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



bottom survey program using state-of-the-art technology. There are many areas of U.S. coastal 

 waters and harbors that have not been surveyed in 50 years. The introduction of deeper draft 

 ships as well as facilities' construction, chaimeling, and natural silting justify newer surveys. 

 This is especially critical in areas where there is minimal under-keel clearance available to ships. 



The Differential Global Positioning System) and the Electronic Charting Display and 

 Information System are replacing traditional navigational methods. Electronic navigation 

 systems are likely to improve safety overall, but may introduce new complexities and new 

 opportunities for human error. These systems will require new training and qualification 

 programs for mariners. Looking back historically to the introduction of radar, one might also 

 expect that some of the safety advantages of electronic navigation systems will translate into 

 increased transportation throughput. 



Automatic identification system transponder capability will improve mariners' and ashore 

 managers' job performance by providing more comprehensive information frequently and 

 unobtrusively. Digitized communications on demand will lessen reliance on traditional VHP 

 voice communications, which are reaching airwave saturation. Sensing communications and 

 information technologies offer big improvements in how things are done in the marine industry. 

 "Smart" systems can tell mariners what is happening with their ship, independent of their own 

 observation. Many traditional systems, like stability books, can be enhanced with updated 

 technology. 



Advances in marine technology will change vessel design, operating procedures, and 

 maiming levels. These advances will offer the potential for rapid increases in transportation 

 throughout and highlight the need for streamlined, responsive, performance-oriented regulations. 

 Industry will demand greater involvement in the policy-making and regulatory processes to take 

 advantage of irmovative approaches and to stay competitive. 



Effective use of technology can increase the capacity of marine transportation while 

 maintaining safety and protecting the environment. To that end, the development and effective 

 use of risk assessment techniques are essential. Coordinated research and development to assess 

 the complexity and coupling of systems is important. 



In general, technological advances will be critical factors in ensuring that the overall 

 transportation system is brought to its full potential in terms of life-cycle economics (the cost of 

 acquisition, operation, maintenance, and disposal of an item), energy efficiency, and minimal 

 societal impacts. The rapid advance of technological capabilities has not been matched by the 

 government's ability to establish standards that deploy its use, nationally and internationally. 

 When the marine industry is ready to use a technology, such as the Electronic Charting Display 

 and Information System, it expects there to be a national standard in conformity with 

 international conventions. A national policy and mechanism for better coordination on issues 

 such as these would represent a giant step toward providing the technology wanted by the 

 maritime industry. Federal resources for maritime research and development have declined 



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