• Safety and Procedures Manual
  
  
• Resources
  
  
• Bulletins
  
  
• Policy
  
  
• Stem T' Stern
  
  
• FAQ

STATE OF THE NOAA SMALL BOAT PROGRAM, 2002

Status of the NOAA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

Draft NOAA Administrative Order 217-103

The draft NOAA Administrative Order has entered final review prior to administrative clearance by NOAA's Office of Finance and Administration. This is the last step prior to formal issuance of the draft NAO. The current draft is version 9d and is available for viewing on the NOAA Small Boat Program web site. The basic policy contained in the draft is not expected to change significantly due to OFA review and clearance. Formal clearance of the draft NAO is anticipated by the end of this calendar year. An effective date for the draft NAO will be determined at a later date.

Voluntary Implementation of the Draft NAO

The National Ocean Service's National Marine Sanctuary Program and the National Marine Fisheries Service have begun to voluntarily comply with the draft NAO in anticipation of formal clearance and implementation. All other NOAA activities operating boats are strongly encouraged to review the draft NAO and evaluate resource requirements or organizational changes necessary to meet the requirements of the draft policy. Line Office resource requirements or changes necessary to meet the draft NAO should be provided to the respective headquarters offices.

Recent NOAA Small Boat Program Activities

FY 2004 Budget Initiative

OMAO developed a FY 2004 budget initiative to provide the following services for Line Office activities that operate boats:

1. Increased frequency and scope of small boat inspections;

2. Operational risk assessments;

3. Marine engineering assistance;

4. Operator training to bring current boat operators in to compliance with requirements identified in completed operational risk assessments; and,

5. Program administration, including web development and centralized procurement of common boat outfitting equipment.

The NOAA Small Boat Program budget initiative was supported by NOAA, but was not forwarded for review by the Department of Commerce in Vice Admiral Lautenbacher's FY 2004 NOAA Core budget request. A FY 2005 budget initiative to establish the NOAA Small Boat Program will be submitted at a later date.

Joint Project Agreement with MARAD

A Joint Project Agreement with the Maritime Administration's Maritime Energy and Clean Emissions Program is currently in development. The agreement will allow Line Office field activities to partner with MARAD to demonstrate and evaluate recent developments and technologies to reduce diesel engine air emissions.

Hydrogen Powered Research Vessel

An opportunity exists for NOAA to join a partnership consisting of two private companies, several research institutions, and two Federal agencies with the goal of developing and demonstrating a hydrogen powered research vessel. The potential for significantly reduced engine emissions is the impetus driving NOAA's potential involvement in this project. Field activities interested in demonstrating or participating in this project should contact the NOAA Small Boat Program Coordinator for details.

NOAA Small Boat Program Demand

Demand for risk assessment, survey, and inspection services for small boats continues to climb as awareness of the NOAA Small Boat Program develops at the field level. Requests for marine engineering services are starting to rise to the level where requests are being unfulfilled or denied due to lack of OMAO resources.

Small Boat Engineer Reporting to Marine Operations in Norfolk

Lieutenant Scott Sirois will report to MOC-Atlantic (formerly known as AMC), Marine Engineering Division as Small Boat Engineer in October of this year. Scott will play a vital role in the NOAA Small Boat Program by developing Line Office field activity awareness of the services provided by the NOAA Small Boat Program and by meeting the demand for engineering liaison services, risk assessment, and vessel configuration management on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

NOAA Small Boat Program - Current OMAO Resources Summary

OMAO Requirements

The elements of the NOAA Small Boat Program which will be provided by OMAO in accordance with the draft NAO are:

1. Inspection
a. Identification of applicable regulations or standards
b. Survey - Material condition and regulatory assessment
c. Operational risk assessment

2. Marine Engineering
a. Correction of deficiencies identified during inspection
b. Plan/Pre-construction review and comment
c. Contract development
d. Boat alterations
e. Procurement assistance
f. Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR)
services

3. Program Administration
a. Lead the development of the NOAA Small Boat Program
b. Identify future directions for the Program
c. Develop small boat policies
d. Program liaison
e. Manage Program budget
f. Develop web site
g. Maintain boat inventory
h. Issue hull registration numbers
i. Radio frequency manager (Call Signs, MMSI #s)
j. Centralized procurement of common boat outfitting items

Future Action

To continue strengthening the NOAA Small Boat Program through field activity buy-in and participation in the Program, OMAO must focus existing resources on the elements of the program which provide the greatest value to activities engaged in small boat operations. The elements of the NOAA Small Boat Program which provide the greatest value toward achieving safe, efficient and professional boat operations are inspection, risk assessment, and marine engineering services. The NOAA Small Boat Program is intended to provide more than just these two essential elements. Administrative resources will be required for the NOAA Small Boat Program to develop and provide all the elements listed above. Program administration, while not apparently providing direct benefit to field activities, is a critical element which will require existing and future OMAO resources.

