The T-AKE Program Office, outside Washington DC, houses 45 Government and contract staff. Staff were tasked with ensuring that T-AKE Class ships, operating throughout the world, can operate unhindered by environmental restrictions and also that each ship was provided with an EMS that was tailored to their operational zone at the time of delivery of the ship. The T-AKE Program Office EMS is unique in that it does not operate within a geographically defined fenceline but within a boundary that is designed to manage risk throughout the life-cycle of the T-AKE Class ships operating throughout the world.

The EMS developed for the T-AKE Class ships established procedures to ensure that environmental safety and health concerns are considered and identified during the early design stage of a ship. The T-AKE Program Office EMS program has the full and continuing support of management. EMS program implementation was supported by two full-time personnel and required 0.8 man-years. The Program Office trained two personnel on the development and implementation of EMS programs. Maintaining the EMS program requires one person at a 0.1 man-year total. In addition, the T-AKE Program Office trained three personnel as internal auditors.

T-AKE Program Office staff made the determination that a significant aspect would be defined as "any aspect that has a legal requirement." Based on this designation, the T-AKE Program Office identified twenty-six significant aspects. The EMS also established a process to monitor the approval of designs and the equipment necessary to ensure the T-AKE Class ships achieve projected waste reduction targets.

Documenting improvement is achieved through the use of a ship compliance matrix designed to track performance specification requirements versus shipbuilder compliance with the specification. The matrix provides a map for continual improvement by identifying areas for improvement and establishing a final verification of the goals.

The T-AKE Program Office has not quantified the cost savings achieved as a result of the implementation of a successful EMS. The EMS process monitors and validates shipbuilder environmental performance and the cost savings from building an environmentally sound ship can be significant over time.

As the first Department of Defense acquisition program to develop and implement an EMS and achieve ISO 14001, the T-AKE Program Office has valuable insight into the EMS development and implementation process. Noting that the development phase may present significant challenges, the T-AKE Program Office recommends developing the EMS prior to developing the performance specifications. The EMS will drive the environmental performance requirements and can provide the basis to manage risk.