About > People > Dale Ferriere

Mr. Ferriere is Deputy Director at the National Infrastructure Institute's Center for Infrastructure Expertise.  He brings an international maritime infrastructure perspective to the Center.  Since joining the Center in January 2005, Mr. Ferriere has been actively involved with the Canada-United States Cargo Security Project, has published “Using Technology to Bridge Gaps in Maritime Security”, and initiated the concept of leveraging shipboard internet applications and satellite technologies for the purpose of establishing a “Virtual U.S. Sea Border”.

In response to the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks and post-Hurricane Katrina cleanup operations, Mr. Ferriere served 15 months active duty with U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Puget Sound, Washington, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, and most recently, in accordance with the National Response Plan, with Joint Field Office Baton Rouge.  While at JFO Baton Rouge, working alongside representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Mr. Ferriere served as the co-leader/chief of staff of Emergency Support Function (ESF) 10 (oil and hazardous material response), and provided ESF3/ESF13 liaison (marine debris / maritime infrastructure restoration / port security).

Additional U.S. Coast Guard associated duties have included performing vulnerability assessments for Puget Sound’s critical maritime infrastructure and key assets; drafting the initial Area Maritime Security Plan for the region defined primarily by the ports of Portsmouth, NH, Portland, ME, Searsport, ME and Bar Harbor, ME; and providing executive-level guidance and collaboration in support of field operations associated with Hurricane Katrina maritime infrastructure restoration (e.g., oil spill cleanup, vessel wreck removal, marine debris removal, maritime infrastructure recovery operations).  Currently, in his U.S. Coast Guard reserve role, as the Senior Reserve Officer (SRO) for Sector Northern New England, Mr. Ferriere is part of the Command Cadre and responsible for reserve readiness and training for 262 reservists. He was promoted to Commander, USCG Reserve October 2003 and selected as the SRO December 2005.

From 1993 to 2002, as Manager of Loss Prevention, Safety and Quality for Teekay Shipping Ltd. (Canada), Mr. Ferriere gained hands-on experience in commercial ship management and operations.  He also served as Teekay’s Designated Person Ashore. Mr. Ferriere continues to provide consulting services for Teekay (on occasion and using personal time) in order to maintain hands-on commercial shipping experience, and recently originated the shipping company’s oil pollution prevention inspection protocol. He routinely performs shipboard ISO9001 / ISO14001 / ISM Code / ISPS Code compliance audits.  For the 2003 International Oil Spill Conference, Mr. Ferriere delivered a well-received paper about effective risk management related to ship management, unilateral regulations and oil spill prevention.

While at Teekay, Mr. Ferriere oversaw international and national regulatory compliance activities for 60+ tankers and 2500+ international seafarers.  He originated and implemented several of the major shipping company's key safety, security, environmental and quality policies, procedures and practices. These included oversight of all emergency response planning and preparedness activities and implementation of key performance measurements.  As Project Manager, he was instrumental in the successful implementation of a web-based marine operations management system.  He was equally instrumental in providing due diligence following Teekay’s purchase of Bona Shipping and helped align the two shipping companies’ safety cultures.  During this time, because of Teekay’s extremely favorable Australian port state control performance, Mr. Ferriere was bestowed the honor of being Australia’s 2001 SPILLCON keynote speaker, where he represented the maritime industry and presented the paper, “Prevention – Requirements and Practices of a Ship-Owner.”

While at Teekay, Mr. Ferriere continued his service in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve at USCG Marine Safety Office Puget Sound. He maintained his marine inspector qualifications (machinery, hull, dry-dock, etc.) by overseeing port state control inspections during weekend duty.  During his time at Puget Sound, he was assigned as the Prevention Department's Senior Reserve Officer, responsible for 55+ reservists' qualifications and career development.

From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Ferriere was an Instructor for Texas A&M University's Engineering Extension Services.  He provided course development and instruction on various aspects of marine emergency response, mainly focused on waterborne oil spill control.  For the 1993 International Oil Spill Conference Mr. Ferriere’s paper, “Waste Minimization Practices Applied To Oil Spill Response”, was well received because it provided an environmentally effective performance measure for oil spill response.  During this time he earned his Master of Science degree in Environmental Management from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.

From 1986 to 1990, Mr. Ferriere served in a variety of positions at U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Port Arthur, Texas, including Chief, Port Operations and as a fully qualified Marine Inspector.  From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Ferriere served on board USCG Cutter RESOLUTE (WMEC 620) as Damage Control Assistance, Engineering Watch Officer and Deck Watch Officer.  Mr. Ferriere is a 1984 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of. Science in Marine Engineering.

Mr. Ferriere has training certificates and hands-on experience in the following areas: Oil Spill Response; Ship Management; Incident Management; ISM Code Lead Auditor; ISO9001 Lead Auditor; ISO14001 Lead Auditor; USCG Certified Foreign Vessel Security Inspector; USCG Certified Facility Security Inspector; National Incident Management System (levels 100-700); USCG Contingency Planning and Emergency Preparedness Course (for Senior Officers); Marine Emergency Response; USCG Certified Marine Inspector; Pollution Investigator; Facility Inspector; LNG/P/C Inspector; U.S. Port State Control Inspector.