Foreword - BTS - Bureau of Transportation Statistics

SummaryxviiAnother safety-related initiative,called the International MaritimeInformation Safety System,is a joint USCG/MARAD effortdesigned to capture causal informationand lessons learnedabout near collision situations,near pollution events, and otherunsafe occurrences; and relatedprecursor events (hazardous situations)such as crew fatigue,equipment maintenance/failure,communication failure, and policyand procedural issues. Thegoal is to identify system vulnerabilitiesand weaknesses beforefailures or accidents occur.The popularity of personal watercraft has grown in recent years, prompting safety concerns.USACEEnvironmentA key challenge for the U.S. maritime industry is to meet the growing demands anddiverse needs of waterborne transportation while protecting environmentally sensitiveharbors, coastal areas, and marine resources. Among the principal environmentalconcerns are the dredging of navigation channels and managing the disposalor beneficial use of dredged material, oil spills, air pollution from ships, and antifoulingpaints.Most ports and harbors are not deep enough for the newest vessels, and theyrequire periodic dredging to maintain depths. As world trade increases and shippingpractices and technology evolve, many ports may need deeper and broaderchannels and harbors.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and U.S. port authorities are responsiblefor dredging. U.S. Ports spent $129.4 million on new construction and modernization/rehabilitationdredging in 1997. From 1992-97, the USACE dredged anannual average of 273 million cubic yards of sediments in ports and harbors at acost of $542 million per year.Oil spills can have major impacts on nearby ecosystems, aquatic species, wildlife,and birds, but the extent and severity of environmental contamination vary greatlywith the location and size of the spill. The total number of reported spills from selfpropelledvessels and barges in U.S. waters increased from 1986 to 1995, while thevolume and number of large spills declined. This is attributable to a stricter regulatoryenvironment, definitions regarding spills, and increased awareness by customersand vessel facility operators.