ALCOAST 255/21 - JUL 2021 2020 WINNERS OF THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS

R 141901Z JUL 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS
ALCOAST 255/21
SSIC 16732
SUBJ: 2020 WINNERS OF THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 131620Z JUL 21/ALCOAST 250/21
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 241430Z MAR 21/ALCOAST 114/21
C. USCG Marine Safety Manual Volume V: Investigations and
Enforcement, COMDTINST M16000.10 (series)
1. Cancel REF (A).
2. I am pleased to announce the winners of the Congressman James
Sener Award for Excellence in Marine Investigations. The
investigators cited below are recognized for conducting the most
distinguished marine casualty investigations for CY20.
3. Background: The Coast Guard's Marine Investigations program has
been a vital arm of its marine safety activities since 1838 when
the program's predecessor, the Steamboat Inspection Service, was
established. In 1832 alone, approximately 14 percent of the steam
vessels in operation were destroyed by explosions that also killed
more than 1,000 people. The conditions leading to these explosions
occurred largely because there were no inspection standards in
place. In some cases, mariner incompetence, negligence, and/or
misconduct were causal factors. As a result, the U.S. Congress
established inspection laws and created the Steamboat Inspection
Service. Congressman James Sener of Virginia sponsored the
legislation that created the modern Marine Investigations program
on 20 June 1874. Congressman Sener's bill established an
exceptionally effective system for identifying and eliminating
unsafe conditions in the marine transportation system. The Sener
Award honors and recalls his contribution to the safety of
mariners, vessels, and the marine environment by recognizing
truly exceptional marine casualty investigations.
4. The criteria for the Platinum level of the Sener Award
recognizes superior investigative prowess on Major Marine Casualty
(MMC) investigations, while the Gold level highlights outstanding
investigative work completed on incidents that do not reach the
MMC level.
5. IAW REF (B) and REF (C), the following teams are the 2020
winners of the Congressman James Sener Award for Excellence in
Marine Investigations:
    a. Platinum MISLE Case/Vessel: 6291947/BOUCHARD BARGE B NO. 255
FIRE EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF LIFE
Convening Authority: Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District
Lead Investigator: Mr. Bruce Davies
Investigative team: LCDR Mary Gilday, LCDR Geralyn van de
Krol, LT Chrisina Jeanes, and CWO4 Jess Farmer
    b. Platinum MISLE Case/Vessel: 6618087/SINKING OF THE COMMERCIAL
FISHING VESSEL MISTRESS WITH LOSS OF LIFE
Convening Authority: Sector Southeastern New England
Lead Investigator: LCDR Amanda Styles
Investigative team: CWO2 Jean-Pierre Freeman, and
Mr. Michael St. Louis
    c. Gold MISLE Case/Vessel: 6351522/ COMMERCIAL TOWING VESSEL
NC2305BR CAPSIZING WITH LOSS OF LIFE
Convening Authority: Sector North Carolina
Lead Investigator: LT Jacob Aulner
Investigative Team: LCDR William Hickey, LT John Packard,
LTJG Evan Bledsoe, and Mr. Hector Pacheco
    d. Honorable Mention MISLE Case/Vessel: 6442135/DIVERSION LOSS
OF LIFE
Convening Authority: Sector North Carolina
Lead Investigator: LT Jacob Aulner
Investigation Team: CWO4 David Getchell
6. COMDT (CG-INV) appreciates the professionalism and effort of all
investigating officers who submitted investigations for Sener Award
consideration.
7. The Sener Award board consisted of the following:
    CDR Laura Springer, COMDT (CG-WWM-1)
    CDR Travis Collier, COMDT (TRACEN PETALUMA)
    LCDR John Downing, COMDT (CG-WWM-1)
    LCDR Shawn Karasevicz, COMDT (CG-MSC-E2)
    LCDR Morgan Kelly, COMDT (CG-CVC-4)
8. POC: LCDR Amanda Fahrig, COMDT (CG-INV-1) at:
Amanda.L.Fahrig@uscg.mil.
9. RADM J. W. Mauger, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy,
(CG-5P), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.