David Flaherty News

U.S. Coast Guard's Safety Strategy Incorporates Tightly Focused Training at Carefully Chosen Venues. The U.S. Coast Guard opened seven National Centers of Expertise in 2009, locating three alone on the busy Gulf Coast, The concept of national centers of expertise – or “centers of excellence” – dates back to the 1960s when technology became more advanced and required new skill sets. The U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps all operate such hubs, as do federal agencies, foreign governments and industries ranging from manufacturing to health care.

The Coast Guard is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding a tanker ship in Gravesend Bay that ruptured a tank around 9 a.m, Jan. 10. The tank was overfilled in the process of on-loading ethanol, which resulted in the rupture, according to Coast Guard marine inspectors. “Our paramount concern is for the safety of the crew still onboard the vessel and they will not commence any nighttime operations,” said Cmdr. David Flaherty, Coast Guard Sector New York’s incident commander. “The vessel is currently listing at about six degrees, and the vessel’s crew will not attempt to correct the issue until there is enough light tomorrow.