Encl (2) to COMDTINST 16010.8
Navigation Aids: Interim measure - outcome measure to be developed. Aid
availability is a measure of the maintenance of established aids to
navigation. It measures program effort, reliability of equipment, and
personnel performance. This measure tends to overstate the discrepancy
time of the aids to navigation system: a single aid outage usually does
not degrade a waterway's entire aid system and vessels are still able to
transit normally. Complete system outages are rare, and usually result
from severe weather incidents such as hurricanes. While aid availability
is not a true outcome measure, it does bear on the level of mobility
through navigable waterways. Future measures may center more directly on
moderate.
Vessel Traffic: This is a new measure designed to gauge how well the
Coast Guard prevents incidents detrimental to the efficient movement of
vessels in ports and waterways. A draft goal target has been set for
reduction of these types of casualties by 10% over a 5 year time frame
from FY98 to FY03.
Possible future refinements may include normalizing
data against the number of vessel transits, excluding incidents not
preventable by Coast Guard activities, and quantifying the number of Coast
Guard interventions that prevented a dangerous incident from occurring.
Data obtained from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Information System. Data
is verified by field offices. MSIS data is also checked during processing
into the analysis database. Program managers also check a sample of MSIS
data against incident case records. Confidence in measure is high.
Domestic Icebreaking: This is a new goal and measure added to reflect the
Coast Guard's contribution to Mobility from domestic ice breaking. Seven
waterways have been identified as critical to Great Lakes icebreaking
based on historical ice conditions, volume of traffic, and potential for
flooding. FY96 data indicates a total of 7 days of closure for these
waterways (FY96 was a severe winter). Data for FY96 reflects initial
measurement methodology; further data capture refinements will be
developed. FY97 and FY 98 data indicate no closures (FY97 was a mild
winter, FY98 extremely mild). Winter conditions are defined by a severity
index (-6.2 or milder defines average severity; more than -6.2 defines
severe). Data obtained from the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of
Engineers. Data is validated by District offices. Program managers also
review the data while compiling the End of Season (EOS) summary report.
Polar Operations: This is a new goal and measure added to reflect the
Coast Guard's contribution to Mobility from polar ice breaking. Coast
Guard activities ensure the mobility needed to achieve the scientific
research and logistics replenishment desired by other agencies. The index,
which is being developed, will measure how well Coast Guard activities
meet these needs. Index factors will likely include percentage of
missions met, serviced agency satisfaction, research opportunities
provided, and logistics delivered.
Measurement Issues 57
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