Today I attended Secretary Ray LaHood's weekly meeting of the Department of Transportation Modal Administrators and staff. We routinely attended these meetings prior to our transfer from DOT to the Department of Homeland Security six years ago this month.
At that time it was promised that:
Although we will not longer be part of DOT, our association with DOT will not end. We will not only continue our partnership in the areas of maritime transportation safety and mobility, but will strengthen that relationship.(ALCOAST 106/03)We have kept this promise, continuously working beside our DOT partners to ensure the efficiency, safety, security and environmental health of the Marine Transportation System (MTS). You can see this commitment through our recent efforts to refocus on our marine safety responsibilities through the Marine Safety Performance Plan; our active role in partnership on, and currently as the Chair of the Committee on the MTS (CMTS); and our continued outstanding performance in maintaining the nation's critical navigable waterways, both in routine times, and in responding to both natural and manmade disasters, such as this summer's Midwest floods and the massive oil spill on the lower Mississippi.
These shared responsibilities between DOT and the Coast Guard are probably more critical now than in recent memory due to the current economic challenges our nation and the World faces. To put it bluntly, marine transportation is huge -- economically, strategically and environmentally.
The MTS is a complex system of just-in-time deliveries, relying on efficient intermodal transfers, and operated by both private and public entities. In the words of my predecessor, Adm. James Loy, "If you have seen one port, you have seen one port." Looking at recent history, by every measure usage volume on the nation's MTS has doubled since 1982. Looking forward, this growth will continue. By 2020, DOT predicts that shipboard freight value will increase 43% domestically and 67% internationally. Currently, the MTS employs over 8 million Americans and contributes nearly $2 trillion to our domestic economy.
In addition to its economic value, the MTS is the most efficient mode of transportation. A two barge tow with a 60,000 barrel cargo capacity can carry the equivalent of 80 rail cars or 300 trucks. Additionally, short-sea shipping (the movement of goods by water between U.S. ports and between the U.S. and Canada) is an increasingly popular alternative for removing congestion from road and railways.
Recognizing the criticality of our relationship with DOT, and our complimentary roles in supporting the economy through efficient and effective management of the MTS, I have taken several steps to strengthen our partnership. In February I met with the new U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. From that meeting we agreed to a more institutionalized relationship, including the assignment of an officer to the Secretary’s immediate staff and regular attendance by senior Coast Guard leaders at their staff meetings.
Some of the issues discussed today included impact of the Mount Redoubt eruptions on maritime commerce and the environment, ballast water management, and military outloads in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. We look forward to future collaboration with DOT through the CMTS and our ongoing discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration on airspace access by unmanned aerial systems.
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