32 NOVEMBER 2017 • FOGHORN SAFETYMATTERS 2570 Beverly Dr. #128, Aurora, IL 60502 T 630.236.3500 CENTA Power trAnsmIssIon LeADIng By InnovAtIon • USA based production • Over 20 unique designs • Over 16 million sold • Torsional vibration experts Trust CENTA – The Global Innovator Since 1970 CENTALINK Carbon Fiber Driveshafts Innovative flexible couplings for marine applications in several major ports, and search and rescue operations when the poop really hits the fan. Apart from search and rescue, all the other marine safety activi- ties mentioned above fall under the Coast Guard’s Prevention Mission area. Service delivery by Prevention resources is directly tied to workload and staffing, both of which are chal- lenges for today’s Coast Guard. From the recent return of credentialing delays to questions of competence, availability, and attitude of the marine inspection workforce, PVA members are concerned about the future of a regulatory regime that cooperatively has made the domestic passenger vessel industry one of the safest in the world. Workload and Staffing The domestic passenger vessel industry continues to grow as other segments of the U.S. flag fleet contract. According to Coast Guard reports to the PVA/Coast Guard Quality Partnership, the fleet grew by over 3% between 2014 and 2016 to 6241 vessels, or roughly half the current U.S. inspected fleet. In addition, over the next five years as Subchapter M brings approximately 6000 towing vessels under inspection there will be 50% more inspected vessels in the U.S. fleet. The challenge for the Coast Guard is that there are no new inspector positions being brought online in 2018 or 2019 to handle the increased workload. Instead the Coast Guard is hoping, which I am reminded is not a strategy, towing vessel operators take advantage of the third-party inspec- tion option provided in the towing vessel regulations. It remains to be seen what the impact on the domestic passenger vessel fleet will be as inspec- tion resources are diverted to imple- menting Subchapter M. Another area of concern regarding staffing is the perceived loss of inspector and investigator billets at Sectors and other marine safety field units. PVA staff participates in industry days all over the country some are put on by the local Coast Guard and other by industry with strong Coast Guard support. At many of these events we are hearing that in- spectors and investigators are trans- ferring out and not being replaced.