ALCOAST 066/25 - FEB 2025 NOMINATIONS FOR THE CY2024 CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS

R 141618Z FEB 25   MID120001741556U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 066/25
SSIC 16732
SUBJ: NOMINATIONS FOR THE CY2024 CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD
FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS
A. USCG Marine Safety Manual, Volume V: Investigations and
Enforcement, COMDTINST 16000.10A
B. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Investigations Documentation and
Reporting Procedures, Version 1.05
C. CG-INV Policy Letter 01-16 Congressman James Sener Award
Nominations
1. This ALCOAST solicits submissions for the 2024 Congressman
James Sener Award for Excellence in Marine Investigations.
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, 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 investigations.
3. Nominations for the 2024 Congressman James Sener Award for
Excellence in Marine Investigations are requested to be submitted
to COMDT (CG-INV). The nomination submission deadline is 15 March
2025. 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.
4. Nominations: This solicitation includes all marine casualty (MC)
investigations that are in full compliance with the marine
investigation process detailed in part B of REF (A), all of REF (B),
and were closed in CY2024.
5. 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 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 MMC or any Coast Guard formal
investigation;
        (2) An investigation conducted in compliance with 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 contains 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
highlight impactful investigations that spurred improvements which
can be more limited in scope than the Platinum level investigations:
        (1) A Coast Guard led MC investigation;
        (2) An investigation conducted in compliance with 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 which identified and made the appropriate
recommendation(s) to address any causal factors, unsafe conditions,
or violations discovered.
6. The nomination consists of a standard CG Memo from the unit
Commanding Officer submitted to COMDT (CG-INV) and shall meet the
requirements in REF (C). The memo should include the name of the
investigation, the MISLE Incident Investigation Activity number,
the name of the lead IO, the investigative team (if applicable),
the level of the award, and a summary paragraph of the significance
of the investigation. Though not required by COMDT (CG-INV), the
submitting unit may include the narrative ROI and any resulting
CG products (e.g., Safety Alerts, Findings of Concern, CG policies),
when forwarding the nomination for review. Chain of command
endorsements of the nomination are not required, but info copies
are recommended.
7. Up to four Sener Awards will be awarded with a goal of
recognizing two investigations under each award level.
8. POC: COMDT (CG-INV-1), CDR Laura Fitzpatrick, (202) 372-1032,
Laura.M.Fitzpatrick@uscg.mil.
9. RADM W. R. Arguin, Assistant Commandant For Prevention Policy
(CG-5P), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.