Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2018)

The

Forward

Facing

About the Author

Dennis L. Bryant is with Bryant’s Mari-

GOVERNMENT UPDATE time Consulting, and a regular contribu- tor to Maritime Reporter & Engineering

Coast

News as well as online at MaritimePro- fessional.com. t: 1 352 692 5493 e: [email protected]

Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard has published its fort among all MTS stakeholders. As the systems and new and emerging alter- gies, training, and education needed to

Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook. lead federal agency protecting the MTS native fuels and propulsion systems. manage and conduct proper oversight.

This forward-facing document should be and the primary regulator of the mari- It intends to deliver enhanced marine This is undoubtedly the most dif? cult to read by everyone in the Coast Guard and time shipping industry, the Coast Guard safety information to provide mariners the three lines of effort facing the Coast by those associated with the U.S. mari- advances American prosperity through with real-time, accessible, and relevant Guard. Constant change is challenging time sector. It is intended to guide the securing ports and waterways that en- voyage planning data that will result in and unsettling to both institutions and

Service’s efforts in securing the strate- able commerce and ensuring vessels are more ef? cient, economical, and safer individuals.

gically critical maritime transportation subject to uniform, consistent standards. transits, while accelerating the integra- system (MTS) and the marine environ- It must seek a balance between risks tion of modern navigation systems such Summary ment. To accomplish this, the Coast and costs to support the ef? cient ? ow of as e-ATON into its system of buoys and I agree with the new Maritime Com-

Guard must be Semper Paratus – Always commerce while reducing the risk of dis- beacons. merce Strategic Outlook but have a few

Ready, as it has been for most of its 228 ruption to the MTS. To meet this chal- comments. The Outlook emphasizes years. The Coast Guard must also be rel- lenge, the Coast Guard will work to miti- Transforming Workforce Capacity maritime commerce (as the title implies) evant – ready and able to accomplish the gate risks to critical infrastructure; build and Partnerships but gives short shrift to other tradition- tasks important to the MTS and marine resiliency within the MTS; and enhance Given the increased demand on Amer- al missions of the Coast Guard such as environment. Finally, the Coast Guard unity of effort in the MTS. ica’s waterways, the Coast Guard must search and rescue (SAR), national de- must be responsive – performing its im- have a transforming workforce capabil- fense, and recreational boating. It also portant tasks when (or before) they are Modernizing Aids to Navigation and ity and strengthen linkages and partner- does not explain what role, if any, will most needed. Three major lines of ef- Mariner Information Systems ships to facilitate, safeguard, and ad- be played by the Coast Guard Auxiliary. fort have been identi? ed for meeting the The Coast Guard must build the infor- vance maritime commerce. It intends to It is possible, even likely, that the draft- challenges ahead: (1) Facilitating Lawful mation, digital, and physical infrastruc- leverage new technology to bene? cially ers of the Outlook viewed the document

Trade and Travel on Secure Waterways; ture to manage emerging sources of risk change the way the service conducts narrowly, not covering the full expanse (2) Modernizing Aids to Navigation and within America’s waterways brought compliance and oversight through ex- of Coast Guard missions, but this is a

Mariner Information Systems; and (3) about by the introduction of new tech- panded use of condition-based monitor- signi? cant document and is clearly in-

Transforming Workforce Capacity and nologies and operating constructs. It has ing, data, and analytics. A Coast Guard tended to guide Coast Guard efforts for

Partnerships. a responsibility to ensure America’s wa- mission-ready total workforce will pos- the near and mid-term. Other than the terways and maritime industry employ sess the technical expertise to effectively above, the Outlook goes a long way to-

Facilitating Lawful Trade and Travel innovative, state-of-the-art systems that audit and validate the new systems. It ward providing Coast Guard members on Secure Waterways ensure America’s competitiveness as a will work to recruit, develop, and retain and employees and those who work with

The Outlook states that the Coast global trading partner. It must also re- capable prevention and response profes- or are impacted by the service with a bet-

Guard’s role in enabling the uninterrupt- duce or mitigate risk for mariners, ves- sionals who can thrive in an environ- ter understanding of where this national ed ? ow of maritime commerce requires sels, and maritime resources. The Coast ment characterized by constant changes treasure is headed.

a multifaceted approach that includes Guard intends to support American in technology and tools. It will also ju- One is either the agent of change or managing risks to critical infrastructure; waterways to become the most techno- diciously leverage the use of third-party the subject of change. The U.S. Coast ensuring the ef? cient delivery of Coast logically advanced maritime transporta- organizations while ensuring that its own Guard has chosen to be forward-facing

Guard services; supporting uniform and tion system in the world by developing workforce retains the necessary compe- and an agent and facilitator of the chang- consistent vessel and facility standards; a workforce best able to meet the needs tencies, pro? ciency, and technical exper- es necessary to move the nation’s marine and promoting resiliency and unity of ef- of modern electronic, autonomous ship tise and is provided the doctrine, strate- transportation system into the future.

https://media.defense.gov/2018/Oct/05/2002049100/-1/-1/1/USCG%20MARITIME%20COMMERCE%20STRATEGIC%20OUTLOOK-RELEASABLE.PDF 10 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • NOVEMBER 2018

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