US Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen
US Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen said in a recent email:
“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 Hamilton’s 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 .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 Guard’s conduct.”
The complete text of Admiral Allen’s comments are HERE. Wired.com blog post: Coasties Get Sloppy Around Boaters It should be noted that my experiences with boarding teams have been positive. While Coasties do put on a game face when conducting boardings they are by in large fair in their approach. Voyages are terminated in only the most egregious of circumstances.
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This post was written by Richard Rodriguez, Rescue Tug Captain, and US Coast Guard approved instructor for License Training. You can read more of his articles at the BitterEnd
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1 response so far ↓
1 john.denham // Mar 9, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Perusal of the Commandants ALCOAST 108/08, is worthwhile. It not only addresses the concern of many U.S. merchant mariners, but their employers and the interested public. I consider the directive an apology in sense and an attempt to change an institutional attitude; both steps in the right direction.
Of importance is the inclusion of foreign mariners in the USCG conduct improvement guidelines; our mariners are not alone in the battle for survival at sea and responsible government treatment at sea and ashore. The role of the USCG as an agent of marine safety, national security and protection is unquestioned: it is a proud history. But the role of stewardship of the U.S. Merchant Marine is less than stellar, simply because of attitude!
Soon the Commandant and Congressman Elijah Cummings (D. Md) and committee will meet in sessions and discuss the USCG future. Hopefully ALCOAST 108/08 will be a major discussion item. The U.S. Merchant Marine is often referred to as an arm of the U.S. armed forces, because of the critical role played in wars. The merchant marine is not just mariners and ships, but a vital industry involved in nearly every manufactured item in the U.S.A. and most oversea products.
In government, efficiency is a power word. One can change almost anything if it is becomes more efficient. The management and stewardship of the candidates for licenses as master, mate, pilots and engineers and documents for mariners needs effective supervision and professional administration. Candidates should be “duly examined and found competent “ by qualified senior, experienced equals and not attested to by the signature of a Boatswain Mate Chief, USCG, by direction.
The present process of selecting and filling in squares and issuing licenses and documents to people questionably prepared to fulfill the duties required by law and good seamanship based primarily on computer graded tests is efficiently inappropriate. Hopefully the Commandant and the Congressman will view this with concern and make positive changes to remedy a deteriorating system.
As I learned at sea, never complain unless one has a better idea; Civilianize the merchant marine licensing and documentation local branches of the USCG and staff with experienced licensed and documented merchant mariner. Release the Guard to serve in their primary role. JGD
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