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2024 NATIONAL HARBOR SAFETY COMMITTEE CONFERENCE AGENDA

Registration and Check In

08:30 - 09:00

Coffee and Networking

Welcome Remarks

09:00 - 09:10

Capt. Mike McElroy, President of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee

Introduction of the Commandant

09:10 - 09:15

Rear Admiral John Hickey, Commander, USCG Ninth District

Keynote Remarks

09:15 - 09:35

Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant, United States Coast Guard

Distinguished Harbor Safety Committee Award

09:35 - 09:45

Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant, United States Coast Guard

Break

09:45 - 10:15

History of the National Harbor Safety Committee Conference and Vision for the Future

10:15 - 10:20

James Prazak, Past President, Lone Start Harbor Safety Committee

Panel 1: Federal Agency Perspectives

10:20 - 11:25

Panel Objectives: Provide a high-level scene-setter through federal perspectives on the most pressing challenges within the Marine Transportation System; Highlight issues that keep the agencies up at night and what Harbor Safety Committees can do to help address the most pressing challenges.


Moderator:

  • TBD


Panelists:

  • Rachael Dempsey, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Navigation, Observations, and Positioning, NOAA’s National Ocean Service

  • MG William “Butch” Graham, Deputy Commanding General for Civil Works and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (invited)

  • RADM Jon Hickey, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District

  • RADM Ann Phillips (USN, ret), Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration (invited)

  • Kevin Sligh, Director, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

The Chicago Model

11:30 - 11:50

Capt. Mike McElroy, President of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee

Transition to Pier

11:50 - 12:05

Lunch onboard Odyssey Lake Michigan

12:05 - 13:05

Hosted by City Cruises

Panel 2: Harbor Safety Committee Management Best Practices

13:30 - 15:00

Panel Objectives: Highlight critical elements of Harbor Safety Committee (HSC) management to inform and inspire; Initiate conversation about how communications can be improved across HSCs to continually leverage expertise.


Moderator:

  • Mike Emerson, Director, USCG Marine Transportation Systems Management

Panelists:

  • Capt. Bob Blair, Chair, Massachusetts Bay Harbor Safety Committee, and Senior Pilot, Eastern Point Pilots

  • Capt. John DeCruz, Chair, Harbor Safety, Navigation, and Operations Committee of the Port of New York/New Jersey, and Pilot, The United NY/NJ Sandy Hook Pilots Association

  • John McDermott, Member/Sector Lead for Human Powered Craft, Chicago Harbor Safety Committee

  • JJ Plunkett, Chair of the Waterways Utilization Subcommittee, Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee, and Chief Operating Officer/Port Agent, Houston Pilots

  • TBD

Break

15:00 - 15:30

Panel 3: Challenges and Solutions for Managing a Congested Waterway

15:30 - 17:00

Panel Objectives: Highlight real-world examples of HSC efforts/initiatives successfully executed to manage congestion to keep the public safe and facilitate commerce; Learn about the diversity of congestion challenges facing HSCs nationwide.


Moderator:

  • Mike Borgstrom, Founding Member and Past President, Chicago Harbor Safety Committee, and President, Wendella Boats

Panelists:

  • CAPT John Cameron (USCG, ret.), Executive Board Member, Charleston Area Harbor Safety Committee, and Executive Director, Charleston Branch Pilots Association

  • Don Campbell, Vice President, Chicago Harbor Safety Committee, and Manager of Operations and Compliance, Middle River Marine

  • CAPT Greg Hitchen (USCG, ret.), Member, Harbor Safety, Navigation, and Operations Committee of the Port of New York/New Jersey, and Director, Vessel Traffic Service, USCG Sector New York

  • Dan Plumley, Chair, Southeast Texas Waterways Advisory Council, and Director, Sabine Pass LNG at Cheniere Energy, Inc

  • CAPT Ryan Manning (USCG), Commander, USCG Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach

Closing Remarks

17:00 - 17:05

Capt. Mike McElroy, President of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee

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