Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.

The Coast Guard published Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-26, Cybersecurity Regulations Implementation Guidance for Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Regulated Entities to help owners and operators of regulated maritime entities understand and implement requirements under 33 CFR Part 101, Subpart F.

“These cybersecurity regulations address current and emerging cybersecurity threats in the Marine Transportation System (MTS) by adding minimum cybersecurity requirements to help detect risks, mitigate threats and vulnerabilities and respond to and recover from cybersecurity incidents,” the Coast Guard said.

“This NVIC provides practical resources for documenting Cybersecurity Officer (CySO) designations, conducting Cybersecurity Assessments (CSA) and developing Cybersecurity Plans (CSP), all to be completed and submitted to the Coast Guard no later than July 16, 2027.”

NVIC 02-26 includes the following four enclosures to assist owners/operators with meeting regulatory requirements:

Enclosure (1) – Cybersecurity Plan Development and Maintenance: Outlines the structure, content and submission recommendations for CSPs.

Enclosure (2) – Sample Cybersecurity Officer Designation Letter: Provides a template and guidance for documenting the designation of a qualified CySO.

Enclosure (3) – Penetration Testing Guidance: Details expectations for periodic penetration testing conducted during five-year renewal cycles, including safety considerations for operational technology (OT).

Enclosure (4) – Scoping and Assessment Guidance: Presents an optional, structured “risk-filtering” methodology based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to help owners/operators scope their environment, identify critical IT/OT systems and evaluate interdependencies.

For additional information, contact the Coast Guard’s Office of Maritime Cybersecurity Policy at MTSCyberRule@uscg.mil.

Search And Rescue Research Agreement

The Coast Guard has announced its intent to enter a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with cybersecurity firm LOOKOUT to assess Super Intelligence for automated target detection and establish a reliable coverage-factor value supporting data-driven Lateral Range Curve (LRC) results for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.

While considering LOOKOUT, the Coast Guard said it is also seeking public comment on the proposed CRADA and potential participation by other parties.

Interested federal entities with relevant capabilities may submit proposals for similar CRADAs for agency consideration and future collaboration, the service said.

Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard by November 25 and may be submitted at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. USCG-2026-0374.

For additional information, contact Sean Lester at 860-271-2600 or RDCinfo@uscg.mil.

Coast Guard Beats Recruiting Goals

The Coast Guard announced it surpassed its recruiting goals for the third consecutive year, bringing in its largest enlisted class in nearly four decades and continuing historic momentum to grow and strengthen the service.

In fiscal year (FY) 2026, the Coast Guard said it enlisted 5,445 active-duty members, exceeding the 5,204 enlisted members who joined in FY25 and 4,422 in FY24.

The service said it also commissioned 346 active-duty officers, the second highest number in recorded Coast Guard history.

“These record-breaking recruitment numbers prove that the call to serve still resonates deeply across our country,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. “I am incredibly proud to stand beside these new Coast Guard men and women who have stepped up to defend our homeland. They represent the very best of who we are, and we are going to make sure they have the tools, the training and the support to get the job done.”

In FY 26, the Coast Guard held grand opening ceremonies for four recruiting offices at Miami, Fla.; Long Island, N.Y.; Austin, Texas; and in the Netherlands. The Coast Guard said its record recruiting results allowed it to fully staff six stations and restore full operations in 2027.

According to the service, the stations operated at reduced capacity because of workforce shortages, adding that more stations will return to full operations in the future.

The Coast Guard prioritized the following six stations to return to full operations in 2027 based on operational risk and mission demand: Station Castle Hill, R.I.; Station Milford Haven, Va.; Station Saginaw River, Mich.: Station Vallejo, Calif.; Station Golden Gate, Calif.: and Station Rio Vista, Calif.

“Record recruiting is giving us the people we need to strengthen frontline operations,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard.

“Returning these stations to full operations means more Coast Guard men and women serving in our communities and greater capacity to respond when the American people need us.”

Freight Logistics Optimization

The Department of Transportation (DOT) said it hosted freight and supply chain leaders for the 2026 Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) Annual Meeting.

DOT said the meeting focused on modernizing America’s supply lines to anticipate and prevent delays, bottlenecks and disruptions, ultimately lowering consumer costs and accelerating the movement of goods for families and businesses nationwide.

More than 100 industry stakeholders representing ocean carriers, railroads, trucking companies, chassis providers and major shippers joined senior DOT officials for fireside chats, expert panels, keynote speeches and strategic working sessions to unleash innovation across America’s freight network.

“Freight is the backbone of American commerce, connecting farms to factories, ports to communities and producers to markets,” said Michael Rutherford, assistant secretary for DOT’s Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy.

“When one link in that network falters, the effects ripple across every mode of transportation and every sector of the economy.”

According to the agency, more than 54 million tons of goods valued at $68 billion travel through America’s freight network every day.

DOT said FLOW advances its mission of a safe, efficient and modern transportation system by offering public and private sectors clear visibility across the freight network.

By facilitating secure data sharing between supply chain partners and DOT, FLOW delivers real-time visibility into incoming container demand, helping participants to stay ahead of congestion and cut costs, the agency added.

Navajo Water Regulation Authority

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Navajo Nation became the first tribe eligible to administer Clean Water Act permitting programs “in a similar manner as a state.”

“This approval brings Navajo Nation one step closer to having direct regulatory authority over the water resources on its lands,” EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Martucci said.

With this new level of authority, the EPA said the Navajo Nation would be able to issue permits that set discharge limits and monitoring and reporting requirements for discharges of pollutants into tribal waters, regulate the use and disposal of sewage sludge and carry out related enforcement and administrative functions similar to states exercising this authority under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act.