CMTS Action Teams

Strategic Action Plan for Research and Development
in the Marine Transportation System

A coordinated R&D strategy will enable the Nation to address marine transportation infrastructure challenges efficiently, meet increasing freight demand, promote safety in and security of the MTS, and address the environmental impacts of the MTS.

Integrated Action Team Lead:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Participating Agencies:

• Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Maritime Commission
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Transportation Safety Board
• Oak Ridge National Lab (DOE)
• Oceanographer of the Navy
• Research and Innovative Technology Administration (DOT)
• Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (DOT)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
• U.S. Maritime Administration (DOT)
• The Volpe Center (DOT)

Purpose:

To enable a strategic capability to identify, develop, and implement innovative research and technology to address the pressing challenges identified in National Strategy for the Marine Transportation System: A Framework for Action.

The CMTS Strategic Action Plan for Research and Development in the MTS calls for a coordinated research framework aimed at leveraging and linking existing federal R&D programs to improve the MTS.

Value:

A coordinated R&D strategy will enable the Nation to address marine transportation infrastructure challenges efficiently, meet increasing freight demand, promote safety in and security of the MTS, and address the environmental impacts of the MTS.

Status and Timelines:

December 2012: A summary report from the June R&D Conference is scheduled for completion.

Completed: The Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences and the CMTS R&D IAT co-sponsored the second biennial R&D Conference—Diagnosing the Marine Transportation System: Measuring Performance and Targeting Improvement—June 26-28, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Arctic Marine Transportation Report to Congress

“In the past, the Arctic was largely inaccessible, but increased seasonal melting of the sea ice is opening the region and creating opportunities for oil and gas exploration, maritime shipping, commercial fishing and tourism. We are confronted by a new ocean for the first time in 500 years.”

Rear Admiral David Titley, U.S. Navy
Director of Climate Change Task Force

Integrated Action Team Leads:

• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Maritime Administration
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Participating Agencies:

• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Oceanographer of the Navy
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Maritime Administration
• U.S. Transportation Command

Purpose:

The U.S. Arctic Marine Transportation Report to Congress will explore the implications of existing and expected increases in maritime traffic in the U.S. Arctic.

The U.S. Arctic Marine Transportation Report to Congress proposes a National Arctic MTS implementation plan, including a prioritization of recommended federal actions.

The policy recommendations are intended to ensure adequate maritime shipping safety, environmental protection and response, and national security capabilities in the U.S. Arctic.

Value:

Warming conditions and reduction in the extent of sea ice cover in the Arctic are creating new opportunities and challenges in the region.

Ensuring a safe and efficient U.S. MTS in the Arctic is essential to meeting the nation’s economic development and national security objectives.

Status and Timelines:

Completed: The Arctic IAT completed an inventory of Federal activities related to marine transportation in the U.S. Arctic region. From this inventory, a framework for a U.S. Arctic MTS was developed.

Completed: A gap analysis, which compares the U.S. Arctic MTS framework and its elements against current and planned Federal Arctic marine transportation activities, was completed.

Completed: A peer review of the draft report, leading to the development of issue papers for each of the 16 U.S. Arctic MTS elements, was completed.

Completed: Initial CMTS member agency review and comment of the draft report was completed in February 2013.

Completed: A 45-day public comment period on the draft report was completed on April 22, 2013. Two moderated conference calls with general stakeholders and Alaskan Tribes were held during the public comment period.

Underway: The CMTS is conducting a second interagency review to develop a final draft U.S. Arctic Marine Transportation Report for consideration by the CMTS Coordinating Board in June.

Response to the National Ocean Council’s Priority Objectives

"The ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes provide jobs, food, energy resources, ecological services, recreation, and tourism opportunities and play critical roles in our nation’s transportation, economy, and trade, as well as the global mobility of our armed forces and the maintenance of international peace and security."

Executive Order No. 13547
Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes

Integrated Action Team Leads:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Participating Agencies:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• U.S. Maritime Administration
• U.S. Transportation Command

Purpose:

To make recommendations and identify areas where common interests and goals exist between the CMTS and the National Ocean Council (NOC).

To examine the recommendations of the President’s Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force report relative to the MTS.

Value:

CMTS member agency staff participated in NOC working groups and provided timely input toward the development of draft strategic action plans.

The MTS is a critical component of National Ocean Policy, and the CMTS offers expertise and an established forum with a proven track record of facilitating inter-departmental cooperation and collaboration.

The NOC invited the CMTS to hold an ex officio position on its interagency policy committees.

