ALCOAST 505/08
COMDTNOTE 1500
SUBJ: AUXILIARY PURSUIT OF COAST GUARD MARINE SAFETY, SECURITY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION QUALIFICATIONS
A. MARINE SAFETY MANUAL, VOLUME 1, ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT,
COMDTINST M16000.6 (SERIES)
B. AUXILIARY MANUAL, COMDTINST M16790.1 (SERIES)
1.  THE AUXILIARY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE TO THE COAST
GUARD, ENHANCING ITS ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH A WIDE ARRAY OF
MISSIONS, INCLUDING MANY DUTIES RELATED TO THE MARINE SAFETY FIELD.
THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED TO CLARIFY THE ROLES AUXILIARISTS CAN FILL
AS MARINE INSPECTORS AND THE ELIGIBILITY OF AUXILIARISTS TO EARN
THE CG-MSSEP QUALIFICATION. THE COAST GUARD OFFICE OF SHORE FORCES
(CG-741) AND THE OFFICE OF AUXILIARY AND BOATING SAFETY (CG-542)
ARE COMBINING EFFORTS TO REVISE CURRENT AUXILIARY MARINE SAFETY,
SECURITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (MSSEP) QUALIFICATIONS.
UPDATES TO THAT INITIATIVE WILL BE ADDRESSED UNDER SEPCOR AT A
LATER DATE AND WILL INCLUDE THIS GUIDANCE.
2. COAST GUARD AUXILIARISTS SUPPORTING MARINE SAFETY MISSIONS PLAY
A CRUCIAL ROLE AS MEMBERS OF TEAM COAST GUARD. AUXILIARISTS ARE
PERMITTED AND ENCOURAGED TO SERVE AS MARINE INSPECTORS WHO ASSIST A
COAST GUARD MILITARY MEMBER OR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE SERVING AS A LEAD
INSPECTOR. AUXILIARISTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO: SERVE IN ANY CAPACITY
AS LEAD INSPECTOR OR LEAD PORT STATE CONTROL OFFICER, ORDER THE
TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT SHUT DOWN OF FACILITY OR VESSEL OPERATIONS,
ISSUE NOTICES OF VIOLATION, LETTERS OF DEVIATION, OR CAPTAIN OF THE
PORT ORDERS, OR SIGN OR ISSUE PAPERWORK ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH
ACTIONS TO VESSEL OR FACILITY OPERATORS.
3. THE PRACTICE OF AWARDING AUXILIARISTS CG-MSSEP QUALIFICATIONS IS
BEYOND A REASONABLE SCOPE OF AUTHORITY WITH WHICH THEY SHOULD BE
VESTED.  THEREFORE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COMMERCIAL FISHING
VESSEL SAFETY EXAMINER QUALIFICATION WHICH HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY
AUTHORIZED, AUXILIARISTS SHALL NO LONGER BE AWARDED CG-MSSEP
QUALIFICATIONS OR THE ASSOCIATED ACTIVE DUTY INSIGNIA PREVIOUSLY
AUTHORIZED BY REF A. AUXILIARISTS MAY PURSUE QUALIFICATIONS AND
TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUXILIARY MARINE SAFETY INSIGNIA.
AUXILIARISTS WHO EARNED THE ACTIVE DUTY MARINE SAFETY INSIGNIA
PRIOR TO THIS MESSAGE ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
REF B.
4. THE VAST EXPERIENCE OF AUXILIARISTS IN THE MARINE SAFETY FIELD
SHOULD BE UTILIZED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE WITHIN THE
LIMITATIONS SET FORTH ABOVE. CHAPTER 2 OF REF B CONTAINS A LISTING
OF AUTHORIZED AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES.
5. ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MR. JOHN SEDLAK (CG-5432) AT
(202) 372-1240, LCDR KATHRYN DUNBAR (CG-5421) AT (202) 372-1265 OR
LCDR SAMUEL GOSWELLEN (CG-7411) AT (202) 372-1344. EMAIL IS THE
PREFERRED CONTACT METHOD.
6. RDML JAMES A. WATSON, DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION POLICY FOR MARINE
SAFETY, SECURITY AND STEWARDSHIP, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.