R 221329Z OCT 09 ALCOAST 606/09 COMDTNOTE 16732 SUBJ: WINNERS OF THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS (CY2005-2008) A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 261414Z NOV 08/ALCOAST 583/08 1. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS OF THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS. THE MARINE INVESTIGATORS NAMED BELOW ARE RECOGNIZED FOR LEADING THEIR INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS IN CONDUCTING THE VERY FINEST MARINE CASUALTY INVESTIGATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COAST GUARD. THEY HAVE ALL DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL INVESTIGATIVE SKILL AND POSITIVELY INFLUENCED MARINE SAFETY. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT REVITALIZES THE SENER AWARD WHICH LAST PUBLICLY RECOGNIZED AWARDEES FOR CY2004. 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 STEAMSHIP INSPECTION SERVICE. CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER OF VIRGINIA SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION THAT CREATED THE MODERN MARINE INVESTIGATION 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. SINCE THAT TIME, THE PROGRAM HAS GREATLY EVOLVED; THE LATEST MAJOR ADVANCEMENT OCCURRING IN 2004, WHEN THE PROGRAM ASSISTED IN DRAFTING AND THEN ADOPTED THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATIONS SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO MARINE CASUALTY INVESTIGATIONS, FOREVER LEAVING ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS BEHIND AS ANOTHER CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY. THE SENER AWARD HONORS AND RECALLS CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENERS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAFETY OF MARINERS, VESSELS, AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE PROGRAM BY RECOGNIZING TRULY EXCEPTIONAL MARINE INVESTIGATIONS. AS DESCRIBED IN REFERENCE (A), IT IS FITTING THAT WE REINSTITUTE THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AND RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATIVE WORK CONDUCTED DURING THE CY2005 THROUGH CY2008 TIME FRAME. THE COAST GUARD TAKES ITS MARINE CASUALTY RESPONSIBILITIES SERIOUSLY AS IT PROVIDES CRITICAL FEEDBACK TO OUR MARINE SAFETY PROGRAM AND OFTEN INFORMS OUR REGULATORY AND POLICY DRIVEN PROCESSES. 3. THE SENER AWARD WINNERS AS WELL AS THOSE RECEIVING HONORABLE MENTION ARE LISTED BELOW BY CALENDAR YEAR: LEAD INVESTIGATOR CONVENING AUTH MISLE NO./VESSEL A. CY2005 WINNERS: CAPT WILLIAM DRELLING MSU MORGAN CTY 1645241/MV MR FRED CDR RICHARD RAKSNIS CGD5 101663/SSG EDWARD A CARTER MR. JERRY CROOKS SECT HAMP RDS 2015212/BOW MARINER B. CY2005 HONORABLE MENTION: LCDR ELLIS MOOSE SECT HAMP RDS 1937809/M/V LONDON EXPRESS MR. PAUL LEDOUX SECT HAMP RDS 1617178/UTV CHESAPEAKE MR. CRAIG PETERSEN SECT HONOLULU 1599685/USNS CAPE HORN C. CY2006 WINNER: MSSD3 JOHN NAY SECT DELA BAY 2248988/T/V ATHOS I D. CY2007 WINNERS: LCDR MICHAEL KELLY CGD8 2271812/MV ELIZABETH M MSSD2 PETER HACKETT SECT BALTIMORE 2879209/MONTROSE E. CY2007 HONORABLE MENTION: MR. CHARLES COBB SECT NEW YORK 1930161/ANDREW J BARBERI F. CY2008 WINNERS: LCDR CHARLES BARBEE CGD7 2569550/TUG VALOUR MSSE4 MICHAEL FINCHAM SECT SE NW ENG 2863457/FV LADY OF GRACE G. CY2008 HONORABLE MENTION: MR. EDWARD GREEN SECT N NEW ENG 2865282/LADY LUCK 4. I OFFER MY PERSONAL CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF OUR INVESTIGATORS RECOGNIZED ABOVE. MARINE INVESTIGATIONS IS A VITAL ARM OF THE SERVICES PREVENTION EFFORTS. RECENT BILLET GROWTH IN THIS SPECIALITY IS EVIDENCE OF IMPROVEMENTS BASED ON INSIGHTS WHICH CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED THROUGH AN EFFECTIVE MARINE INVESTIGATION PROGRAM. 5. THE SENER AWARDS BOARD CONSISTED OF THE FOLLOWING: LCDR MICHAEL SIMBULAN LCDR EDGARDO CRUZ MR. DAVID DICKEY MR. TIMOTHY FARLEY 6. RADM BRIAN M. SALERNO, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR MARINE SAFETY, SECURITY AND STEWARDSHIP, SENDS. 7. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.