Shipmates and Partners Around the World,
For the past several years the Coast Guard as an organization and I as the Commandant have been working to insure the seafarers who are critical to the operation of the maritime transportation system have access to and from their ships through waterfront facilities. With the implementation of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) our seafarers have encountered problems from time to time in accessing shore through regulated facilities. I have asked RDML Kevin Cook to provide a guest post on where we stand in our effort (and commitment) to shore access for mariners.
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Guest Post by RDML Kevin Cook, Director of Prevention Policy (CG-54)
With over 8.600 foreign vessels making over 82,000 visits to the U.S. each year, we still receive reports that properly documented mariners are being denied access through MTSA regulated facilities. In light of this ongoing problem Just recently, I issued guidance to further facilitate seafarer access nationwide and assist the maritime community in meeting its obligation to allow for reasonable access for seafarers at MTSA regulated facilities. While security concerns remain paramount, properly vetted and documented mariners from around the world should be allowed to depart their vessel for safety and welfare reasons. Legitimate access can be provided without any degradation of security.
The guidance to the field was the first of a "trident" approach to improve mariner access. This guidance includes a provision to ensure that each facility security plan includes a well defined process for seafarers' shore access for such activities as shore leave and crew change. It ensures that facility security plans under review, as part of the five-year renewal process, that prohibit access or fail to adequately address access are not approved. For plans already approved, this guidance places emphasis on ensuring access coordination during the facility inspection processes.
The second prong of the trident is being accomplished with the assistance of the Office of Maritime and International Law (CG-0941). Their legal review on the issue of seafarer access determined that the Coast Guard has the authority to mandate MTSA regulated facilities provide reasonable access to seafarers. This may be the subject of a future regulatory change.
The third prong involves ongoing engagement with stakeholders. I have requested that information regarding access denial, exorbitant access fees, and other overly restrictive policies be provided to Coast Guard Headquarters for Executive-Level engagement with company officials where these anomalies exist. Also to help facilitate and communicate the latest seafarer access policies, issues and best practices, the Coast Guard Headquarters Office of Port and Facility Activities (CG-544) has established a "seafarer access community" on the Coast Guard’s HOMEPORT website, and outreach via other social media.
