COMMANDANTS EXPECTATIONS FOR INTERACTION WITH MARITIME

R 282216Z FEB 08 ZUI ASN-A00059000030
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-00//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 108/08
SUBJ:  COMMANDANTS EXPECTATIONS FOR INTERACTION WITH MARITIME
INDUSTRY
1. USCG ACTIVITIES INVOLVING U.S. AND FOREIGN PROFESSIONAL MARINERS
AND MARITIME ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH UTMOST
PROFESSIONALISM AND RESPECT. LICENSED AND DOCUMENTED MARINERS ARE
PROFESSIONALS WHO SHARE OUR INTERESTS IN A SAFE, SECURE, AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY COMPLIANT INDUSTRY.  ALEXANDER HAMILTONS CHARGE -
TO KEEP IN MIND THAT OUR COUNTRYMEN ARE FREE MEN, AND AS SUCH, ARE
IMPATIENT OF EVERYTHING THAT BEARS THE LEAST MARK OF A DOMINEERING
SPIRIT - APPLIES AS MUCH TODAY AS IT DID IN 1790 AND EQUALLY TO
INTERNATIONAL MARINERS AND OUR TRADING PARTNERS.
2. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE RECEIVED REPORTS FROM HIGHLY RESPECTED
PROFESSIONALS RECOUNTING COAST GUARD BOARDINGS, INSPECTIONS, AND
INVESTIGATIONS NOT DISPLAYING PROFESSIONALISM. ADDITIONALLY, SOME
HAVE SAID THEY LOST THE COMPLETE TRUST THEY ONCE HAD IN THE COAST
GUARD AND ARE FEARFUL OF RETRIBUTION IF THEY CHALLENGE THE COAST
GUARDS CONDUCT.
3. WE MUST CHANGE THIS PERCEPTION. AMERICAS POSITION IN THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY, PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, AND POST 9/11 SECURITY
ARE AT STAKE. THE NEED FOR MARITIME INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT COOPERATION
AND PARTNERSHIP HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT. THE COAST GUARDS
OBLIGATION TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF AMERICA IS SHARED BY THE
MARITIME INDUSTRY AND ENHANCED BY WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH
INDUSTRY AT ALL LEVELS. OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY WILL BE THE
HALLMARKS OF OUR MARITIME INTERACTION.
4. BOARDING TEAM MEMBERS, MARINE INSPECTORS, PORT STATE CONTROL
EXAMINERS, FACILITY EXAMINERS AND THEIR SUPERVISORS SHALL ENCOURAGE
OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH MARINERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF INDUSTRY.
5. DISRUPTION IN THE NORMAL FLOW OF COMMERCE IMPACTS MANY PARTIES
IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN. WE HAVE CLEARLY ESTABLISHED APPEAL PROCEDURES
WHEN WE MAKE A DECISION THAT COULD HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON A
LICENSED MARINER OR ON THE MARITIME INDUSTRY. THE EXERCISE OF
APPEAL IS A RIGHT WE STRONGLY SUPPORT. QUESTIONS, DIFFERENCES OF
PROFESSIONAL OPINION, AND APPEALS ARE NORMAL AND IMPROVE THE
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. WE MUST BE AS ACCEPTING OF THESE AS PRAISE.
ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS AT THE LOWEST LEVEL POSSIBLE AND BE
RESOURCEFUL IN DOING SO.
6. IN INSTANCES WHEN DECISIONS ARE APPEALED, UNIT COMMANDERS AND
SUPERVISORS MUST ACT WITH A NEUTRAL COMMON SENSE ATTITUDE; TIMELY
RESOLUTION IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO FACILITATING LEGITIMATE
COMMERCE.
7. AS COMMANDANT, I ACTIVELY ENGAGE THE CAPTAINS OF THE MARITIME
INDUSTRY IN ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS TO UNCOVER WHAT IS GOOD AND BAD
WITH OUR CURRENT PRACTICES SO IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE.  I EXPECT
SIMILAR MARITIME INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE COAST
GUARD FOLLOWED BY AGGRESSIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS PROBLEM AREAS.
FOLLOW ETHICS RULES AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT IN YOUR INTERACTIONS.
8. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, USCG SECTOR COMMANDERS SHALL SOLICIT CANDID
FEEDBACK FROM THE INDIVIDUAL MARINERS, INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION REPS,
AND FACILITY OPERATORS WHO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT STAKE IN MARINE
SAFETY, SECURITY, AND STEWARDSHIP. THIS FEEDBACK SHALL IDENTIFY
PENDING ISSUES NEEDING ACTION, BEST PRACTICES, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT CAN BE ACTED UPON.  DISTRICTS SHALL HOLD A SECTOR CONFERENCE
TO INCLUDE COTP/OCMI, PREVENTION AND RESPONSE REPS TO DISCUSS THE
FEEDBACK, DETERMINE A COURSE OF ACTION FOR THOSE THAT MERIT ACTION
AND THEN CLOSE THE LOOP WITH INDUSTRY ON ACTIONS TAKEN. NATIONAL
LEVEL RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL BE VETTED THROUGH AREA COMMANDERS AND
FORWARDED TO THE ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR MARINE SAFETY, SECURITY
AND STEWARDSHIP (CG-5) BY 1 JUNE 2008 FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE
COAST GUARDS MARINE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS. MY GOAL IS TO PURGE
THE PAST AND RESET FOR THE FUTURE. OPEN COMMUNICATION, CRITICAL
SELF-EXAMINATION, AND A WILLING TRANSPARENCY ARE HALLMARKS OF GREAT
ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE COAST GUARD.
9. I ALSO EXPECT USCG SECTOR COMMANDERS AND CUTTER COMMANDING
OFFICERS TO ENSURE BOARDING TEAMS, INSPECTORS, AND EXAMINERS
PROVIDE THE UNITS SENIOR LEADER CONTACT INFORMATION IF ASKED TO
VESSEL MASTERS, PORT ENGINEERS, AND FACILITY OPERATORS.
10. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, COAST GUARD REQUIREMENTS THAT LIMIT
VESSEL MOVEMENT (SUCH AS NO SAIL ORDERS, MAJOR CG-835S, ACTIONS
THAT WOULD DELAY ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES) ARE TO BE AFFIRMED BY THE
SECTOR CID AND REPORTED TO THE PREVENTION CHIEF, AS MANY ALREADY
DO. AT A MINIMUM, A COAST GUARD SUPERVISOR SHALL ENGAGE, BY PHONE,
RADIO, OR IN PERSON WITH THE MASTER, PORT ENGINEER, OR FACILITY
MANAGER TO DISCUSS THE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR
RESOLUTION. AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, USCG SECTOR COMMANDERS, MSU
COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND CUTTER COMMANDING OFFICERS SHALL BE
INFORMED OF ALL SUCH DISCUSSIONS.
11. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
12. ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
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