ALCOAST 245/23 - JUN 2023 2022 WINNERS OF THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS

R 301218Z JUN 23 MID120000268989U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 245/23
SSIC 16732
SUBJ: 2022 WINNERS OF THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 061542Z FEB 23/ALCOAST 048/23
B. USCG Marine Safety Manual, Volume V: Investigations and
Enforcement, COMDTINST M16000.10A
1. This ALCOAST announces 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 closed in CY22.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. IAW REF (A) and REF (B), the following teams are the
winners of the 2022 Congressman James Sener Award for Excellence in
Marine Investigations:
    a. Platinum Level
      (1) MISLE Case/Vessel: 7100250/EMMY ROSE Sinking and Loss of
            Life Convening Authority: District One
Lead Investigator: CDR Trevor Cowan (ret)
Investigative team: LT Tom Whalen, LT Schuyler Millham,
CWO Kimberly McLean, Mr. Steven Siler, and
Mr. Ted Harrington (ret)
      (2) MISLE Case/Vessel: 6054346/EXITO Sinking with Loss of Life
Convening Authority: Sector Anchorage
Lead Investigator: LCDR Rven Garcia and LT Benjamin Wagner
Investigative team:
Mr. Kevin Williams, LCDR James Daugherty, and
MSTC Brian Sargis (ret)
    b. Gold Level
      (1) MISLE Case/Vessel: 6746589/CAPTAIN BOUDREAX Loss of Life
Convening Authority: MSU Lake Charles
Lead Investigator: CWO Hugh M. Hamilton
Investigative team: LTJG Marcus J. Thompson
      (2) MISLE Case/Vessel: 7412263/EVERFORWARD Grounding
Convening Authority: Sector Maryland-NCR
Lead Investigator: LT Laura Higby
Investigative team:
CWO Anthony Galfo, CWO Andrew Kalbrener,
LCDR Tony Cao, LCDR Sonha Gomez, and CDR Baxter Smoak
5. Due to the historic number of investigations nominated this year,
the Board felt additional investigations deserved to be recognized.
The following investigations received an honorable mention (in
alphabetical order):
    a. MISLE Case/Vessel: 6571120/CONCORDE Man Overboard and Loss
of Life
Lead Investigator: LT Bryan Scott
Investigative team: Mr. Mike Kaszuba
     b. MISLE Case/Vessel: 6025735/KHALEESI Capsize and Sinking
Leading to Injuries
Lead Investigator: Mr. Paul Taylor
    c. MISLE Case/Vessel: 5756033/KING NEPTUNE Loss of Life and
Inspected Vessel
Lead Investigator: LCDR Amanda Styles
Investigative team: LCDR Benjamin Lyons and CDR Nathan Menefee
    d. MISLE Case/Vessel: 6640369/NAI'A Capsizing with Loss of Life
Lead Investigator: LT Kaitlyn Moore
Investigative team: CDR Kyra Chin-Dykeman, LCDR Braden Rostad,
LT Bryan Reed, Mr. Richard Yazbek
    e. MISLE Case/Vessel: 6912908/PELICAN Vehicle Overboard and Loss
of Life
Lead Investigator: LT Danny Hicks
Investigative team: Mr. Jesus Porrata, LT Krystyna Rogers,
CWO Michael Micucci, CWO Elizabeth King, and CWO Ryan Graham
    f. MISLE Case/Vessel: 6085870/PISCES Loss of Life
Lead Investigator: LCDR Bradley Bergan and CWO Daniel Sammons
(ret)
Investigative team: CWO Benjamin Morris, MSTC Jason Dall,
CDR Joes Rosario (ret), and CAPT Andrew Bender
    g. MISLE Case/Vessel: 5877997/STARBOUND Loss of Life
Lead Investigator: LCDR Kevin Kineslla
Investigative team: Mr. Paul Tramm
    h. MISLE Case/Vessel: 5974636/TAHOE QUEEN Fire, Personnel
Casualty, Loss of Vessel
Lead Investigator: Mr. Paul Taylor
Investigative team: CDR Kevin Broyles
    i. MISLE Case/Vessel: 7184634/TIRRANNA Grounding
Lead Investigator: LT Nikolay Markov
Investigative team: Mr. Paul Ledoux
    j. MISLE Case/Vessel: PIA 7098649/WN405TUL Loss of Life
Lead Investigator: CWO Larry Goade
Investigative team: Mr. Paul Tramm and LCDR Alexandra Mostrom
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 Matthew Zinn, COMDT (CG-823)
CDR Laura Springer, COMDT (CG-WWM)
LCDR Peter Fransson, COMDT (CG-761)
LCDR Michelle Rosenberg, COMDT (NAVCEN)
LT Kelly Steele, COMDT (CG-INV)
8. POC: COMDT (CG-INV-1), LCDR Laura Fitzpatrick, (202) 372-1032
Laura.M.Fitzpatrick@uscg.mil.
9. RDML W. R. Arguin, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy
(CG-5P), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.