The National Boating Safety Advisory Council advises the Coast Guard on recreational boating safety regulations and other major boating safety matters. Completed applications should reach the Coast Guard by May 21, 2018.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 3/20/2018: National Boating Safety Advisory Council vacancies

The Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee will meet via teleconference April 11, 2018.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 3/20/2018: Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee meeting scheduled

The Coast Guard is issuing a final rule to eliminate outdated regulations that imposed unnecessary screening requirements on cruise ships and cruise ship terminals. This final rule replaces these outdated regulations with simpler, consolidated regulations that provide efficient and clear requirements for the screening of baggage, personal items, and persons on a cruise ship. This final rule will enhance the security of cruise ship terminals and allow terminal operators to use effective screening mechanisms with minimal impact to business operations.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 3/19/2018: Consolidated Cruise Ship Security Regulations Final Rule published

This final rule changes the reportable marine casualty property damage threshold amount from $25,000 to $75,000. This final rule also changes the serious marine incident property damage threshold from $100,000 to $200,000.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 3/19/2018: Updated marine casualty reporting property damage thresholds Final Rule published

Ray’s remarks focused on securing the alignment of safe and efficient commerce. He pointed out that 90 percent of the world trade is carried by shipping and the U.S. alone accounts for 26 percent of the world’s consumer market. The United States is the fifth largest ship-owning country by tonnage and accounts for 986,816 metric tons of goods and services, which equates to 1.47 trillion U.S. dollars.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 3/13/2018: CMA Shipping 2018 – Summary of keynote address by Deputy Commandant for Operations, Vice Adm. Charles Ray

Rear Adm. John Nadeau, assistant commandant for prevention policy, presented awards to the five winners of the William M. Benkert Award for Environmental Excellence, during a ceremony in New Orleans, March 2, 2018. Maritime Commons announced the winners in a post Feb. 22, 2018, but we are sharing additional details about the achievements that earned them this prestigious award.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 3/7/2018: Rear Adm. Nadeau hosts Benkert award recipients for presentation ceremony in New Orleans

The Coast Guard, along with its National Response Team partners, is requesting anyone with preparedness and response experience to complete a national online survey. The survey will be open from March 1st – April 30th, 2018. The time needed to complete the survey should range from 10‐25 minutes.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 3/7/2018: Invitation to participate in Area Contingency Planning survey

Adm. Paul Zukunft, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, delivered the State of the Coast Guard Address March 1 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. This was Zukunft’s final State of the Coast Guard Address, as he will retire June 1, following the Commandant’s Change of Command.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 3/5/2018: Video and transcript of 2018 State of the Coast Guard Address available on line

Rear Adm. John Nadeau was invited to submit an opinion/educational article for the February 2018 edition of Marine News Magazine. In the article, Nadeau provides his views the Coast Guard’s responsibility to safeguard the Marine Transportation System and enable the uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 2/28/2018: Op/Ed piece by Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft will deliver the 2018 State of the Coast Guard Address, March 1, 2018, at the National Press Club, beginning at 2 p.m. The address will be available via livestream.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 2/28/2018: Commandant to deliver State of the Coast Guard Address