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/85854
ADM Robert J. Papp Jr. Commandant U.S. Coast Guard The Marine Safety & Security Council of the United States Coast Guard RADM Frederick J. Kenney Judge Advocate General Chairman RADM William D. Lee Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities Member Mr. Jeff Lantz Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards Member RDML Cari B. Thomas Assistant Commandant for Response Policy Member RDML Joseph Servidio Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy Member Mr. Dana A. Goward Director of Marine Transportation Systems Management Member Mr. Craig Bennett Director of National Pollution Funds Center Member RDML Stephen Metruck Assistant Commandant for 5HVRXUFHV &KLHI; )LQDQFLDO 2I¿ FHU Member RDML Karl Schultz Director for Governmental and Public Affairs Member LCDR Erin Ledford Executive Secretary Ms. Kathryn Sinniger Legal Advisor View Proceedings online at www.uscg.mil/proceedings 4 Assistant Commandant's Perspective by RDML JOSEPH A. SERVIDIO U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy The United States Coast Guard is this nation's premier marine safety organization. It has broad, multifaceted jurisdictional authorities, and in executing its marine safety and environ- mental protection responsibilities, the Coast Guard relies on the information it gleans from detailed marine incident investigations to assess mission effectiveness and formulate appro- priate responses to the ever-changing marine industry. Investigations and the resultant data, analysis, conclusions, and safety recommendations are key parts of the Prevention program and lay the foundation to develop new or improved safety standards. Following the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," the Coast Guard Prevention program has invested a lot of time and effort developing standards for ships, equipment, and personnel to ensure they operate safely. The Coast Guard reviews and approves plans for ship construction, repair, and alteration to ensure their designs comply ZLWK WKRVH VWDQGDUGV &RDVW; *XDUG À HOG SHUVRQQHO WKHQ LQVSHFW YHVVHOV PRELOH RIIVKRUH GULOO LQJ XQLWV DQG PDULQH IDFLOLWLHV IRU RSHUDWLRQDO FRPSOLDQFH VDIHW\ $ À QDO FRPSRQHQW RI WKH &RDVW; *XDUG·V 3UHYHQWLRQ SURJUDP LV WR WHVW DQG OLFHQVH PDULQHUV WR HQVXUH WKH\ DUH TXDOLÀ HG to operate within the scope of their assigned responsibilities. Sadly, despite all of these precautions, marine casualties continue. However, great strides are EHLQJ PDGH WR LPSURYH PDULWLPH VDIHW\ EDVHG RQ WKH À QGLQJV DQG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IURP marine investigations as well as improvements in our awareness of safety issues and our ability to interact with our many private and governmental partners to address those issues. For the past 20 years, for example, the Coast Guard has helped achieve continual improve- PHQWV WR FRPPHUFLDO À VKLQJ LQGXVWU\ VDIHW\ :LWK WKH PHUFLDO )LVKLQJ ,QGXVWU\ 6DIHW\ $FW RI LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI WKH &RP; HQDFWHG ODUJHO\ EDVHG RQ KLVWRULFDO &RDVW; *XDUG FDVXDOW\ GDWD DQG GXULQJ WKH SHULRG WR À VKLQJ YHVVHO UHODWHG IDWDOLWLHV DYHUDJHG SHU \HDU $V D UHVXOW RI &RDVW; *XDUG VDIHW\ UXOHV DQG WKH ODXQFK RI WKH &RDVW; *XDUG·V )LVKLQJ 9HVVHO 6DIHW\ 3URJUDP LQ IURP WKH IDWDOLW\ UDWH GURSSHG WR DQ DYHUDJH RI WR 7KHQ LQ WKHUH ZDV DQ XQXVXDO LQFUHDVH LQ À VKLQJ YHVVHO ORVVHV DQG GHDWKV LQ WKH 1RUWK east clamming industry, sparking in-depth Coast Guard investigations. The result: The Coast Guard established the Fishing Vessel Safety Task Force and developed new efforts to improve VDIHW\ $V D UHVXOW IURP WR WKH DYHUDJH IDWDOLW\ UDWH IRU WKLV LQGXVWU\ GURSSHG WR SHU \HDU $V ZH FRQVLGHU HYHQ RQH GHDWK XQDFFHSWDEOH WKH &RDVW; *XDUG FRQWLQXHV HIIRUWV WR LPSURYH VDIHW\ LQ WKH À VKLQJ YHVVHO LQGXVWU\ DQG WKURXJKRXW WKH PDULQH LQGXVWU\ 7KH &RDVW; *XDUG ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR UHO\ RQ PDULQH FDVXDOW\ LQYHVWLJDWLRQV IRU TXDQWLÀ DEOH feedback to further its marine safety mission. The reiterative feedback system it provides is in constant motion to offer long-term dividends to help the program maintain its prevention course and speed. Proceedings Fall 2012 www.uscg.mil/proceedings SHU \HDU