Welcome to The CMTS

CMTS

Welcome to the Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) website. The CMTS is a Federal Cabinet-level, inter-departmental committee chaired by the Secretary of Transportation.

The purpose of the CMTS is to create a partnership of Federal departments and agencies with responsibility for the Marine Transportation System (MTS). The job of the CMTS is to ensure the development and implementation of national MTS policies that are consistent with national needs and to report to the President its views and recommendations for improving the MTS.

The MTS is essential to the American economy; it supports millions of American jobs, facilitates trade, moves people and goods, and provides a safe, secure, cost-effective, and energy-efficient transportation alternative. But because much of the system’s infrastructure is aging and constrained by capacity limitations, the CMTS is working to ensure that the MTS continues to meet the present and future needs of our nation... keep reading »


Bulletin Board
13 Jan
2012

BTS National Census of Ferry Operators

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released the latest results from the biennial National Census of Ferry Operators (NCFO) conducted in 2010-2011. ... view more »
15 Dec
2011

BTS Passenger Vessel Special Reports

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released two special reports on the ocean passenger vessel industry. ... view more »
7 Dec
2011

Benefits of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

The director of the National Federation of Regional Associations (NFRA), Ms.Josie Quintrell, joined the December 7, 2011, CMTS Coordinating Board meeting to present on the benefit of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) to marine transportation. ... view more »
Linking IOOS and Marine Transportation System
7 Dec
2011

e-Navigation Strategic Action Plan Approved

The U.S. e-Navigation Strategic Action Plan was approved by the CMTS Coordinating Board in July 2011 and is currently undergoing policy review in the Office of Management and Budget. ... view more »
21 Nov
2011

Best Practices for Preventing and Managing Breakaway Vessels

The Preparedness Task Team delivered its final report on “Best Practices for Preventing and Managing Breakaway Vessels” to the CMTS Coordinating Board. ... view more »
Best Practices for Preventing and Managing Breakaway Vessels
17 Oct
2011

Diagnosing the Marine Transportation System: Measuring Performance and Targeting Improvement

The Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) and TRB's Marine Board are cosponsoring the conference Diagnosing the Marine Transportation System: Measuring Performance and Targeting Improvement in Washington, DC (June 26-28, 2012). ... view more »
Call for Abstracts CMTS TRB Metric 2012
27 Jul
2011

Coast Guard Proceedings

The Summer 2011 issue of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Proceedings titled, “The Marine Transportation System: Value to the Nation,” was recently released. ... view more »
25 Jul
2011

Coastal Zone Conference 2011

On July 19, 2011, an interagency panel representing various member agencies from the Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) convened a panel to discuss the importance and relevance of the Marine Transportation System (MTS) ... view more »
CMTS Interagency Panel at Coastal Zone 2011
7 Jul
2011

Related Federal Advisory Committee Contact List 2011

Updated Marine Transportation-Related Federal Advisory Committee Contact List ... view more »
Related Federal Advisory Committee Contact List 2011
1 Apr
2011

US Army Corps of Engineers Releases LOMA 1.0

LOMA provides lock operators with greatly increased situational awareness of vessels operating in the vicinity of their locks. ... view more »
11 Mar
2011

PEC Transportation Infrastructure Letter

In a letter to the President, the President’s Export Council emphasized the importance of a “robust, reliable and efficient domestic transportation infrastructure” as a critical first-step in support of the goals laid out in the National Export Initiative.
PEC Transportation Infrastructure Letter
28 Feb
2011

DoT Transportation Stats Released

The Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics released America's Container Ports: Linking Markets at Home and Abroad, an overview of the movement of maritime freight handled by the nation's container ports in 2009 through mid-2010. ... view more »
16 Feb
2011

Strategic Action Plan Released

The CMTS Coordinating Board recently approved the final report, Strategic Acton Plan for Research and Development in the Marine Transportation System. This report provides an Action Plan for short-term and long-term R&D ... view more »
Strategic Action Plan for Research and Development in the Marine Transportation System