Status and Timelines:

July 13, 2011: Report approved by the CMTS Coordinating Board and transmitted to the Chair of the NOC

July 13, 2011: Task team stood down

CMTS Ocean Policy Response Paper

e-Navigation

Using modern technology to support a safer, more efficient, more secure and environmentally sound Marine Transportation System

As defined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), e-Navigation is "the harmonized collection, integration, exchange, presentation, and analysis of maritime information onboard and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth-to-berth navigation and related services for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment."

Integrated Action Team Leads:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Coast Guard

Participating Agencies:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Transportation Safety Board
• Oceanographer of the Navy
• Research and Innovative Technology Administration
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Maritime Administration
• U.S. Transportation Command

Purpose:

The e-Navigation Integrated Action Team (IAT) has developed a work plan for the implementation of the CMTS e-Navigation Strategic Action Plan. This plan outlines how the CMTS will facilitate e-Navigation concepts and activities in a cross-agency manner, coordinated with industry and other stakeholders.

The CMTS e-Navigation IAT will facilitate the coordinated and integrated collection, processing, and dissemination of navigation data and information to provide services to stakeholders, eliminate duplication, and enhance the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our waterways and ports.

The e-Navigation Strategic Action Plan is consistent with and linked to international e-navigation strategies and policies created by the International Maritime Organization, the International Hydrographic Organization, and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.

Value:

This effort will make the U.S. MTS safer, more secure, more reliable, more efficient, and more integrated.

National Online Dialog on e-Navigation:

Thank you to everyone who participated in the National Online Dialogue on e-Navigation. The information collected from this dialogue provided CMTS with input from partners and stakeholders regarding the future direction of e-Navigation in the United States. The CMTS e-Navigation Integrated Action Team has reviewed the comments and presented the results of this outreach effort to the CMTS Coordinating Board. The results from this Online Dialog are being used to inform the CMTS e-Navigation IAT’s work plan.

View the e-Nav Online Dialog Ideas and Comments

View the e-Nav IAT Online Dialog Report

View the e-Nav IAT e-Nav Online Dialog Presentation

Further comments regarding e-Navigation in the United States can be sent to eNavigation@cmts.gov.

Request for Stakeholder Input on Federal Role:

Led by the US Coast Guard (USCG), the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the CMTS Integrated Action Team (IAT) on e-Navigation kicked off an outreach program to e-Navigation stakeholders at its e-Navigation workshop on November 7, 2012. The IAT is requesting stakeholder input regarding the federal role in providing e-Navigation standards, services, and architecture. This outreach effort is a followup to the e-Navigation Strategic Action Plan issued by the CMTS in February 2012. Send all responses to eNavigation@cmts.gov, and direct all questions to Scott Rainey.

Status and Timelines:

April 4, 2013: The e-Navigation IAT reported the results from the Online Dialog on the Future of e-Navigation in the United States to the CMTS Coordinating Board and published the proceedings on the CMTS website.

January 14–March 15, 2013: The e-Navigation IAT conducted a two-month Online Dialog on the Future of e-Navigation in the United States.

November 6-7, 2012: The e-Navigation IAT participated in the e-Navigation 2012 Conference, Seattle, WA.

June 12, 2012: The e-Navigation IAT Implementation Plan and Work Plan were approved by the CMTS Coordinating Board.

March 13, 2012: The e-Navigation IAT and Terms of Reference were approved by the CMTS Coordinating Board.

Feb 28, 2012: The final e-Navigation Strategic Action Plan was published.

November 21, 2011: The e-Navigation Strategic Action Plan was transmitted to the OMB for policy review.

July 13, 2011: The e-Navigation Strategic Action Plan was approved by the CMTS Coordinating Board.

Environmental Stewardship Discussion Group

"In the overall context of sustainable development, shipping, being the carrier of 90 percent of world trade, is a very positive force. The industry makes the functioning of the global economy possible, while having a relatively small negative impact on the global environment; however, low impact does not mean no impact. Shipping, by definition, is a very large industry and does have adverse affects on the world around it. As awareness grows about a number of environmental and public health concerns, people are paying closer attention to the impacts of shipping and driving legislative change on a number of issues."

Captain Khong Shen Ping, Assistant Chief Executive
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

Integrated Action Team Leads:

• CMTS Executive Secretariat

Participating Agencies:

• Federal Maritime Commission
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Oceanographer of the Navy
• Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Department of Energy
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Maritime Administration

Purpose:

To facilitate networking and information sharing for the advancement of knowledge regarding environmental issues, rules, and practices relevant to the MTS.

Value:

The ESDG meets quarterly according to an informal brown bag format, which allows for the free exchange of ideas and viewpoints among participants.

Status and Timelines:

April 23, 2012: The meeting explored current regulations and mitigation options for black carbon emissions.

