Proceedings Of The Marine

FALL 2015

Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.

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76 Proceedings Fall 2015 www.uscg.mil/proceedings Offshore and inland domestic oil and gas production has hit record levels and may continue to grow. The corresponding increased demand on the U.S. marine transportation sys- tem to support the production and transportation of oil and gas, refned products and chemicals, and related manufac- tured goods will challenge the U.S. Coast Guard's capacity to ensure safety, security, and environmental stewardship in a way that will allow our nation to enjoy the full economic beneft of this American Energy Renaissance. To address these challenges, Coast Guard leaders collab- orated to ensure the U.S. Coast Guard is prepared. Their efforts, which include a strategic communications and engagement plan, a bridging strategy, and an evaluation of necessary resources, provide broad context for strategic, operational, and resource planning to form a scalable action plan to address increased energy production. The Plans The strategic communications and engagement plan: ■ highlights marine transportation system criticality in domestic energy exploration, exploitation, production, and transportation; ■ describes the Energy Renaissance's impact on the marine transportation system; ■ illustrates the Coast Guard's role in supporting safety, security, and environmental soundness for these activities. The plan also describes what the Coast Guard does to facili- tate energy-related commerce, including prevention, pre- paredness, and response efforts to ensure safe, secure, and environmentally responsible maritime activity. The bridging strategy provides organizational focus to high- light known gaps, outline options to address and mitigate our highest known risks, and recommend courses of action within our resource-constrained environment. Efforts will span the prevention/response spectrum and address such issues as workforce competencies, IT tools, fexibility for operational commanders to address greatest risks, using third-party organizations, engaging industry and inter- agency partners, response guidance for new energy uses and types of oils, and awareness of trends in oil exploration and transportation. Responding to Evolving Demands Coast Guard personnel will continue to leverage the multi- mission workforce and operationally fexible assets to miti- gate risk by actively patrolling and managing waterways; conducting vessel, cargo, and port facilities inspections for compliance with safety, security, and environmental stan- dards; preparing for and responding to incidents; and con- ducting investigations. Working with our interagency and international partners and all stakeholders, the U.S. Coast Guard must ensure that our governance, oversight, and operational approach to prevention, preparedness, and response remain effective, effcient, and relevant to the state of technology and level of activity. Prevention The U.S. domestic energy sector's expansion is predicted to have a ripple effect throughout the inland, Great Lakes, coastal, and offshore maritime industry. Given current trends in vessel and facility construction activity, it is likely that a larger, U.S.-fagged coastwise trade tanker and barge Prevention, Preparedness, Response The U.S. Coast Guard readies for America's Energy Renaissance. by lcdr MikE struthErs Program Analyst U.S. Coast Guard Offce of Performance Management and Assessment Planning for the Renaissance

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