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Subcommittee to Examine Emerging Maritime Technologies and Potential Improvements to Coast Guard Mission Performance

Washington, D.C., May 4, 2018 | Justin Harclerode (202) 225-9446
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Next Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation will convene for a hearing to examine newly emerging maritime technologies and how such “blue technologies” could improve U.S. Coast Guard mission performance.

“Blue technology” is a term that describes a wide swath of technologies and systems that support, sustain, and integrate the U.S. and global ocean economy. Accordingly, systems and technologies such as autonomous vehicles, sensors (both remote and in situ), ocean observation platforms, and hydrographic services, among many others fall under the term.

The integration of blue technologies may contribute to enhanced operational flexibility, improved understanding of the maritime environment, and maximizing the best use of Coast Guard assets. Among the topics the hearing will address include: search and rescue, Automatic Identification System (AIS), navigation services, unmanned systems, integrated communications, maritime boundaries of exclusion, and data analytics.

The hearing of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, chaired by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), is entitled “Blue Technologies: Use of New Maritime Technologies to Improve Efficiency and Mission Performance.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.

Witnesses will include:

  • Rear Admiral Michael Haycock, Assistant Commandant for Acquisition & Chief Acquisition Officer, U.S. Coast Guard
  • Mr. Eric J. Terrill, Ph.D., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Coastal Observing Research and Development Center
  • Mr. Michael Jones, President, The Maritime Alliance
  • Mr. Chris Coyle, Member, International Ocean Science and Technology Industry Association
  • Mr. Thomas Chance, Chief Executive Officer, Autonomous Surface Vehicles, LLC
  • Ms. Tuba Ozkan-Haller, Ph.D., Oregon State University, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
  • Rear Admiral Jonathan White, USN, Ret., President, Consortium for Ocean Leadership

    More information about the hearing, including testimony, additional background information, and live webcast, will be posted here as it becomes available.

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