28 JULY 2018 • FOGHORN SAFETYMATTERS By Eric Christensen, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management Each year, thousands of preventable maritime accidents are caused by operator inattention, cited twice as frequently as the next leading factor. The Furuno BR500 Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) helps to prevent these accidents. Scan this code with your smart phone for a Guided Tour of the BR500. www.FurunoUSA.com O ne of the biggest complaints the maritime industry has with our primary regulator, the U.S. Coast Guard, is that personnel move in and out of jobs every three to four years. Once you get to know them and develop a solid working relationship, they are off to their next assignment. While frustrating, new personnel bring with them new opportunities to further our mutual goals of public safety and environmental stewardship. I was recently encouraged by comments made by RADM John Nadeau, the Coast Guard’s Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, on the role of the regulator. While he was addressing an international audience, the comments clearly resonate for our members and harken back to the Prevention Through People initiative of the mid 1990s. RADM Nadeau said: “People often ask me what I think the role of the regulator is in the maritime shipping industry. In my honest opinion, regulators must always be mindful of the need to facili- tate commerce, and do our best not to impede it. Regulations are in response to mandates from our publicly elected officials, international obligations, and demands from industry and the public. They provide the certainty needed for investment and innovation, and level the playing field to promote fair com- Facilitating Commerce – Is Coast Guard Leadership Back on the Right Track?