- Mission [1]
- The Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) continues its work in support of, and in harmony with, the CG-5 Business Strategies.
Specifically, TSAC supports the goal of promoting Homeland Security by strengthening the safety, security and integrity of
the maritime mass-transportation network vital to the national economy. Under the Marine Transportation System strategy, the
Committee is constantly evaluating and addressing both acute and emergent Towing Vessel requirements to ensure the towing
industry maintains robust capacity to meet the national economic and security needs of the nation.TSAC has provided unparalleled
expertise, advice and guidance to the Coast Guard during the mandated towing vessel inspection regime and the subsequent Notice
of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). This NPRM will effect greater than five-thousand towing vessels and is the single greatest
regulatory-effort by the Coast Guard during the past ten-years. Under the strategy of Mariner Qualifications and Training,
TSAC sponsors a very active working group that continues to provide the Coast Guard with invaluable assistance in the arena
of Licensing and Manning for Officers of Towing Vessels. Additionally, TSAC has provided numerous suggestions for the revision
of the implementing Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular(NVIC). Further, this group has rendered its advice on towing
addenda for 100 & 200 Gross Ton license holders, and continues to address STCW Implementation for coastal & sea-going
towing vessels. The Committee uses Department and Agency goals as a tool, not only as a deciding factor in the acceptance
of proposed tasking from the Coast Guard, but also to generate supplementary projects. This process is used to refine task
statements and focus the Committee's efforts. Since TSAC was established in 1980, it has made a total of 147 recommendations
to the Coast Guard. These recommendations have made a substantial impact on regulatory initiatives, often recognizing and
solving problems prior to publication. Additionally, members' companies are continuously operationally assisting the CG in
implementing its Crew Alertness Campaign and Crew Endurance Management System. TSAC engages the Coast Guard not only in response
to Tasking; but also proactively in the identification of issues whose event horizon is beyond Coast Guard visibility. TSAC
membership is composed of industry-leaders who are capable of projecting business demands and capabilities well into the future.
These insights are then brought to the Coast Guard to consider and to incorporate into the regulatory and enforcement planning
process.
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