Vessel Documentation, Inspection & Mariner Credentialing

[Positions Committee]

SUPPORT the transfer of vessel documentation, vessel inspection and mariner credentialing from Department of Homeland Security to Department of Transportation. This change would align U.S. maritime policy with that of other seafaring nations.

[JCowan]

I strongly support this Position. The inspectors that come down to my ship do not have any sea time or know what you and I go through on a daily basis. Used to take 5 years to be a certified inspector now it takes 8 months, do you think something is missing?
We need to get inspection away from the military/security oriented Coast Guard (Dept. of Homeland Security) and give this to a civilian orientated service like MARAD (Dept. of Transportation).

So will someone please tell me why civilian/commercial aviation is administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (DOT) and not US Air Force (DOD)? Why are we administered by the DHS and not DOT?
Wasn't it a couple planes that hit the World Trade Center? In this vein then aviation should be administered by a Security entity. Somehow things are a little backwards.