How the Coast Guard Supports the Shipbuilding Industry

October 11, 2018

The U.S. Coast Guard is known for saving lives at sea, but did you know the service plays a huge role in the economy, too?

As a regulatory entity, the Coast Guard conducts marine inspections on vessels entering United States ports to make sure the vessels do not pose a safety, security, or environmental threat to the country. With 90 percent of U.S. imports and exports entering or exiting the country by ship, these inspections ensure there is fuel at the gas station, food in the store and presents at birthday parties.

Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, walks below the Kaimana Hila, an 850-foot container ship being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards, Oct. 4, 2018. The Kaimana Hila and the Daniel K. Inouye are the two largest containerships ever built in the U.S. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
The Daniel K. Inouye, an 850-foot containership being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards, is the largest container vessel constructed in the U.S., and is one of many ships marine inspectors from Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay work with to ensure maritime safety and security. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware, walks up the gangway of the Daniel K. Inouye, a containership being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, in front of the Daniel K. Inouye, an 850-foot containership being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, discusses the Coast Guard’s role and procedures during electrical testing aboard the Daniel K. Inouye. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, discusses the Coast Guard’s role and procedures in lifesaving equipment aboard the Daniel K. Inouye under construction in Philadelphia Shipyards. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Workers make their way along scaffolding during a lunchbreak aboard the Kaimana Hila, an 850-foot containership being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards. During construction the Coast Guard works with the shipbuilder, shipping company and registrar in a unified effort to make the ship as safe as possible for operation. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, walks below the Kaimana Hila, an 850-foot container ship being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards, Oct. 4, 2018. The Kaimana Hila and the Daniel K. Inouye are the two largest containerships ever built in the U.S. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
The Daniel K. Inouye, an 850-foot containership being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards, is the largest container vessel constructed in the U.S., and is one of many ships marine inspectors from Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay work with to ensure maritime safety and security. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware, walks up the gangway of the Daniel K. Inouye, a containership being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, in front of the Daniel K. Inouye, an 850-foot containership being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, discusses the Coast Guard’s role and procedures during electrical testing aboard the Daniel K. Inouye. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, discusses the Coast Guard’s role and procedures in lifesaving equipment aboard the Daniel K. Inouye under construction in Philadelphia Shipyards. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)
Workers make their way along scaffolding during a lunchbreak aboard the Kaimana Hila, an 850-foot containership being constructed in Philadelphia Shipyards. During construction the Coast Guard works with the shipbuilder, shipping company and registrar in a unified effort to make the ship as safe as possible for operation. (Coast Guard photo by Seth Johnson)

But even before a ship ever gets in the water, the Coast Guard is behind the scenes working to make it ready for sea. Coast Guard marine inspectors work in tandem with ship builders in the United States to ensure the vessels are both safe for the workers and for operation in the maritime environment. In fact, they are executing this mission in Philadelphia, where workers are constructing the largest containerships ever built in the United States right now for Honolulu-based Matson Navigation Company.

As a ship is built, like the 850-foot Daniel K. Inouye in Philadelphia Shipyards, the Coast Guard and the industry members work together. They review architectural plans for the ship, monitor the laying of its keel, and observe the installation of lifesaving and engineering systems. These efforts ensure a safe working environment for mariners and validate the integrity of the vessel.

“For the Coast Guard, ship construction like this in the United States gives us the opportunity to work with the maritime industry members,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Doherty, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay Chief of Inspections. “The added benefit of the Coast Guard beyond building relations with American shipbuilders is that it gives us an opportunity to train our inspectors during the process of ship construction, which will benefit them throughout their prevention career.”

Doherty, who oversees the team of Coast Guard marine inspectors who evaluate safety and security of ships throughout southern New Jersey, Delaware and eastern Pennsylvania, says that involving the Coast Guard ensures the safety of life at sea for workers but also that of the ports and waterways of the United States by keeping them clean from pollution and unobstructed. Doherty says the having the Daniel K. Inouye built nearby has a local benefit as well.

“Building this ship in Philadelphia is a huge deal for the surrounding region,” said Doherty. “When ships are built here it gives life to the shipyard, local area and maritime community.”

Lt. j.g. Ryan Thomas, a marine inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, who has been working on the project since February, says that being involved in inspections and review process during the building phase of a ship is not only interesting but educational. Thomas says learning about the different systems of a ship during its construction have contributed to his growth as a marine inspector and he feels a sense of pride in helping to make a ship safer, but also as a native resident of Hawaii, he knows how important it is for commerce to move safely through American ports.

Thomas says that much of what Coast Guard inspectors interact with during ship construction are the lifesaving and emergency systems aboard a ship. Things like rescue equipment, propulsion engines, steering systems, navigation equipment, electrical and fuel systems are some of the aspects inspectors focus on to ensure the ship meets the Coast Guard standard before making its way to full operations.

On a day-to-day basis, Coast Guard inspectors work with the ship builder, the shipping company and in the case of the Daniel K. Inouye, the international registrar and classification society. Through their oversight and teamwork, all parties come together to develop a ship that meets standards for operation not only in the U.S., but also around the world, which leads to a safer situation for everyone, Ryan says.

One reason the relationship between industry and regulators during ship construction is important is that it creates the most efficient and effective process to get the vessel ready for maritime trade. International commerce is extremely reliant on the Maritime Transportation System already, and estimations place that by 2025, the demand for waterborne commerce worldwide is expected to more than double.

The Coast Guard is preparing for the increasing demand now. The service has published the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook that outlines its strategy to support and grow maritime commerce in the U.S.

The strategic outlook established priorities through three lines of effort:

  1. Facilitate lawful trade and travel on secure waterways.
  2. Modernize aids to navigation and mariner information systems.
  3. Transform workforce capacity and partnerships.


For more information on or to read the Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook, visit: http://www.dco.uscg.mil/commerce.

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