U.S. Coast Guard's Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook released

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl L. Schultz has issued the Coast Guard's 40-paged document that outlines their "VISION for Enabling Maritime Commerce." He introduces the new paper in an open letter to industry, as shown below:

America is a maritime Nation. It is a Nation shaped by seafarers who recognized the tremendous economic potential derived from unrestricted access to the oceans, internal waterways, deep-water ports and protected straits and bays. This geostrategic advantage favorably shapes our Nation’s security, economic prosperity, and global standing.

American prosperity remains inextricably linked to the fate of the maritime environment. In an era of increasing technological and political change, we continue to be a maritime Nation that has come to expect free access to, and movement within, the maritime environment. Access to outdoor recreation, fisheries and mineral resources, global commodities, and markets for manufactured goods define the American experience. Our waterways, a wealth of natural resources and marine transportation networks, remain critical to our prosperity, our security, and our identity as a Nation. 

I am pleased to present the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook to guide our Service efforts in securing this strategically critical maritime environment while enabling its impact on our Nation’s economic prosperity. This document establishes three lines of effort that are critical to the success of the Coast Guard: 1) facilitating lawful trade and travel on secure waterways; 2) modernizing aids to navigation and mariner information systems; and 3) transforming our workforce capacity and partnerships to meet the increasingly complex operating environment.

The Coast Guard must anticipate transformative changes in technology and maritime gover-nance in order to retain our leadership role providing for the safety, security, and stewardship of our Nation’s precious ocean, bay, and river resources. Through collaborative leadership and strategic vision, the Coast Guard will maintain and grow our strategic advantage in the maritime domain, forever fostering a prosperous and secure America. 

Semper Paratus

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl L. Schultz

Read the document HERE.