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.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
USCGC Healy breaks ice for Russian-fagged Renda during the winter 2011 Nome, Alaska, emergency fuel delivery. The Renda was involved as a private commercial venture, and Russian government cooperation was not required. Future emergencies may require established relationships for government-to-government coordination. U.S. Coast Guard photo. andconferences.TheUSCGworksalongsideitscounterpartRussianagenciestoengageinfourvenues: • • • • TheInternationalMaritimeOrganization, TheArcticCouncil, TheArcticSecurityForcesRoundtable, TheSecurityandCooperationintheArcticConference. TheUSCGservesastheleadU.S.agencyattheIMO, wherethememberstatesjointlydevelopdesignprinciplesforshipsoperatingatthepoles,whicharethen incorporatedintonationallegislationbyeachmember stateandappliedtovesselsunderthatstate'sjurisdiction.Aforthcoming"PolarCode"willmandatesafety standards for ships operating in the Arctic.2 TheU.S.andRussiaaretwoofeightmemberstates intheArcticCouncil.TheUSCG,withexpertisein maritimeSAR,wasaninstrumentalcollaboratoron thecouncil's2011ArcticSARAgreement.3 Building onthataccomplishment,theArcticCouncilapproved acomparableagreementregardingmarinepollution. TheU.S.willchairtheArcticCouncilfrom2015to 2017,whichwilllikelyaffordUSCGoffcersachance toengageRussianoffcials,andincreasevisibilityfor theUSCGandallU.S.governmentagenciesinvolved withArcticissues. 74 Proceedings Summer 2013 AttheArcticSecurityForcesRoundtable,military generalandfagoffcersfrommorethaneightnations (includingRussiaandtheU.S.)worktogetheronArcticissuesofcommoninteresttomilitariesandcoast guards.TheU.S.andNorwayco-hostthismeeting, whichcoverstopicsthatareexpresslyexcludedfrom theArcticCouncil'smandate.Finally,theRussian SecurityCouncilhostsanannualsecurityandcooperationintheArcticconference.Itbringstogether diplomatic-levelrepresentativesfromtheeightArctic statesandisanexcellentopportunitytomeetRussian representativesfromagenciesfocusedontheArctic. Thenextgenerationofrelationshipswilllikelybe madeinforumssuchasthese. The Next Promising Opportunity AsArcticissuesandRussianinstitutionscontinue toevolve,thereisaspecificnewrelationshipthat involvestheRussianMinistryofTransportwhere theUSCGcouldseeanexcellentreturn.Thisisthe casewiththeNorthernSeaRouteAdministration, whichwasestablishedinthespringof2013tocentralizecontrolovericebreakers,searchandrescue response,navigationsafety,andmaritimedomain awarenessintheArctic.TheNorthernSeaRoutewill carryshipsthroughtheBeringStrait,andthisnew continued on page 76 www.uscg.mil/proceedings