Excerpt from
U.S. Coast Guard Proceedings
of the Marine Safety & Security Council magazine by LCDR Tony Maffia,
visual navigation signals management policy manager, U.S. Coast Guard Visual
Navigation Division; Mr. George H. Detweiler, Jr., marine transportation specialist,
U.S. Coast Guard Marine Transportation Systems Management Directorate; and Mr.
Burt Lahn, marine transportation specialist, U.S. Coast Guard Marine
Transportation Systems Management Directorate.
The United States Coast Guard
Office of Marine Transportation Systems Management develops and implements policies
and procedures that facilitate commerce, improve safety and efficiency, and
inspire dialogue within the maritime community to make our waterways safe,
efficient, and commercially viable.
One way we do this is by
establishing risk baselines that guide our decisions. Three tools that guide
these efforts:
- ports and waterways safety assessments,
- waterways analysis and management system studies,
- port access route studies.
Ports and Waterways Safety Assessments
The Coast Guard established
the ports and waterways safety assessment process to address waterway user
needs and place a greater emphasis on partnerships with industry. The process
involves convening a group of waterway users and stakeholders and conducting a
structured workshop to elicit their opinions.
Waterway Analysis and Management System Study
Our nation’s waterways
contain more than 100,000 aids to navigation—the buoys and beacons that provide
signals to maritime transportation system users. A waterway analysis and
management system study helps Coast Guard waterway managers review and improve
the system in a particular waterway. The study incorporates the perspectives of
major and/or frequent waterway users to identify the most effective aid mix
while anticipating needs for the future.
Port Access Route Studies
Permanent structures such as
oil rigs and offshore renewable energy installations may affect port traffic,
and areas like designated marine sanctuaries also must fit into this mix.
To manage this, the Coast
Guard may create traffic separation schemes. Through the port access route
study process, the Coast Guard consults with affected Native American tribes as
well as federal, state, and foreign state agencies (as appropriate) and
considers the views of maritime community representatives, environmental
groups, and other interested stakeholders.
Port access route studies
continue to identify critical changes in maritime traffic volumes or routes,
and allow the Coast Guard to implement sound vessel routing measures to ensure
safe passage in the off-shore approaches to our nation’s ports and harbors.
Full article is available at http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/spring2011/.
Subscribe online at http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/subscribe.asp.
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