ALCOAST 351/18 - OCT 2018 RELEASE OF THE CG MARITIME COMMERCE STRATEGIC OUTLOOK

united states coast guard

 

R 110804 OCT 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCO//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N16000//
ALCOAST 351/18
COMDTNOTE 16000
SUBJ:  RELEASE OF THE CG MARITIME COMMERCE STRATEGIC OUTLOOK
1. This week, the Commandant announced the promulgation of the Coast Guard's first Maritime
Commerce Strategic Outlook, which emphasizes the critical need for a Ready, Relevant,
Responsive Coast Guard. This Strategic Outlook presents a ten-year vision for enabling
maritime commerce. This document establishes three lines of effort (LOE): 1) Facilitating Lawful
Trade and Travel on Secure Waterways; 2) Modernizing Aids to Navigation and Mariner Information
Systems; and 3) Transforming Workforce Capacity and Partnerships.
2. America is a maritime Nation. It is a Nation shaped by seafarers who recognized the tremendous
economic potential derived from unrestricted access to the oceans, internal waterways, deepwater
ports, and protected straits and bays. Our American prosperity remains inextricably linked to the
fate of the maritime environment. Our waterways, a wealth of natural resources and marine
transportation networks, remain critical to our prosperity, our security, and our identity as a
Nation. Americans have come to expect goods to be shipped safely and efficiently, and the Coast
Guard has a vision for how our Nation's waterways can meet the increased demand.
3. Our implementation begins with outreach to our stakeholders, including the public, to convey
the impact maritime commerce has on the lives of the American people and the importance of
America’s waterways to national security and prosperity.
   A. LOE 1 Facilitating Lawful Trade and Travel on Secure Waterways: The ease of moving people
and cargo on America’s waterways is a competitive advantage and wellspring for economic prosperity
and national security. The Coast Guard will manage risks to critical infrastructure, ensure
efficient delivery of Coast Guard services, support vessel and facility standards, and promote
resiliency and unity of effort among Marine Transportation System stakeholders.
   B. LOE 2 Modernizing Aids to Navigation and Mariner Information Systems: Through technological
advancements such as artificial intelligence, mobile and cloud-based computing, and data analytics,
the Coast Guard will keep the Service in step with emerging trends in the maritime industry. The
Coast Guard must modernize information technology networks and applications that enable the Coast
Guard to assess, monitor, and manage risk. The Service will optimize maritime planning in order
to address competing uses and growing demands for commerce, energy, food, resources, and recreation
in U.S. waters. The Service must also balance traditional navigation systems while building next
generation waterway management systems, modernizing Inland and Coastal Aids to Navigation cutters,
and applying emerging technologies. Regulatory frameworks, applications, and standards will be
adapted to accurately incorporate the implementation of emerging technologies that will transform
maritime operations, such as autonomous systems.
   C. LOE 3 Transforming Workforce Capacity and Partnerships: The Coast Guard needs to develop an
adaptive force that is proficient operating in a highly complex environment amid rapid acceleration
of technology. The Service needs to strengthen the workforce with the digital competencies to respond
to changes in commercial markets and the maritime industry. The Coast Guard will leverage robust
auditing capabilities of Third Party Organizations to improve vessel plans, surveys, and certain
required certificates to ensure the highest standards of compliance oversight. It is imperative to
transform the workforce and roles of other enabling organizations to have the capability, experience,
and expertise to address the broad spectrum of threats to our national interests.
4. The Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook is an enterprise-wide initiative that requires all-hands
collaboration. COMDT (CG-5P) will coordinate and champion the Strategic Outlook implementation. The
electronic version of the strategy can be viewed at: https://www.uscg.mil/AlwaysReady.
The Strategic Outlook will also be posted on the public facing DCO webpage at:
http://www.dco.uscg.mil/commerce.
5. POCs: LCDR William Albright at (202) 372-1568 or William.C.Albright@uscg.mil and LCDR Jamie Gatz at
(202) 372-1541 or James.C.Gatz@uscg.mil.
6. VADM Daniel B. Abel, Deputy Commandant for Operations, sends.
7. Internet release is authorized.