 19 Benedict’s Mar. Bull. 120 (2021)
• “In Irons: Discipline and Identity in the Revenue Cutter Service,” presented at the McMullen Naval History Symposium, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, September 2023.
• “USCG Salvage Regulations & Legislative Proposals,” presented to the Salvage Committee of the Association of the U.S., August 2022.
• “Clear Grounds and the Fourth Amendment,” presented to the Marine Pollution and Maritime Crimes Committee of the Maritime Law Association of the U.S., May 2021.

• “Digitizing MARPOL” presented to the Marine Pollution and Maritime Crimes Committee of the Maritime Law Association of the U.S., May 2020.

Awards

• Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal (two awards)
• Coast Guard Commendation Medal (with Operational Distinguishing Device)(four awards)
• Commandant’s Letter of Commendation
• Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division Award of Appreciation (2022)