1998 Year of the Ocean The U.S. Marine Transportation System 



Marine paints incorporate biocides to inhibit corrosion and colonization and growth of 

 marine sessile organisms. These paints reduce hull maintenance downtime, increase vessel speed 

 by reducing drag, and improve fuel consumption. The biocides that make marine paints effective 

 can damage non-target aquatic species. The "Organotin Paint Control Act of 1987" has greatly 

 reduced levels of the toxin TBT in waterways, while still making marine paints with biocides 

 available for the commercial fleets. 



Petroleum products spilled into waterways can have both short and long term effects on 

 water quality. Massive oil spills can be very damaging; however, it is the collective contribution 

 of small amounts of petroleum products due to leakage, accidents, and runoff from roadways, rail 

 yards, and parking lots that introduce a large amount of oil and petroleum products into the 

 marine environment. Much effort and regulatory attention has been made to prevent the large 

 spills, but much needs to be done to prevent the many small pollution sources. 



Physical damage to sensitive aquatic habitats from vessel groundings is another concern. 

 The recovery of lost and damaged corals due to a recent grounding of a large commercial vessel 

 in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), is a long and slow process. Recovery 

 from the incidental damage to local fisheries and tourism can also be slow. Establishing marine 

 protected areas such as the FKNMS will help to keep vessels clear of these sensitive areas. 



Marine transportation activities come under an envirormiental regulatory framework that 

 is both national and international in scale. Most of these regulations are directed at controlling or 

 preventing water pollution. As science better understands the movement, fate, and effects of a 

 wide variety of pollutants, additional control policies will be created. Marine transportation must 

 facilitate commerce without damaging marine ecosystems. 



TECHNOLOGY 



The U.S. maritime industry has been a leader in developing and applying technology to 

 lower transportation costs, improve service to shippers, increased safety, ensure environmental 

 protection, and provide sealift to the U.S. armed forces in times of national emergency. It has 

 dramatically improved productivity through innovative and creative application of technologies. 



Technology offers tools to increase safety and efficiency. By 2020, advances in computer 

 information and communications technologies will further change the way transportation and 

 business activities are organized. 



Navigation Information 



Critical to safe and efficient movement of marine traffic is a modem navigation 

 information infrastructure. This infrastructure includes accurate electronic charts, reliable 

 positioning systems, real time environmental information (winds, waves, tides, water levels) and 

 a vessel traffic management system. Developing accurate charts will require a comprehensive 



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