Today the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee (LSHSC) and its predecessor federal advisory committee Houston-Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee (HOGANSAC) were presented with a Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service award to recognize the 40th anniversary of the group. The previous chairs, COTPs, DFOs, and members were recognized by the current Sector Commander for Sector Houston-Galveston Capt. Smith and Congressman Randy Weber of Texas’ 14th Congressional District. Capt. Smith shared with the group that the model of HOGANSAC and LSHSC has been used in several ports for the development and establishment of other harbor safety committees.
This recognition was to celebrate 40 years of port stakeholders and the community working in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard to address issues in the Marine Transportation System (MTS) within the ports of Houston, Galveston, Texas City, and Freeport including the associated waterways of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and offshore lightering zones. We watched the ushering in of maritime security regulations following 9-11 and saw the formation of the first Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC). The group has been twice recognized on the national stage as Harbor Safety Committee of the year by the Transportation Research Board (TRB). Initiatives such as Brownwater University, Brownwater-Bluewater Symposium, and the Mariner Guide to Navigating the Houston-Galveston Area Waterways are but of few of the ongoing initiatives that were born out of this group.
As a previous chair of HOGANSAC, I was proud to be among this group and pleased to see that many of us have been involved for over 20 years with this group and its various committees and to see so many new faces that will carry on this important work.
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Friday, November 4th