ALCOAST 131/09
COMDTNOTE 16700
SUBJ: NATIONAL CENTERS OF EXPERTISE (NCOE)
A. R 282326Z FEB 08 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC - ALCOAST 109/08
B. R 021523Z OCT 08 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC - ALCOAST 486/08
1. REF A STATED PLANS FOR MARINE SAFETY ENHANCEMENT EFFORTS
INCLUDING THE CREATION OF CENTERS OF EXPERTISE.  REF B HIGHLIGHTED
CENTERS OF EXPERTISE AS THE MOST VISIBLE COMPONENT OF OUR EFFORT TO
INCREASE COMPETENCY IN THE MARINE INSPECTION AND INVESTIGATION
DISCIPLINES.  THE PURPOSE OF THIS ALCOAST IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
ON THE DUTIES, ORGANIZATION, AND EXPECTATIONS FOR NATIONAL CENTERS
OF EXPERTISE (NCOE).
2. INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A TARGETED
REVITALIZATION OF TECHNICAL COMPETENCY AND EXPERTISE WITHIN MARINE
SAFETY TO KEEP PACE WITH EVER-INCREASING GROWTH AND COMPLEXITY IN
THE MARITIME INDUSTRY.  CREATING NCOES WILL PROVIDE KEY VENUES FOR
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXCHANGE BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND COAST
GUARD PERSONNEL.  BY FOCUSING ON SPECIALIZED AREAS OF INDUSTRY AND
ENHANCING COAST GUARD CAPABILITIES, NCOES WILL IMPROVE INSPECTOR
AND INVESTIGATOR COMPETENCIES WHILE PROMOTING NATIONWIDE
CONSISTENCY.  IN ADDITION TO THE NCOES FORMALLY ESTABLISHED 30SEP08
FOR CRUISE SHIPS AND SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION, THE FOLLOWING FIVE
NCOES WILL BE ESTABLISHED BY 30SEP09:
 A. TOWING VESSEL - PADUCAH, KY
 B. LIQUEFIED GAS CARRIER - PORT ARTHUR, TX  C. OUTER CONTINENTAL
SHELF - MORGAN CITY, LA  D. INVESTIGATIONS - NEW ORLEANS, LA  E.
VINTAGE VESSEL (E.G. STEAM PROPULSION OR RIVETED HULL) - DULUTH, MN
3. DEPENDENT UPON FUTURE FUNDING, ADDITIONAL NCOES ARE TENTATIVELY
BEING PLANNED.
4. NCOES WILL OPERATE INITIALLY AS DETACHMENTS UNDER COMDT
CG-546 (OFFICE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND TRAVELING
INSPECTORS) WITH FUTURE PLANS TO INTEGRATE INTO FORCECOM.
AT INITIAL OPERATING CONDITION (IOC), NCOES WILL BECOME THE
REPOSITORY OF COAST GUARD EXPERTISE AND BEST PRACTICES IN THEIR
PARTICULAR FIELD.  THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE:
 A. PROVIDING CONSULTATION CONCERNING UNIQUE DESIGN, EXAMINATION,
AND OPERATIONAL SITUATIONS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGULATIONS,
POLICY, DOCTRINE, AND/OR TTP AS REQUESTED.
 B. ESTABLISHING AND CULTIVATING ENHANCED WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND
PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS TO
INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING EXCHANGES AND JOINT TRAINING
INITIATIVES.
 C. WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO SEEK OUT, DEVELOP, AND IMPLEMENT
NON-REGULATORY SOLUTIONS AIMED AT ACHIEVING OUTCOMES DESCRIBED IN
THE MARINE SAFETY PERFORMANCE PLAN.
 D. MONITORING FIELD ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE UNIFORM
APPLICATION OF REGULATIONS, POLICY, DOCTRINE, AND TTP.
 E. ESTABLISHING SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR COLLOCATED
SECTOR/MSU TO BEGIN SHARING THE WORKLOAD IN THEIR AREA OF
EXPERTISE.
 F. DEVELOPING CURRICULUM FOR BOTH EXPORTABLE AND RESIDENT TRAINING
COURSES.
 G. IDENTIFYING, COORDINATING AND SUPERVISING OJT OPPORTUNITIES.
 H. SERVING AS PQS VERIFYING OFFICERS FOR THE COGNIZANT OFFICER IN
CHARGE, MARINE INSPECTION (OCMI).
5. UPON ACHIEVING FOC, NCOES WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND
UPON ALL FACETS OF THEIR CAPABILITIES LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 4 AS WELL
AS PROVIDE ON-SCENE INSPECTION/INVESTIGATION ASSISTANCE TO OTHER
COMMANDS.
PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING NCOE ON-SCENE ASSISTANCE WILL BE
PROMULGATED AT A LATER DATE.
6. PERSONNEL: WHILE SLIGHT DIFFERENCES IN NCOE BILLET STRUCTURES
EXIST, THEY WILL BE SUPERVISED BY AN O5 AND STAFFED WITH AN O4
ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR AND AT LEAST THREE CIVILIAN GS-12/13S.
(VINTAGE VESSELS AND SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION DEVIATE FROM THIS
MODEL.)  DURING FY09, A TOTAL OF 23 CIVILIAN POSITIONS WILL BE
HIRED TO POPULATE NCOES.
OUR HIRING EFFORTS WILL INCLUDE A NATIONWIDE RECRUITING DRIVE
TARGETING THE COMMERCIAL MARITIME SPECIALTY EACH NCOE ENCOMPASSES.
THESE POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED BY SEASONED CAREER SPECIALISTS AS
OPPOSED TO LADDERED TRAINEES.
7. ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATION CAN BE
RECEIVED FROM MY POC: CAPT GORDON LOEBL (COMDT CG-546)
TEL: 202.372.1190.
8. RDML JAMES A. WATSON, DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION POLICY SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.