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.

Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/578020

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Navigation

Page 79 of 94

77 Fall 2015 Proceedings www.uscg.mil/proceedings including aids to navigation, waterways management, vessel traffic management, and maritime domain awareness. ■ Leverage existing and emerging technology to maxi- mize mariner safety while optimizing the balance between electronic and physical aids to navigation. To attain this balance, Coast Guard personnel will seek stakeholder engagement through aggressive outreach; use updated, data-driven analysis tools; increase marine safety information availability; and promulgate updated vessel carriage requirements. Preparedness The Energy Renaissance also requires evaluating current spill contingency plans to ensure that risks resulting from changes in energy production and transport are prop- erly addressed. A renewed emphasis on partnerships and interagency collaboration will also be necessary to develop response strategies to minimize harm to human health and the environment. Additionally, robust training and exercise programs must adapt to changing risk profles to ensure that frst respond- ers are prepared. Long-term investments in our prepared- ness capacity will be necessary to develop a robust corps of highly trained and experienced preparedness specialists with the expertise to develop comprehensive response plans and ensure compliance with federal and state environmen- tal laws. In light of the above, U.S. Coast Guard leaders will: ■ Continue to strengthen partnerships with the Environ- mental Protection Agency as well as the Departments fleet will emerge. These smaller vessels will make more frequent transits in coastal and inland waters, adding marine traffc to already congested waterways. With a greater number of vessels engaged in shorter- distance, higher-frequency transits, there will be a greater risk of collisions, allisions, and groundings, with increased potential for pollution incidents and greater maritime secu- rity risk. Also, in response to stricter require- ments to control air emissions from vessels and the availability of relatively inexpensive liquefed natural gas (LNG), there is signifcant industry interest in building new vessels that use LNG as a marine fuel for propulsion and power generation or converting existing diesel- powered vessels to use LNG. If signifcant expansion in LNG-powered ves- sels occurs, shoreside support infrastructure will likely expand to provide bunkers to fuel these vessels. This could involve liquefed natural gas bunker barges, fuel transfer from shoreside storage tanks, or using tank trucks or rail cars as mobile fueling sources. Much of this activity will occur in the Eighth Coast Guard District, but there will also be evolving energy activity in non-traditional port areas such as Albany, New York, which may present unique chal- lenges during heavy ice years. In light of the above U.S. Coast Guard leaders will: ■ Examine existing regulatory frameworks to position the Coast Guard to address the challenges associated with offshore exploration and production, liquefed hazard- ous gas (LHG) and LNG bunkering, vessel design, and crew training/certifcation requirements. ■ Continue to support domestic and international stan- dards bodies to develop requirements for LNG-fueled vessel design and LNG vessel bunkering procedures. ■ Review existing technical capabilities and seek appro- priate remedies to meet the strategic complexities envi- sioned in the evolving energy sector. ■ Review the servicewide personnel training curricula and develop updated personnel qualifcation standards that establish vessel and facility inspection require- ments and provide job aids to marine inspectors. ■ Re-assess the risk posed by LNG and LHG to the key port areas it transits and revisit whether such risk war- rants armed escorts or can be more appropriately miti- gated by other means. ■ Develop a new policy and concept of operations to facili- tate a safe and secure marine transportation system, Oil spill response team members force oily water into a skimmer. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Offcer Tom Atkeson.

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