According to Seatrade Maritime, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) released a safety report on 4 September 2026 highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in U.S. port infrastructure following the 2024 allision of the containership Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore — an incident that killed six people and shut down the Port of Baltimore.
Systemic Gaps in Federal Risk Assessment
The USCG’s “[Ports and Waterways Safety Act Board of Inquiry](https://media.defense.gov/2026/Sep/04/2003992265/-1/-1/0/BOARD%20OF%20INQUIRY_FINAL_REDACTED.PDF)” report identifies widespread failures in mandatory safety compliance. Specifically, 18 of 41 ports surveyed — 44% — have no record of completing a Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) review since 2015, despite federal mandates requiring such assessments at least once every five years for critical port channels. Among the top 50 U.S. cargo ports by volume, only about half have completed a WAMS in the last decade.
The Board of Inquiry (BOI) was convened after the Key Bridge incident to evaluate risks posed by larger domestic and foreign commercial vessels and increased traffic density. It conducted risk assessments for 11 ports, including the nation’s top container ports, and evaluated the effectiveness of existing USCG waterways risk assessment tools.
“The tragic Key Bridge incident underscores the urgent need to strengthen our approach to port safety and risk management,” stated Rear Adm. Wayne Arguin, who chairs the agency’s Board of Inquiry, in a press release.
Maritime Port Metrics Dashboard Expansion Underway
Port surveys were conducted using the Maritime Port Metrics Dashboard (MPMD), a tool designed to correlate and synthesize data from multiple sources. The report notes that due to underutilized waterway risk assessment tools and the “increased assumption of unanticipated risk” by port zone captains, the MPMD offers value beyond the BOI’s immediate scope.
As designed, the MPMD has the potential to assist Coast Guard waterways managers, port operators, and maritime stakeholders in assessing historical vessel trends to support operational risk mitigation. Its expansion from 11 ports to 361 ports, including river systems, is currently in a pilot developmental phase.
The report also recommends that the USCG review and update its waterways risk assessment policy and tools; identify, baseline, and monitor MTS metrics; develop workforce capacity to manage MTS risk; and collaborate with port partners to implement mitigation strategies.
Public Comment Period and Final Action Timeline
The USCG will collect public comments on the BOI’s recommendations until 28 February 2027. Stakeholder feedback will inform the agency’s Final Action Memorandum, scheduled for release in August 2027. Comments may be emailed to BOIComments@uscg.mil.
The report was authored by the USCG’s Board of Inquiry and made publicly available on 4 September 2026, nearly two years after the Dali allision occurred in 2024. John Gallagher, US Correspondent for Seatrade Maritime, reported from Washington, D.C., where he has covered maritime regulation and legislation for three decades.
Source: Seatrade Maritime
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
