R 191846Z FEB 13

ALCOAST 065/13
COMDTNOTE 16732
SUBJ: NOMINATIONS FOR THE CY 2012 CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS
A. USCG MARINE SAFETY MANUAL VOLUME V: INVESTIGATIONS AND
ENFORCEMENT, COMDTINST M16000.10 (SERIES)
B. SENER AWARD NOMINATIONS, COMDT (CG-INV-1) POLICY LETTER 6-10
1. WE REQUEST NOMINATIONS FOR THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS BE SUBMITTED TO COMDT (CG-INV-1)
FOR CY2012. THE NOMINATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS 1 APR 2013. THE
PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO ENCOURAGE THE COMPLETION 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 20 JUNE 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 RECALLS AND HONORS 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
CY2012. REF B DETAILS ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION CRITERIA. 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-INV-1) 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. THOUGH NOT REQUIRED BY COMDT (CG-INV-1), 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 INFO COPIES ARE
RECOMMENDED.
4. THE COMDT (CG-INV-1) POC IS: LT RIVERA (202)-372-1032
5. CAPT PAUL F. THOMAS, DIRECTOR INSPECTIONS AND COMPLIANCE, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.