Page 8: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2015)

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Zeroing in on

Zukunft

The U.S. Coast Guard Commandant addresses a packed Passenger Vessel Association meet-

Joseph Keefe is the lead commentator of ing and outlines both the challenges and opportunities facing his organization.

MaritimeProfessional.com.

Long Beach, CA: Less than 12 hours af- cent proposals to revoke the Jones Act. ter the New England Patriots’ late game At the same time, he advised the gath- heroics stunned the Seattle Seahawks in ered crowd that the Coast Guard must

Super Bowl XLIX, U.S. Coast Guard have a relationship with commercial

Commandant Admiral Paul Zukunft maritime stakeholders, but not necessar- found himself facing a standing room ily a partnership. “We can’t be regulators only audience of Passenger Vessel As- and partners at the same time,” he said.

sociation (PVA) delegates, all thirsting Following his prepared remarks, to hear what the Coast Guard and the we asked Zukunft about the pending government’s regulatory sector had in so-called subchapter M towboat rules store for them in the coming months looming for as many as 4,000 previ- and years. Clearly, and despite some late ously uninspected inland vessels. Asked night celebrations (or tearful regrets), if operators could expect closure in this few, if any delegates slept in on Monday calendar year, the Commandant declined morning. to set a timeline for a ? nal rule, saying

For his part, and as a keynote speaker simply, “Subchapter M and the ballast for this year’s annual PVA Convention, water rules are among our top priorities

Zukunft, talking without notes, neatly right now.” led listeners through an informative, The presence of the Coast Guard’s 37-minute speech that touched upon chief executive at the annual PVA event where the Coast Guard has been, where underscored the important work happen- it is going and what that meant for the ing this week in Southern California, gathered stakeholders. hot button issue for PVA stakeholders – competence in these missions. Putting but also the Coast Guard’s commitment

Conceding that the nation’s ? fth uni- wouldn’t necessarily improve safety. emphasis to the point, he insisted, “The to be a part of that process. And, while formed service had taken a right turn to Along the way, ADM Zukunft out- COI should mean something to passen- some West Coast football fans could be take on an overweight maritime security lined what is likely to be a growing laun- ger vessel consumers.” But that won’t perhaps unhappy with Sunday’s ? nal mission in the messy wake of 9/11, he dry list of mission sets for his charges, be an easy task for today’s Coast Guard score, no one could say that ADM Zu- also declared – noting the $1 billion per not the least of which will include the which is increasingly losing experienced kunft hasn’t waded into the commercial day commerce passing through the local explosion of crude oil shipments (in- marine safety personnel to more high waterfront with his sleeves rolled up ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach – creasing from 2 million barrels annually paying private industry positions. and his ears open. To that job, he brings that the Coast Guard ultimately has the to more than 50 million barrels) on the Elsewhere, there are even bigger chal- surprising candor, competence, and the responsibility to not only protect com- U.S. marine highway system. And, while lenges. Even as the Arctic beckons to con? dence to believe in what’s to come merce, but also not to impede it. Those also pledging that he had no intention of oil and gas ? rms, Zukunft pointed out next. That’s more than a good start. remarks set the tone for what was to letting the Coast Guard “be the speed that a large passenger cruise vessel was – MarPro come next. bump that impedes that commerce,” he already planning a Northwest Passage

The nation’s 25th Commandant also acknowledged at the same time his re- transit this summer. Oil and gas explora- pledged to remain ever mindful of the sponsibilities to make sure that maritime tion will also come, he added, when it is

Coming in March impact of government regulations on the transportation is carried out in a safe and economically and operationally feasible. small businesses which make up a fair environmentally correct fashion. For all of it, the Coast Guard – itself suf-

In advance of the “State of the Coast share of PVA stakeholders. And with In order to do just that, however, he fering from a paucity of icebreaking ca-

Guard” Maritime Reporter & Engi- that, he distanced himself and the Coast added that the Coast Guard’s marine pacity – will have to be ready to respond neering News editor Greg Trauthwein

Guard from pending federal legislation safety mission had to evolve into a ca- when crisis strikes. It remains to be seen secured a one-on-one with U.S. Coast that would change the equipment and reer path, and not just a side trip on the the President and Congress will afford

Guard Commandant Admiral Paul the methods that small passenger ves- way to twenty years of service. Marine them the necessary dollars to get the job

Zukunft for exclusive insights on the sels would be required to handle rescue safety personnel, he said, would hence- done.

path, direction and speed of the U.S. situations underway. The proposed new forth increasingly spend at least eight Still relatively new to the Coast

Coast Guard moving forward. rules, which he said had circumvented to 10 years honing their craft in those Guard’s top job, the affable Zukunft nev- the Coast Guard, could cost vessel op- roles. Those words had to be music to ertheless isn’t afraid, in his own words,

Coming in the March 2015 edition erators hundreds of thousands of dollars the ears of a marine community that, to “to step on the third rail” once in a while. of Maritime Reporter & Engineering for new, out of water survival craft. Be- a certain extent over the last decade, has As a case in point, he once again warned

News.

yond this, the proposed regulations – a lost faith in the Coast Guard’s level of of the unintended consequences of re- 8 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2015

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