Rear Adm. John Nadeau, assistant commandant for prevention policy, presented Mr. Walter Blessey, Jr. with a Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award during the American Waterways Operators’ Spring Convention, held in Washington, D.C. last week, for Blessey’s outstanding contributions to the inland marine transportation industry, including navigation safety, environmental stewardship, and homeland security.
The udpate to this NVIC provides additional course content guidance to merchant mariner training organizations that offer meteorology, ship handling, and bridge resource management courses.
The Inspections and Compliance Directorate issued Marine Safety Alert 04-19, “Confined Spaces: Silent & Invisible Killers” to remind mariners that despite decades of work by to improve confined space entry by maritime safety organizations, training institutions, and vessel owners/operators, the risks have not been eliminated. This is illustrated by a recent casualty where three persons were asphyxiated while working onboard a laid-up Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit. Although the investigation is not yet complete, the following information is being conveyed with the continued hope that it will highlight this hazard with the aim to prevent recurrence.
Every year, dangerous drug use disrupts or destroys the careers of hundreds of professional mariners, threatening safety throughout the maritime transportation system at the same time. U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Department of Transportation chemical testing continues to identify as dangerous drug users individuals with significant amounts of THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, metabolized into their system. Marijuana use remains criminal at the federal level under U.S. Code.
Featured articles highlight the evolution of the Coast Guard’s marine safety mission, a short history of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee, cybersecurity in the maritime domain, and more.
The Inspections and Compliance Directorate published Marine Safety Alert 03-19, “Have a regime when the current’s abeam: Ensure adequate maneuvering space,” to educate mariners following three recent marine casualties, one fatal, that resulted in the sinking of towing vessels on the Lower Mississippi River.
The workshop focused on providing the attendees with an in-depth understanding of Coast Guard liquefied gas carrier examinations. More importantly, the workshop afforded numerous opportunities for open dialogue and an information exchange between local Coast Guard marine examiners, Flag State and Class Surveyors in order to raise the awareness on key safety issues and common deficiencies.
Over 40 members of the chemical and gas industry, along with representatives of the Office of Design and Engineering Standards, and local Coast Guard marine inspectors, attended the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee public meetings at Sector Houston-Galveston, March 20-21, 2019 and discussed important issues related to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials.
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz will deliver the 2019 State of the Coast Guard Address, at 10 a.m., PST, Thursday, March 21, from Coast Guard Base Los Angeles/Long Beach. This is Schultz’s first State of the Coast Guard Address since his tenure as commandant began in 2018. Schultz will provide a current overview of the service and outline priorities for the year ahead.