In order to deliver on the NOAA Small Boat Program objectives of safe, efficient, and professional small boat operations, it is necessary to: 1, accomplish risk assessments for all small boat operations 2, reduce the back log of requests for inspection and marine engineering services, and 3, ensure continuity and future development of the NOAA Small Boat Program.

Full and effective implementation of all elements of the NOAA Small Boat Program will not occur without additional fiscal and human resources. Based on current and anticipated future growth of NOAA's boat inventory, full and effective implementation is dependent on the ability to hire two General Schedule FTEs (or two contractors) to fully implement and perform program administration and inspection duties. Full implementation may reasonably be expected to occur by FY 2006 if the FY 2005 budget initiative is successful.

Potential Implementation Schedule and Responsibilities*
*dependent on approval of FY 2005 budget initiative

CY 2002 and CY 2003

LT Adams: Program Administration, Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Liaison with Marine Engineering to assist programs with engineering services, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats.

LT Sirois: Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats, Marine Engineering to assist program with engineering services.

CY 2004

LT Adams reports to sea assignment.

LT Adams replacement: Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Liaison with Marine Engineering to assist program with engineering services, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats.

LT Sirois: Program Administration, Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats, Marine Engineering to assist program with engineering services.

CY 2005

LT Adams' Replacement: Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats, Marine Engineering to assist program with engineering services.

LT Sirois: Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats, Marine Engineering to assist program with engineering services.

FY ‘05 GS New Hire: Program Administration

CY 2006

LT Adams' Replacement: Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats, Marine Engineering to assist program with engineering services.

LT Sirois/LT Sirois replacement: Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats, Marine Engineering to assist program with engineering services.

FY ‘05 GS Hire: Program Administration, Program Liaison

FY ‘06 GS New Hire: Inspection

CY 2007

LT Adams's Replacement's Replacement: Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats, Marine Engineering to assist program with engineering services.

LT Sirois Replacement: Program Liaison, Operational Risk Management, Marine Engineering NOAA Small Boats, Marine Engineering to assist program with engineering services.

FY ‘05 GS Hire: Program Administration, Program Liaison

FY ‘06 GS Hire: Inspection

Current OMAO Limitations and NOAA Small Boat Program Short Falls

OMAO Limitations

The following elements of the NOAA Small Boat Program will be deferred or provided sporadically by OMAO until full funding can be achieved:

1. Web Development - NOAA Small Boat Program web site maintenance, content development, web-based operator training.

2. Centralized Procurement - Economies of scale for purchasing of common boat outfitting items.

3. Engineering Resources - Funds dedicated solely for recurring and common engineering costs, or for correcting high risk or significant deficiencies indicated during inspections.

4. Operator Training - Basic operator training and specialty training requirements to upgrade operator skill sets to standards identified during operational risk assessments.

OMAO Short Falls

Implementation of critical inspection and marine engineering elements, and continuation of program administration prior to formal funding of a NOAA Small Boat Program budget initiative, will require fiscal resources. Interim fiscal resources for the fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004 will be required to provide acceptable levels of support in marine engineering and inspection. Resources to cover the costs incurred for marine engineering assistance during the interim years must be the responsibility of the requesting field activity. The interim resources (non-FTE) estimated for FY 2002 in order to provide the most critical elements of the NOAA Small Boat Program at a satisfactory level are:

Inspection 100.0 K

Marine Engineering 83.5 K

Program Administration 6.1 K

These estimates include costs of travel and training for two NOAA Corps Officers, and contract boat inspections for approximately 200 boats. This estimate does not include the cost of an additional Small Boat Engineer nor a Small Boat Inspector.

Conclusion

Demand and need for the services of the NOAA Small Boat Program are outpacing the development of the program. Additional resources will be required within OMAO and through out NOAA Line Offices in order for the Small Boat Program to continue building partnerships and to succeed in achieving the goals of safer, more efficient, and professional small boat operations. Line Office activities are urged to examine the draft NAO to identify resource requirements and forward these requirements to respective headquarters offices.