June 29, 2011: The meeting focused on offshore wind energy development and the question of whether the MTS is currently capable of meeting projected industry requirements for the construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind energy facilities.

January 26, 2011: The meeting focused on the topic of aquatic invasive species, ballast water treatment technologies and standards, hull fouling, and the Vessel General Permit.

September 28, 2010: The meeting focused on Executive Order 13514: Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance.

July 14, 2010: The meeting focused on vessel emissions, the recently designated North American Emission Control Area, implications for regulators and operators, the evolution of emission reduction technologies, fuel availability, and heretofore unregulated vessel emissions (i.e. greenhouse gasses).

May 20, 2010: Inaugural Environmental Stewardship Discussion Group meeting

ESDG Black Carbon Summary

National Export Initiative Task Team

The National Export Initiative (NEI) is a priority of the administration to double U.S. exports in five years and to grow U.S. jobs by increasing the number of exporting companies and expanding the number of markets to which U.S. companies sell.

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 NEI.

Integrated Action Team Leads:

• Federal Maritime Commission

Participating Agencies:

• Federal Maritime Commission
• International Trade Administration
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Research and Innovative Technology Administration
• Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
• Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• U.S. Maritime Administration
• U.S. Transportation Command

Purpose:

To advance the success of the Presidents’ NEI to double U.S. exports by 2015, to strengthen the economy, and to create jobs.

To support the National Export Strategy by monitoring the availability of export containers and if necessary developing recommended actions to prevent possible ocean container shortage conditions that could hamper export sales and impede the achievement of NEI goals.

To work with the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee to respond to the recommendation s of the President’s Export Council regarding export infrastructure, export corridors, export driven projects, and funding strategies.

Value:

With the MTS moving nearly 80% of the nation’s overseas trade by weight and approximately 50% by value, the CMTS is in a position to help contribute to the success of the NEI. With the success of the NEI and an increase in the export of U.S. goods and services, significant progress will be made to bolster an already recovering U.S. economy, grow emerging markets for U.S. companies and businesses, and ultimately create many new jobs here at home.

Status and Timelines:

December 7, 2011: Establishment of the NEI Task Team

The NEI Task Team established a process to monitor export container availability.

The NEI Task Team met with the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee to determine the President’s Export Council recommendations and the role of the CMTS.

The NEI Task Team will meet with Office of International Trade Administration’s Office of Advisory Committees and the President’s Export Council staff.

Infrastructure Investment

"Nearly 80 percent of the volume of international trade passes through our nation’s ports. Maintaining these ports, and making targeted investments in their improvement where appropriate, can lower shipping costs for U.S exports and imports."

— White House Task Force on Ports

Integrated Action Team Leads:

• U.S. Department of Transportation–Office of the Secretary
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Participating Agencies:

• U.S. Department of Transportation
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Maritime Administration
• Federal Highways Administration
• National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
• U.S. Treasury Department
• Federal Maritime Commission
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• U.S. Office of Management and Budget
• U.S. Transportation Command
• International Trade Administration
• U.S. Coast Guard
• Federal Railroad Administration

Purpose:

The Infrastructure Investment Integrated Action Team (IAT) was established to facilitate the development of broad evaluation and decision criteria that can be used across Government programs for informing Federal infrastructure investment.

The IAT is also used by the White House Task Force on Ports to provide interagency expertise and perspectives for Federal Infrastructure Investment strategy.

Value:

Decision tools for infrastructure investment will be used by decision-makers to better align Federal infrastructure investment across agencies, enabling a safer, more efficient, and resilient marine transportation system for the movement of our Nation’s people and goods. The IAT will develop products that assist local and state partners in infrastructure planning and investment.

Status and Timelines:

April 4, 2013—The Coordinating Board accepted the final “Handbook of Federal Funding Sources for Infrastructure Investment.”

December 2012: The IAT delivered a complete Transportation Funding Map of Federal Intermodal Infrastructure Investment to the Coordinating Board.

Summer 2012: The IAT provided technical expertise to the White House Task Force on Ports Working Group.

June 21, 2012: The U.S. Department of Treasury delivered a comprehensive review of MTS-related benefit techniques.

June 12, 2012: The Coordinating Board approved the IAT’s Terms of Reference and Work Plan.

May 30, 2012: The IAT delivered the MTS-related literature search to the White House Task Force on Ports.

March 13, 2012: The Coordinating Board stood up the IAT.

Future Plans:

October 2013: The IAT will present a draft framework of cross-modal investment decision criteria.

December 2013: The IAT will present the draft Assessment of Needs, as required in the December 2012 CMTS Authorization.