AWO Welcomes New Members. AWO is delighted to welcome three new members:

Please reach out to Caitlin Kidd with any questions.

AWO President Speaks at Coast Guard Senior Leader Conference. AWO President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter was recently invited by Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations VADM Peter Gautier to speak at the Coast Guard's Senior Leader Conference in Washington DC, a semiannual gathering of flag officers and Senior Executive Service civilians from around the country. Jennifer participated in a panel facilitated by RADM Wayne Arguin, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, alongside U.S. Maritime Administrator RDML Ann Phillips and leaders from the port and pilot communities.

 

Jennifer discussed the critical importance of keeping commerce moving safely, securely and efficiently throughout the marine transportation system (MTS) and expressed appreciation for the prominent attention given to this mission in the Coast Guard's new Operational Posture statement. This is always important from an economic, homeland and national security standpoint, but in a contested environment, the stakes will be higher and resources will be strained, increasing the importance of having trusted partners, robust communication channels, and efficient and effective ways of leveraging limited government and industry resources.

 

Jennifer noted that focusing on these things now, and not when a crisis is upon us, will build resilience in the MTS. She urged the Coast Guard's senior leaders to foster a service culture that embraces proactive engagement with industry stakeholders, states and localities, and other federal agencies, and prioritizes risk-based decision making that leverages limited resources by relying on practical approaches, third party organizations and other tools. She concluded with the observation that mariner credentialing is critical to a resilient MTS and urged the Coast Guard to prioritize overhauling legacy systems and processes that impede recruiting, retaining and advancing mariners. "Change can't happen soon enough," she concluded.

New Coast Guard Policy on Incomplete MMC Applications. Mirroring an existing practice for medical certificates, on December 1 the National Maritime Center will begin rejecting incomplete merchant mariner credential (MMC) applications instead of using the awaiting information process to obtain missing application information. An application will only be rejected under this policy if it is missing:

If an application is rejected for missing required information, the applicant will be emailed a form identifying which information is missing. If you have questions about this change, please contact Patrick Parsons.

ICYMI: Designated Examiner Webinar Recording Available. If you missed the latest AWO Mariner Workforce Forum Maximizing the Designated Examiner Pipeline, you can catch up on the recording here to learn tips and best practices from other AWO members for building your Designated Examiner training program and navigating the process for U.S. Coast Guard approval.

Save the Date: Mariner Workforce Forum with NMC. AWO's next Mariner Workforce Forum will be held December 17 from 2 PM - 3 PM Eastern. Leadership and staff from the National Maritime Center (NMC) will walk through the complete application processes for merchant mariner credentials and medical certificates, provide updates on new communication and submission options, and share tips and best practices for minimizing errors and speeding processing times. Watch for a member alert with registration information soon!

N-MERPAC to Meet Virtually in December. The Coast Guard's National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee, which advises the Coast Guard on issues relating to mariner training, qualifications, and credentialing, will meet virtually on December 11 from 9 AM - 4:30 PM Eastern. Information on the meeting can be accessed here, and the meeting will primarily include the Coast Guard's response to the committee's recommendations. If you have questions about N-MERPAC's work and AWO's engagement, please contact Patrick Parsons.

AWO Meets with Coast Guard to Discuss new LNM/LL System. AWO met with the Coast Guard last week to clarify details and timelines for a planned transition to a new Geographic Information System (GIS)-based system that will change the format and delivery method for Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) and Light List (LL) scheduled to launch on December 2. AWO is working with the Coast Guard to ensure a smooth transition for vessel operators and electronic chart service providers.

 

The new system will display information on an interactive GIS map that will automatically update aids to navigation locations and LNM information every 15 minutes. LL information will be updated every 24 hours. Operators will still have the ability to generate PDFs similar to the current LNMs; however, the information will now be organized according to location rather than by chart number. Chart numbers are now obsolete with the sunsetting of NOAA's traditional raster paper charts. There will also be options to filter information by district, waterway, or by zooming in on a selected area on the interactive app. The new format, and more information, is available on the USCG Navigation Center website.

 

The Coast Guard is also working on updating its chart and publication carriage regulations to reflect the sunsetting of NOAA paper charts and this transition to a new LNM/ LL system. We will update members on these requirements as more information becomes available. Currently, carriage requirements can be satisfied by maintaining the necessary physical publications outlined in 33 CFR 164.72(b)(2) or the equivalencies outlined in NVIC 01-16(CH2).

 

Please contact Liam Morcroft with any questions.

AWO to Hold Webinar on Cyber Protection Teams. AWO will host a webinar for members to learn about the services offered by Coast Guard Cyber Protection Teams (CPT) on December 11 from 2 PM - 3 PM Eastern. CPTs can come to your facilities at no cost to you to assess your cyber systems, hunt for existing vulnerabilities and assist with incident response. During the webinar the Coast Guard will provide a more thorough overview of the services CPTs can provide and discuss recent cyber trends facing the maritime industry. The webinar will also include AWO members who will also discuss their own experiences working with CPTs. If you are interested in speaking about your experience with CPTs, please reach out to Liam Morcroft. 

