b'FOGHORN FOCUS Our port is truly a issuesamongthestakeholdersintheirwaterwaysandtoimprovecoordinationamongHSCsthroughoutthecoun-unicorn and one of a kindtry.TheNVICalsoencouragedtheformationofHSCsinin its challenges but locationswherenoneyetexisted.The Biennial National Harbor Safety Committee Con-Chicagoans like challenges ference brings together HSCs from all corners the U.S.ThisyearsMarchevent,hostedbytheChicagoHarborand we work together SafetyCommittee,includeddiscussionsontopicssuchasin committee to find emergencyresponseplanning,thefederalperspectiveonpressingchallenges,bestpracticesforHSCmanagement,solutions. The CHSC issolutions for congested waterways, and the connectionbetweenenvironmentalgoalsandvesselsafety.Thecon-a diverse representationferenceisanopportunitytohighlightspecificcaseswhereharborsafetycommitteeshadsignificantimpactsontheirof waterways users wholocalwaterwayandisatimeforthegroupstonetworkandcome together to find learnfromeachother.Partofthetwo-dayeventisthepresentationoftheDistin-compromise and a way toguishedHarborSafetyAward,givenouttorecognizetheeffortsofanindividualHSC.Thisyearsawardwaspre-share our waterways safely.sentedtotheChicagoHarborSafetyCommittee(CHSC)byCoastGuardCommandantAdmiralLindaFagan.Cap-CAPTAIN M c ELROY tainMikeMcElroy,presidentoftheCHSCanddirectorofCHICAGO HARBOR SAFETY COMMITTEE marineoperationsofPVAmemberWendellaSightseeingBoats in Chicago, accepted the award on behalf of thePHOTO: :MARINE EXCHANGE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION; CHICAGO HARBOR SAFETY COMMITTEEcommittee.ItisthesecondtimethattheChicagoHSCre-ceivedthisaward,havingpreviouslybeenhonoredin2013.Broadlyspeaking,harborsafetycommitteesareenablersof In2019,thecommitteewasnamedHarborSafetyCom-theMarineTransportationSystem(MTS).Theyarelocal mitteeoftheYearbytheCoastGuardinfortheperiodofcommitteeswhoaddressissuesincludingsafety,security, 2017-2019.mobility,andenvironmentalprotectionofaportcomplexandtheassociatedwaterways.Thesegroupslinkpublic AccordingtoapressreleasefromtheCHSC,Chicagowasand private stakeholders to discuss and address issues awardedthehonorthisyearforitscontinualeffortstoin-whichimprovesafety,security,andmobilityofawaterway. creasesafetyandsecurityintheportincludingdevelopmentTheyarearesourceforeducationandoutreachtoshare of novice boater training materials online, partnershipsideasandinformationacrossthesegroups,aswellastothe withlocalenvironmentalsectorstoremovetrashfromthegeneralpublic.Withever-growingdemandsoftheports waterways,extendedrecreationalboaterpublicoutreach,foreconomicandrecreationalpurposes,HSCsalsohelp andfacilitatingmulti-agencyandindustryreal-timeemer-maintainandprotecttheenvironmentofthewaterways gencyplanningexercisesintheportofChicago.theyoversee.OnceagainChicagoenjoysthisgreathonor,butitisonlyTheU.S.CoastGuardhaslongsupportedharborsafety duetotheuniqueagency,public,andindustrypartner-committees, recognizing the importance they play in shipswenurtureonacontinuousbasis,statedCaptainlocalcoordinationoftheMTS.InApril2000,theCoast McElroy.OurportistrulyaunicornandoneofakindinGuardreleasedNavigationandVesselInspectionCircular itschallengesbutChicagoanslikechallengesandwework(NVIC)1-00toprovideguidance,support,andrecom- togetherincommitteetofindsolutions.TheCHSCisadi-mendationstohelpHSCsimprovecoordinationofMTS verserepresentationofwaterwaysuserswhocometogetherFOGHORN 22'