Maritime Compliance Management – “Awareness”

 I got a ticket within the past year for "running a red light." I never saw the light turn red as I drove through the yellow light traveling under the speed limit. However, the officer issuing me the ticket explained that if any portion of my vehicle remained in the intersection when the light turned red, then that constituted running a red light. I paid the ticket and then did a little research. I now know the legal definition of running a red light in my town. But, why didn't I research that before? Because, I have a general knowledge of traffic rules, I don't have a history of violations, and if I ever get a ticket, I'll just pay it and move on. It's all a matter of risk assessment. What is the risk to my peace of mind and my wallet? The answer is: minimal. There is no reason to proactively manage my compliance with traffic laws. However, when it comes to running my business, the risk is much greater and therefore, I make sure that I am compliant with whatever applicable laws and regulations I become aware of.

Awareness is the first component to maritime compliance management. You can't comply with regulations if you're not aware of them. Some ostriches reading this are thinking, "Exactly!" But we all know how the government feels about "ignorance of the law…" When your business is at risk, you can't afford not to be aware of regulations. There are many sources of information these days. There is really no good excuse for not being aware of all the regulations coming at a fast rate. It should be someone's job in the organization to subscribe to newsletters and check the appropriate websites to stay on top of all the latest developments. For example, the North American ECA goes into effect on Wednesday, August 1, 2012. Accordingly, the Coast Guard has published a10-page policy letter and a 16-page job aid for Coast Guard inspectors to make sure vessel companies are compliant. Vessel companies should make it a point to study those two documents. Don't manage your vessel compliance the way I manage my traffic compliance; the risks are not the same.