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Future generations deserve to inherit healthy, bountiful oceans.

"Seventy-one percent of our planet is ocean, and seventy-one percent of our body is salt water. . . . There is this extraordinary connection between who we are as human beings and what happens in this magnificent body of water. "
— First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton

Marine Transportation

Build the world's most technologically advanced, safe, secure, efficient, effective, accessible, globally competitive, dynamic, and environmentally responsible system for moving goods and people.

Our marine transportation system—which consists of waterways, ports and their intermodal connections, vessels, vehicles, and system users—supports our economy and national security
through dependable all-weather transportation for the movement of goods and people. It is the most flexible, most costeffective, and safest mode of domestic and international freight transportation, providing competitive access to suppliers and markets in an increasingly global economy. It enables the swift mobilization and supply of America's military, both
through military assets and through the sealift and logistical support provided by the private commercial U.S. flag merchant fleet. And it also provides recreational value to millions of boaters, fishermen, and cruise passengers.

By 2010, U. S. foreign trade in goods is projected to more than double today 's value, reaching $5 trillion in constant dollars, with the volume of foreign trade cargo increasing by more than 30%to 1. 7 billion metric tons. This rise in marine trade is expected to fuel demand for increasingly flexible and less expensive marine transportation services. This demand, as well as increases in recreational use, high-speed ferry transportation, cruise ship traffic, commercial fishing, and expanded U. S. military needs for force projection and supply, will strain the marine transportation system 's services and infrastructure. However, the ability of today 's system to handle tomorrow 's emerging needs is severely challenged.

In response to a Congressional mandate, the Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and nine other federal agencies collaborated with stakeholders to assess the marine transportation system and present their findings in a report to Congress. The report of the Marine Transportation System ask Force addresses several concerns and recommendations to be implemented by the combined efforts of the private, local, state, and federal sectors. Highlights of the report are presented here.

Ongoing Concerns

• Many federal agencies, state and local governments, port authorities, private industries, and labor groups share responsibilities for managing safety, security, and environmental protection, making coordinated responses to challenges and opportunities very difficult to achieve.
• Innovative U.S. financing, regulatory changes, and tax mechanisms may be needed over the long run to spur the substantial public and private capital investments needed to meet growing demands.
• The marine transportation system infrastructure and supportive information systems may be stretched to their limits to cope with projected increases in both the system's users and the size, speed, and diversity of vessels.
• Growth in vessel traffic will increase risks to sensitive ocean, coastal, and inland environments.

Recommendations

• Facilitate coordination among all stakeholders by establishing a federal Interagency Committee for the Marine Transportation System, a nonfederal Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council, as well as regional and local committees.
• Explore funding strategies that coordinate public funding processes and maximize the effectiveness of public and private investments.
• Improve competitiveness and safety by establishing infrastructure and information systems that streamline vessel inspection, reporting and port clearance procedures, and that improve the marine transportation system traffic forecasts.
• Create a national cooperative marine transportation system research program.
• Achieve environmental protection and safety through improving local coordination, ballast water management, and design and system management of dredged channels.
• Establish supporting information management and infrastructure in: hydrographic and weather information; tracking cargo, passengers, and vessels; and waterways traffic management information.
• Meet national security objectives by balancing commercial demands with safeguards and inspections to protect against security threats and support military mobilization.

For more information
http://www.uscg.mil
http://www.marad.dot.gov
http://www.nos.noaa.gov
http://www.usace.army.mil
http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans