ALCOAST 313/25 - JUL 2025 2024 WINNERS OF THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS

R 141720Z JUL 25 MID120002084043U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS
ALCOAST 313/25
SSIC 16732
SUBJ: 2024 WINNERS OF THE CONGRESSMAN JAMES SENER AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN MARINE INVESTIGATIONS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 141618Z FEB 25/ALCOAST 066/25
B. USCG Marine Safety Manual, Volume V: Investigations and
Enforcement, COMDTINST 16000.10A
1. 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 closed in CY24.
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 Investigation 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 2024 Congressman James Sener Award for Excellence
in Marine Investigations (in alphabetical order):
    a. Platinum Level.
        1) MISLE Activity Number/Title: 7557355/San Pedro Bay Oil Spill.
            Convening Authority: Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach
            Lead Investigator: LCDR Braden Rostad
            Investigative team: CDR John Davis, LT Brett Losey,
            LT Bryan Reed, Mr. Richard Yazbek, Mr. Les Ledet
    b. Gold Level.
        1) MISLE Activity Number/Title: 7489755/MARINE 1 BRAVO and
            Passenger Vessel HONCHO Collision and Loss of Life.
            Convening Authority: Sector New York
            Lead Investigator: CWO Benjamin Mercado
            Investigative team: LCDR Shawn Karasevicz,
            LCDR Travis McNeely, LT Brandon Reed
        2) MISLE Activity Number/Title: 7597646/WORLD EXPLORER Loss of Life.
            Convening Authority: Activities Europe
            Lead Investigator: LCDR Samuel Kulp
            Investigative team: CWO Joshua Nix
5. The Board felt some investigations deserved to be recognized,
even though they did not win the Sener Award. The following
investigation received an honorable mention (in alphabetical order):
    a. MISLE Case Number/Title: 7823888/CINDY B Allision.
        Lead Investigator: CWO Jay Willimon
        Investigative team: LT Blake Palan, MSTCS Donald Anderson,
        MST3 William Butler, MST3 Emilee Clancy
    b. MISLE Case Number/Title: 7798704/MTM DUBLIN Loss of Life.
        Lead Investigator: CWO Deborah Robertson
        Investigative team: LT Jeanette Wheatley, Mr. James Pritchard
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-926)
LCDR Jeffrey Bender, COMDT (CG-FAC)
LCDR William Williams, COMDT (CG-INV)
LT Steve Conde, COMDT (CG-CVC)
Mr. Kevin McDonald, COMDT (CG-FAC)
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.