b'SAFETY MATTERSSAFETYQuality Partnership: Accomplishments and New ProjectsERIC CHRISTENSEN // PVA DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS & RISK MANAGEMENTT hePVA/U.S.CoastGuardtheworkforceby15,000personnel,ty can play a vital role in identifying QualityPartnership(QP)streamliningheadquartersprocesses,areas of concern, such as the timeliness met in person at Coast Guardaccelerating technology adoption likeof the appeal process.HeadquartersinWashington,D.C.,AIandrobotics,andrevampingac-onSept.17,2025.Theagendawasquisitions to deliver assets (cutters andDEREGULATORY INITIATIVESpackedasusualandtherewereap- aircraft)morequickly.WhenaskedUnderthecurrentadministration, proximately40individualspartici- how this will impact the marine safe- the Coast Guard, along with the rest pating from PVA and various Coasttymission,theadmiralstatedthereofthefederalgovernmenthasbeen Guard offices. arestill11statutoryCoastGuardchargedwithreducingregulatory missions and marine safety in one ofburdenonindustryandthepublic. TheQPisalong-standingforumthem. The safe and efficient flow ofFor the Coast Guards part, RADM whereby senior PVA and Coast Guardcommerce is key to the economic suc- ArguinestablishedaProcessIm-leadership discuss issues of mutual con- cess of the country. provementTeamalsoknownasthe cern and seek non-regulatory solutionsPIT Crew to not only triage incoming toaddressthoseconcerns.Inintro- Jones asked if the increase of 15,000recommendations from industry, but ductory remarks, PVA 2025 Presidentpersonnel would allow the small boattoalsolookinternallyatopportu-CaptainStephenJonesandRADMstations shuttered in recent years duenitiestoreduceregulatoryburden. Wayne Arguin, assistant commandanttoalackofpersonnelwouldbere- The current Unified Agenda for the for prevention policy, reinforced bothopened.RADMArguinstatedthatCoast Guard has several deregulatory organizationscommitmenttomain- recruitinghasexceededgoalsoverinitiativesinmarinercredentialing, tainingtherelationship.RADMAr- the last two years and that the Coastpreemption,andelectroniccharts. guin stated that industry partnershipsGuard will look at station staffing asRADM Arguin noted that while the such as the one with PVA allow for bet- more personnel enter the service. industry is quick to point out when ter delivery of services to the Americanthe Coast Guard is perceived as regu-pubic and promote a safe and secureThe admiral also discussed the role oflating by policy, he hoped it was okay marine transportation system. the proposed Secretary of the CoastfortheCoastGuardtoderegulate Guard. The establishment of this po- bypolicyuntilrulemakingscatch FORCE DESIGN 2028 sition is in the current Coast Guardup. Change three to Navigation and AdmiralArguinkickedoffdiscus- AuthorizationBillandwillputtheVesselInspectionCircular(NVIC) sionswithasnapshotoftheForceCoast Guard on par with other mili- 01-16 Equivalency Determination for Design2028(FD2028)initiative.tary services. Chart and Publication Carriage Re-FD2028istheU.S.CoastGuardsquirements is an example of this de-strategicplantobecomeamoreag- Finally, the admiral discussed the estab- regulatory effort. Additionally, there ile,technologicallyadvanced,andlishment of the Office of Quality Man- are some rulemakings that are no lon-mission-ready fighting force. Spurredagement.Thisofficewillbechargedger on the Unified Agenda including bydecadesofunderinvestment,thewith identifying areas of improvementsafety management for covered small initiativefocusesontransformingwithin the prevention program in orderpassengervesselsandenforcement fourkeyareas:people,organization,to make Coast Guard service deliveryoftheEnvironmentalProtection acquisitionandcontracting,andmore consistent from unit to unit. PVAAgencys(EPA)VesselIncidental technology. This includes expandingand the rest of the maritime communi- Discharge Act. This means that the FOGHORN 44'