A semiannual meeting to discuss cooperative efforts related to safety, security and environmental protection in the tugboat, towboat and barge industry was recently held by the National Quality Steering Committee (NQSC) of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)-American Waterways Operators (AWO) Safety Partnership in Arlington, Virginia.
In his introductory speech as the new co-chairman of the committee, Rear Admiral John P. Nadeau, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, highlighted the importance of the towing industry to maritime commerce and the national economy, while vowing to stay on the same course set by Rear Admiral Paul Thomas, who stepped down from his position as co-chairman to command the Coast Guard’s Eighth District.
The meeting then featured a discussion on safety metrics for the previous year, which showed an approximate 80 percent decrease in the amount of oil spilled from barges since 2015.
However, that same data showed a slight increase in crew fatalities from six deaths to eight. Last year was also the second consecutive year in which there were more high-severity incidents than medium-severity incidents.
Participants also examined the continuing efforts to coordinate action between vessel operators, USCG, and third party organizations.
The NQSC then endorsed a plan to form a quality action team in order to develop a cyber risk management guidance for tugboat, towboat and barge companies. After the endorsement, USCG and AWO will now identify agency and industry members to schedule a team kick-off meeting.
Established in 1995, the partnership acts as a forum for USCG and AWO to discuss non-regulatory, data-driven approaches to improve marine safety.