Rear Admiral Brian Salerno News

For 18 years, the Drew Foss, a tugboat operated by the Foss Maritime Company, has been free of environmental mishap. So have the Arthur Foss, the Justine Foss and a dozen other Foss vessels. In fact, 59 vessels owned by the Seattle-based Foss are being recognized by a major maritime organization for their standout environmental safety records. Altogether, the Foss vessels feted by CSA have gone a combined 551 years without an environmental incident. "When we talk with our customers, their first concern is safety and the environment," said Gary Faber, the company's president and COO.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings convened the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to receive a report developed by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) on the circumstances surrounding the allision of the COSCO BUSAN with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on November 7, 2007. This report was originally requested by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and Chairman Cummings following a hearing of the Subcommittee convened in last November to begin examining this incident. “Among other results, the OIG found that five of the six individuals assigned as marine casualty investigators in Sector San Francisco were unqualified for these positions.

The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted an oversight hearing on the COSCO BUSAN incident and the USCG marine casualty investigation program. The Summary of Subject Matter focuses on the COSCO BUSAN incident and the ALASKA RANGER casualty in the Bering Sea. Rear Admiral Brian Salerno, US Coast Guard, testified about the marine casualty investigation program. He stated that the program generally works quite well, but that the program will be strengthened through addition of civilian positions and establishment of Centers of Expertise. Ms. Anne L. Richards…

The House Committee on Homeland Security conducted an oversight hearing on the Implementation of the TWIC Program. In his prepared remarks, Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) expressed his concern that the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program is far behind schedule and that the estimates of the number of workers affected are much understated. Testimony was for the record, as the hearing was interrupted by a floor vote. Rear Admiral Brian Salerno, USCG, explained how the program is being rolled out on a port-by-port basis and that progress is being made with regard to the card reader technology. Ms. Cathleen Berrick…

On July 31, the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted an oversight hearing on the Coast Guard’s Administrative Law System. Statements of most witnesses are not yet posted on the Internet. Rear Admiral Brian Salerno, USCG and Captain Thomas Sparks, USCG testified concerning the agency’s suspension and revocation (S&R) process. Source: HK Law

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, convened the Subcommittee to examine the Coast Guard's administrative law system. "Today, the Subcommittee received testimony regarding the Coast Guard's administrative law system from two former Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) suggesting that during their tenure, they worked in an atmosphere that did not support their exercise of judicial independence in the consideration of cases. "Additionally, serious allegations were raised that, if true, would imply that patently improper actions may have been committed to direct an ALJ to decide matters in the Coast Guard's favor. The Subcommittee received testimony from Mr. Peter A. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Rosemary Denson, and Ms.