 

To register for the webinar, please visit the event page.

AWO Launching Three-Part Sustainability Webinar Series. AWO is launching a three-part webinar series to provide insights into sustainability, efficiency, and innovation and support members' sustainability strategies. Recordings will be available in the AWO Resources Library following each live webinar session:

Register on the AWO Events Page today! Contact Caitlin Clark for registration details.

AWO President Speaks at LNG Bunkering Summit. The Jones Act has played an important and positive role in the growth of the LNG bunkering industry in the U.S., providing clear ground rules that facilitate investment by U.S. vessel owners to serve this new market, AWO President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter told attendees at the LNG Bunkering Summit North America on November 19. Asked how government policy could support vessel owners' moves to use LNG and other alternative fuels, Ms. Carpenter noted the importance of not dictating pathways that will vary based on companies' unique business drivers; avoiding a patchwork of state-imposed requirements like those imposed by the California Air Resources Board; and allowing vessel owners to use engines for their full useful life, since revenue from existing vessel operations is needed to fund investment in new vessels and technologies for the future.

New Study Shows Benefits of Inland Waterways System. A new report from the Eno Center for Transportation highlights the extensive benefits of the U.S. inland waterways system, which spans nearly 12,000 miles and transports over 500 million tons of goods annually. The report, Benefits and Beneficiaries of the Nation's Inland Waterways, showcases the value of maintaining and enhancing critical inland waterways infrastructure and identifies benefit areas, organizing them into three categories: economic development; energy and sustainability; and safety, security, and resiliency.  

AWO Attends International Workboat Show and ADMIRALTY Lunch in New Orleans, LA. AWO's Southern Region Vice President Jill Bessetti and Safety and Sustainability Director Mike Breslin recently participated in the International Workboat Show. The event drew large crowds from AWO member companies, related advocacy groups, and potential new members. Jill and Mike held many one-on-one meetings with members to discuss advocacy priorities, attended conference sessions, and engaged with U.S. Coast Guard personnel. They ended the week by attending a luncheon hosted by the local ADMIRALTY club, a networking group dedicated to young professionals in the maritime community, which provided an opportunity to support local charities and the Coast Guard Foundation.

AWO Holds Sector Luncheon in St. Louis. On October 31, AWO members including Marquette Transportation Company, Ingram Barge Company, James Transportation LLC, Osage Marine Services, and ARTCO engaged in a luncheon discussion with Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River. Topics discussed included current low water challenges, Subchapter M perspectives, bridge issues, and Coast Guard personnel changes.

Transport Canada Finalizes Interim Order on Pilotage Waivers; Orientation Session to be Held November 26. Recently, Transport Canada finalized the Interim Order Respecting Waivers of Compulsory Pilotage Granted by the Pacific Pilotage Authority. Members operating in the Pacific Region are encouraged to review this new rule.

 

The Pacific Pilotage Authority will host an orientation session on November 26 at 10:30 AM - 12 PM Pacific. For information on how to attend, or for any questions about the new rule, please reach out to Peter Schrappen.

Summary of the October 2024 AWO Safety Newsletter - Navigating to Zero. The latest edition of AWO's Navigating to Zero Safety and Sustainability Newsletter featured information on AWO's upcoming Winter Sustainability Webinar Series, member-submitted High Value Near Misses, and the latest American Waterways HERO Award Winners. The latest USCG Findings of Concern, NTSB investigations, information about the 2024-2025 Quiet Sound Voluntary Slowdown program for Puget Sound, a safety Professional Focus featuring Chris Law of Aon US National Marine Practice, and more were also included.

 

Read these stories and other safety news in the October NTZ, and please be sure to send in your SSRP reports for the 3rd Quarter, High Value Near Misses, and stories about your crew's HEROic acts!

Thank You for Attending AWO Events and Meetings in 2024. Events and meetings are a benefit of AWO membership. All members are invited and welcome to attend any AWO event throughout the year regardless of geographic location or operational sector. In 2024, AWO hosted two Conventions and Board of Directors Meetings, three Regional Annual Meetings, two Safety Meetings, five regional roundtable meetings, and several webinars, offering members over 100 hours of learning, discussion, and networking. AWO strives to make events accessible and affordable to attend by hosting meetings across the country -- from Savannah to Sacramento and New Orleans to Chicago. We work hard to provide educational, informative, and impactful meetings while having some fun and celebrating milestone occasions like the AWO 80th Anniversary celebration aboard the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. 

 

We hope to see YOU in 2025!  Check out the AWO Events webpage and register to attend any or all of AWO's events in 2025.