ACN 073/20 - JUN 2020 REVISED STANDARDS FOR VESSEL GROUNDINGS AND ASSOCIATED REQUIRED INVESTIGATIONS

united states coast guard

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE            CANCEL DATE 17 JUN 2021


R 181124 JUN 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N05100//
ACN 073/20
SUBJ:  REVISED STANDARDS FOR VESSEL GROUNDINGS AND ASSOCIATED REQUIRED INVESTIGATIONS
A. Safety and Environmental Health Manual, COMDTINST M5100.47C
B. United States Coast Guard Regulations 1992, COMDTINST M5000.3 (series)
C. Administrative Investigations Manual, COMDTINST M5830.1A
D. Major Incident Investigations Manual, COMDTINST M5830.4 (series)
1. PURPOSE. This ACN updates REF (A). COMDTs (CG-113), (CG-45), (CG-731), and (CG-751)
collaborated to define what constitutes a grounding, improve mishap-reporting
requirements, and institute a waiver process to provide operational commanders
flexibility with known shoaling areas. This message also clarifies grounding mishap
investigatory requirements in accordance with REFs (B)-(D). This message does not
relieve CO/OICs and Coxswains from other reporting requirements to the Operational
Commander and/or Command Center as potentially hazardous conditions.
2. DISCUSSION. It is incumbent upon everyone in the chain of command to promote an
atmosphere of trust where people willingly provide safety-related information without
fear of reprisal. Reporting hazards, errors, and near misses is critical for proper
analysis in identifying trends and improving policy, training and equipment in order
to prevent similar mishaps. Mishaps provide an opportunity to coach and learn from
mistakes. Punitive action should be reserved for deliberate and reckless choices and
acts. Coast Guard operations are inherently dangerous and commands have a
responsibility to report mishaps.      
3. UPDATES TO REF (A), Chapter 3.B.4.
   a. Definitions.
      (1) Grounding: Situation where the hull of a cutter or boat makes contact
with the sea floor, riverbed, rocks, or other objects permanently affixed to the
sea floor.
      (2) Intentional Grounding: A controlled, intentional maneuver in the performance
of a mission or operation.
   b. Mishap Reporting Requirements. Grounding mishaps shall be reported in e-Misreps.
The following exceptions to e-Misrep reporting are authorized unless the grounding
results in injury, property damage in excess of $5,000, or other reportable event per
REF (A):
      (1) Intentional groundings are not reportable mishaps. CO/OICs and coxswains
must exercise prudent seamanship and risk management in situations or instances
that warrant the intentional grounding of a cutter or boat.
      (2) District and Sector Commanders may issue e-Misrep reporting waivers for
units under their operational control (OPCON) that have known shoaling areas.
Signature authority may be delegated down to Office Chiefs and Department Heads
(e.g. Response Department Head). Commanding Officers (CO) and Officers-in-Charge (OIC)
must identify shoaling areas and operational limitations in the waiver request and
document this waiver in their unit navigation standards. Waiver requests must include
specific shoaling areas; blanket waivers for a unit’s entire area of responsibility
are not authorized. Waivers shall be renewed annually and be accompanied by a single
consolidated e-Misrep report capturing all groundings for the year. Units with an
approved waiver are required to keep a logbook to assist with compiling the
consolidated annual e-Misrep report. This data is beneficial for hazard analysis and
can support dredging requests from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE). 
   c. MISHAP REPORTS: Grounding reports in e-Misreps shall address all questions
within the e-Misrep report. In addition to the general information captured in the
e-Misrep report, the following data supports mishap analysis and shall be included
in the narrative:
      (1) Activity and speed leading up to and at the time of the grounding.
      (2) Rules of the road situation and action to avoid collision with another
vessel or object in the water.
      (3) Navigation equipment, sensors, and alarms used at the time and leading up
to the mishap.
4. CLARIFICATION ON INVESTIGATION OF GROUNDINGS: REFs (B) and (C) require the
administrative investigation of all grounding incidents “whenever necessary to
determine the cause of the incident and to prevent recurrence”. Many groundings,
including the exceptions articulated in para. 3 above, do not require an administrative
investigation unless in the CO/OIC or higher authority’s judgment an investigation
is needed to determine the cause of the incident or to prevent recurrence. However,
REF (D) still requires a Major Incident Investigation whenever a grounding incident
is classified as an operational Class “A” or “B” mishap. REF (C) is under revision and
will include clear language as to when an administrative investigation is required.
5. This amendment is effective immediately, and will be reflected in the next revision
of REF (A).
6. Points of Contact:
   a. COMDT (CG-1131):
      (1) Cutter - LCDR Tyson Richards, (202)475-5147, tyson.l.richards@uscg.mil.
      (2) Boat – LCDR Joe Smith, (202)372-1597, joseph.l.smith1@uscg.mil.
      (3) Deployable Specialized Forces - LCDR Jon Rice, (202)475-5215,
jonathan.p.rice@uscg.mil.
   b. COMDT (CG-751): BOSN Tyler Young, (202)372-2332, tyler.m.young@uscg.mil. 
   c. COMDT (CG-731): LCDR Bradford Clark, (202)372-2469, bradford.e.clark@uscg.mil.
   d. COMDT (CG-45): CDR Andres Camargo, (202)475-5720, andres.camargo@uscg.mil.
   e. COMDT (CG-LGL): LCDR Brianna Neasham, (202)372-3838, brianna.m.neasham@uscg.mil.
7. Released by RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director of Health, Safety & Work-life.
8. Internet release is authorized.