ALCOAST 109/08
COMDTNOTE 16700
SUBJ: COAST GUARD MARINE SAFETY PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
A.  ALCOAST 490/07, R 162005Z OCT 07
B.  ALCOAST 103/08, R 271708Z FEB 08
1. REF A ANNOUNCED THE COMMANDANTS COMMITMENT AND PLAN TO ENHANCE
THE MARINE SAFETY PROGRAM. THIS ALCOAST ANNOUNCES IMMEDIATE STEPS,
DIRECTED BY THE COMMANDANT, THAT ARE BEING TAKEN IN FY08 TO INJECT
CRITICAL CIVILIAN MARINE SAFETY EXPERTISE TO THE SECTORS. THE
PERSONNEL ADDITIONS ARE A DOWN-PAYMENT ON AN AMBITIOUS MULTI-YEAR
RESOURCE PLAN PROJECTED TO ADD HUNDREDS OF MARINE SAFETY BILLETS TO
ALIGN OUR WORKFORCE WITH THE EVER GROWING MARINE INDUSTRY
COMPLIANCE WORKLOAD.
2. THE FOCUS OF THE INITIAL DISTRIBUTION OF 30 BILLETS (PER REF B)
IS TWO-FOLD. THE MAJORITY (24 BILLETS) WILL SERVE AS TRAINING
OFFICERS AND SENIOR MARINE INSPECTORS AT SELECTED SECTORS AND MSUS.
THESE BILLETS WILL BE FILLED WITH EXPERIENCED MARINE SAFETY
PROFESSIONALS WITH PROGRAM DEPTH, CONTINUITY AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
THAT WILL PROVIDE STABILITY FOR THE LOCAL MARITIME COMMUNITY AND BE
AN ASSET FOR SECTOR LEADERSHIP. IN THEIR TRAINING ROLE, THE
CIVILIAN CADRE WILL GREATLY BENEFIT MILITARY MEMBERS NEW TO THE
MARINE INSPECTION (MI) MISSION. MILITARY MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO
COMPRISE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE WORKFORCE AS WE STRIVE TO
ACHIEVE THE OPTIMAL WORKFORCE COMPOSITION.
3. THE REMAINING SIX ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WILL PROVIDE CIVILIANS TO
STAND UP CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE (COES) FOR CRUISE SHIP EXAMINATIONS
AND SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION INVESTIGATION. THE COE FOR CRUISE
SHIPS WILL ENHANCE SECTOR MIAMIS CURRENT CONTROL VERIFICATION EXAM
SCHOOL, WHICH HAS PROVIDED CRITICAL LARGE PASSENGER VESSEL HANDS-ON
TRAINING FOR YEARS WITHOUT PERMANENT FUNDING OR INSTRUCTORS. THE
COE FOR SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION INVESTIGATIONS WILL TRAIN COAST
GUARD INVESTIGATORS ON THE NUANCES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT ALL MERCHANT MARINERS RECEIVE FAIR
TREATMENT. THIS COE IS TENTATIVELY PLANNED TO BE LOCATED NEAR THE
NATIONAL MARITIME CENTER IN MARTINSBURG, WV IN ORDER TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF SYNERGIES WITH THE CREDENTIALING PROCESS. THESE
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE ARE THE FIRST OF SEVERAL THAT WE INTEND TO
RESOURCE AND COLLECTIVELY THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL
ENHANCEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR OUR MARINE INSPECTORS.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES INCLUDE AN UPDATED
TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION SYSTEM (ALREADY UNDERWAY) AND
REVITALIZATION OF THE INDUSTRY TRAINING PROGRAM.
4.  WE CONTINUE TO EXAMINE AND WORK ON THE CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION
EXPRESSED TO MULTIPLE LEVELS OF THE CG. RETIRED VICE ADMIRAL JAMES
CARD RECENTLY COMPLETED AN INDEPENDENT STUDY TO ASSESS INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE MARINE SAFETY PROGRAM. HIS REPORT,
WHICH HAS BEEN POSTED ON CG HOMEPORT UNDER THE MARINE SAFETY TAB,
CLEARLY INDICATES THAT BOLSTERING OF MI COMPETENCY AND SERVICE
DELIVERY ARE URGENTLY NEEDED. MERCHANT MARINER LICENSING AND
DOCUMENTATION (MMLD) IMPROVEMENTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY ARE AN EXAMPLE
OF HOW WE WILL FIX SOME LONGSTANDING COMPLAINTS. ULTIMATELY,
HOWEVER, THE SOLUTION ALSO REQUIRES A WILLINGNESS TO INTERACT
CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH THE MARITIME COMMUNITY. THE COMMANDANT HAS
PERSONALLY ENGAGED SENIOR LEADERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR THIS
PURPOSE AND SENIOR CG LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS ARE ENCOURAGED TO
INCREASE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL/REGIONAL MARINE SAFETY
FORUMS. I ENCOURAGE ALL LEADERS TO REVIEW THE OBJECTIVES AND
MILESTONES ON THE MARINE SAFETY PROGRAM PROGRESS CHART. THE CHART,
ALONG WITH THE OVERALL PLAN TO IMPROVE MARINE SAFETY, IS POSTED
UNDER THE MARINE SAFETY TAB ON HOMEPORT AT
HTTP://HOMEPORT.USCG.MIL, AND WILL BE PERIODICALLY UPDATED.
5.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.