R 221630Z JAN 10

ALCOAST 032/10
COMDTNOTE 16732
SUBJ: NOMINATIONS FOR THE CY2009 CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS
A. USCG MARINE SAFETY MANUAL VOLUME V: INVESTIGATIONS AND
ENFORCEMENT, COMDTINST M16000.10(SERIES)
1. WE REQUEST NOMINATIONS FOR THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS BE SUBMITTED TO COMDT (CG-545)
FOR CY2009. THE NOMINATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS 01MAR10. THE
PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO ENCOURAGE THE CONDUCT OF THE VERY
FINEST MARINE INVESTIGATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COAST GUARD, TO SHARE
THE BEST MARINE INVESTIGATION PRACTICES, AND TO RECOGNIZE UNITS AND
INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL
INVESTIGATIVE SKILL AND POSITIVELY INFLUENCED MARINE SAFETY.
2. BACKGROUND: THE COAST GUARDS MARINE INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM HAS
BEEN A VITAL ARM OF ITS MARINE SAFETY ACTIVITIES SINCE 1838 WHEN
THE PROGRAMS PREDECESSOR, THE STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE, WAS
ESTABLISHED. IN 1832 ALONE, APPROXIMATELY 14 PERCENT OF THE STEAM
VESSELS IN OPERATION WERE DESTROYED BY EXPLOSIONS KILLING MORE THAN
1000 PEOPLE. THESE EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED LARGELY BECAUSE THERE WERE
NO INSPECTION LAWS OR RULES OF NAVIGATION. IN SOME CASES, MARINER
INCOMPETENCE, NEGLIGENCE, AND/OR MISCONDUCT WERE CAUSAL FACTORS. AS
A RESULT THE U.S. CONGRESS ESTABLISHED INSPECTION LAWS AND CREATED
THE STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE. CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER OF
VIRGINIA SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION THAT CREATED THE MODERN MARINE
INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM ON JUNE 20, 1874. CONGRESSMAN SENERS BILL
PUT IN PLACE THE WORLDS MOST EFFECTIVE SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING AND
ELIMINATING UNSAFE CONDITIONS IN THE MARINE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM,
PERHAPS THE SINGLE GREATEST STEP FORWARD IN MARINE SAFETY. THE
SENER AWARD HONORS AND RECALLS HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE SAFETY OF
MARINERS, VESSELS, AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT BY RECOGNIZING TRULY
EXCEPTIONAL MARINE CASUALTY INVESTIGATIONS.
3. NOMINATIONS: THIS SOLICITATION INCLUDES ALL MARINE CASUALTY
INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE MARINE
INVESTIGATION PROCESS DETAILED IN PART B OF REF A AND WERE CLOSED
IN CY2009. AREA, DISTRICT, AND SECTOR COMMANDERS AND COMMANDING
OFFICERS OF MARINE SAFETY UNITS MAY SUBMIT UP TO THREE NOMINATIONS
EACH, ENCOMPASSING THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED TIME FRAME. THE
NOMINATION CONSISTS OF A STANDARD CG MEMO SUBMITTED TO COMDT
(CG-545) VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. THE MEMO SHOULD INCLUDE THE NAME
OF THE INVESTIGATION, THE MISLE ACTIVITY NUMBER, AND THE NAMES OF
THE LEAD INVESTIGATING OFFICER AND THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM. ALTHOUGH
THE SUBMITTING UNIT MAY INCLUDE WHATEVER INFORMATION THEY DEEM
RELEVANT, THEY SHOULD ADDRESS THE EVALUATION CRITERIA INCLUDED IN
CHAPTER A9 REF A. THOUGH NOT REQUIRED BY COMDT (CG-545), THE
SUBMITTING UNIT MAY NEED TO INCLUDE THE REPORT OF INVESTIGATION AND
ANY CG GENERATED SAFETY ALERTS/ADVISORIES, AS APPLICABLE, WHEN
FORWARDING THE NOMINATION FOR REVIEW/ENDORSEMENT. CHAIN OF COMMAND
ENDORSEMENTS OF THE NOMINATION ARE NOT REQUIRED BUT ARE
RECOMMENDED.
4. THE COMDT (CG-545) POC IS LCDR CHARLES B. BARBEE.
5. RDML KEVIN S. COOK, DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION POLICY, SENDS.
6. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
7. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.