ALCOAST 077/22 - MAR 2022 NOMINATIONS FOR THE CY2021 CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS

R 071600Z MAR 22 MID200001556229U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 077/22
SSIC 16732
SUBJ: NOMINATIONS FOR THE CY2021 CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD
FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS
A. USCG Marine Safety Manual, Volume V; Investigations and
Enforcement, COMDTINST M16000.10 (series)
B. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Investigations Documentation and
Reporting Procedures, Version 1.02
1. 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, about 14% of the steam vessels
in operation were destroyed by explosions, killing more than 1000
people. These explosions occurred largely because there were no
inspection laws or rules of navigation. In some cases, mariner
incompetence, negligence, misconduct, or all three 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 put in place a world class 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 investigators.
2. Nominations for the 2021 Congressman James Sener Award for
Excellence in Marine Investigations are requested to be submitted
to COMDT (CG-INV). The nomination submission deadline is 01 April
2022. The purpose of this award is to encourage the completion of
the very finest marine investigations throughout the Coast Guard,
to share the best marine investigation practices, and to recognize
units and investigative teams that have demonstrated exceptional
investigative skill and positively influenced marine safety.
3. Nominations: This solicitation includes all marine casualty
investigations that are in full compliance with the marine
investigation process detailed in part B of REF (A), REF (B),
and were closed in CY2021.
4. The following should be reviewed in detail prior to submission:
a. There are two levels of the James Sener Award that apply:
Platinum and Gold. The Platinum level consists of a Major Marine
Casualty (MMC) or Formal investigation, while the Gold level
consists of any other lower level Marine Casualty (MC)
investigation.
b. Platinum nominations require the following elements and
should highlight impactful recommendations to regulations or
policy that provide for the widest improvement to safety within
the maritime community:
(1) An investigation into a Major Marine Casualty or any
Coast Guard Formal investigation;
(2) An investigation conducted in compliance with current
Coast Guard policies/procedures;
(3) An investigation with a Narrative Report of Investigation
(ROI) that meets the formatting requirements in REF (B) and is
crafted in a clear, succinct fashion in simple terms with the
factual information, analysis, conclusion, and actions taken, and
(4) An investigation that should contain at least one
corrective recommendation such as a Safety Recommendation, Finding
of Concern, Safety Alert, or Enforcement Referral (successfully
adjudicated).
c. Gold nominations require the following elements and should
be narrow in its recommended actions for correction:
(1) A Coast Guard led marine casualty investigation;
(2) An investigation conducted in compliance with current
Coast Guard policies/procedures and other relevant documents; and
(3) An investigation reflecting a close working relationship
between the Investigating Officer(s) (IO) and subject(s) of the
investigation to identify corrective actions or remedies of any
latent unsafe conditions that were discovered, considered or both
for implementation.
5. The nomination consists of a standard CG Memorandum submitted
to COMDT (CG-INV) copying the first (O-6, Flag, SES, etc.) in the
chain of command. The memorandum should include the name of the
investigation, the MISLE Incident Investigation Activity number,
the name of the lead investigating officer, the investigative team
(if applicable), the level of the award, and a summary paragraph
of the significance of the investigation to value, best practices,
or skillset of the investigation team. Though not required by
COMDT (CG-INV), the submitting unit may need to include the
narrative report of investigation and any CG generated safety
alerts and/or advisories or findings of concern, as applicable,
when forwarding the nomination for review. Chain of command
endorsements of the nomination are not required, but info copies
are recommended.
6. Up to four Sener Awards will be awarded with a goal of
recognizing two investigations under each award level.
7. POC: COMDT (CG-INV-1), LCDR Amanda Fahrig, (202) 372-1035,
Amanda.L.Fahrig@uscg.mil.
8. RADM J. W. Mauger, Assistant Commandant For Prevention Policy
(CG-5P), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.