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.
Source: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
