Guest post from RADM Brian Salerno (CG-5), Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship.
Today I had the pleasure of signing a partnership agreement with Mr. Otto Candies, III, of the Offshore Marine Services Association, which entered the Coast Guard and OMSA into a Partnership Action Team.
The purpose of this partnership is to promote safety and security within the offshore industry and to enhance the protection of the marine environment. The Coast Guard and OMSA seek to achieve this goal through enhanced communication, collaboration, and cooperation. The partnership is intended to complement other industry partnerships and to provide a more efficient means for joint Coast Guard and OMSA interactions.
Past successes from current partnerships include a joint American Waterways Operators (AWO) and Coast Guard Safe Decks Campaign, "Stay Alert for the Edge," directed to prevent falls overboard and save lives. Since 1995, more than 200 Coast Guard and AWO member volunteers have participated in some two dozen Quality Action Teams at the national and regional levels, tackling such critical safety issues as crew fatalities, tank barge spills, and safe operations during dangerous water conditions.
The USCG expects that this new partnership with OMSA will more effectively bring the Coast Guard and the represented segment of industry together in a cooperative effort to enhance marine safety and environmental protection within the Offshore Support Vessel community.
The Coast Guard has partnerships with other organizations including the Passenger Vessel Association, the Cruise Lines International Association, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, and the American Boat and Yacht Council to provide industry specific input with a focus on improving safety aboard ships and boats. Other partnerships such as the Baltic and International Maritime Council and the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners Association provide technical and diplomatic support to U.S. proposed safety standards for adoption into the instruments of international treaties. The Coast Guard's National Boating Safety Advisory Council provides essential guidance to the recreational boating program. Open communication, cooperation, and non-regulatory solutions are the hallmarks of these successful partnerships.
