The Role of Marine Science and Oceanography in the United States Coast Guard

This article examines the history of marine science and oceanography in the United States Coast Guard since its 1790 founding as the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. During its earliest period (1790–1914), oceanographic efforts consisted of observations by revenue cutters in support of navigation. During the 30 years between 1914 and 1944, world events reinforced the need for oceanographic support of new missions. The 1915 merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Lifesaving Service was the first. This period also included World War II, when the Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of the Navy, and the establishment of Coast Guard aviation. The years 1944 to 1982 might be considered the golden age of oceanography, when ocean measurements, products, and decision-making tools supported Coast Guard missions. These included World War II operations, the Ocean Weather Station Program, the oceanography mini-boom of the 1960s, the National Data Buoy Development Project, the International Ice Patrol, ice charting for navigation, polar icebreaking, oil and hazmat spill response, marine life protection, and search and rescue operations. Between 1982 and the present, the Coast Guard has increased the number of its partnerships, remote observations, and analyses. It supports the Navy to maximize safety and effectiveness of maritime vessels of the armed forces by providing meteorological and oceanographic conditions. In addition, the Coast Guard has been cooperating with NOAA’s National Weather Service and predecessors for more than 100 years to fulfill U.S. treaty obligations regarding weather and ice conditions under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The Coast Guard currently participates in a number of interagency ocean observing efforts, including the Integrated Ocean Observing System established by the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009. It works to increase maritime domain awareness and provides marine science training and education. As oceanographic data acquisition moves from vessel observations to satellite remote sensing and unmanned in situ data acquisitions, the Coast Guard will continue to support these efforts.

• Record URL:
  https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/Proceedings%20Magazine/Archive/2019/Vol76_No1_Spring2019.pdf
• Authors:
  • Berkson, Jonathan
  • Woityra, William
  • Boda, Kenneth
  • Allen, Arthur
  • Hicks, Michael
  • Futch, Victoria
• Publication Date: 2019

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 21-29
• Serial:
  • Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea, Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council
  • Volume: 76
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: U.S. Coast Guard
  • Serial URL: http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Environmental protection; History; Icebreaking; Marine safety; Meteorology; Oceanography; Search and rescue operations
• Identifier Terms: United States Coast Guard
• Subject Areas: History; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01717345
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 18 2019 5:16PM