Code Of Federal

USCG Open to Comments on Proposed Regs

The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to hold public meetings in Oakland, Calif., Oct. 27 and New York City Oct. 29 to hear comments about a proposed rulemaking for ballast water discharge standards. These meetings are the last two of six public meetings held for the Coast Guard to receive comments about a proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register Aug. 28 (74 FR 44632) that would add ballast water discharge standards to the Coast Guard's ballast water management regulations in Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 151, Subparts C and D. The proposed rule would also add approval procedures for ballast water management systems found in Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter Q. Live webcasts (audio and video) of the public meetings will also be broadcast online at: http://ballastwater.us The public meeting scheduled for Oct. 27 will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Hilton Oakland Airport, One Hegenberger Rd., Oakland, Calif. The phone number for the hotel is (510) 635-5000. The public meeting scheduled for Oct. 29 will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Marriott New York Downtown, 85 West Street at Albany Street, New York City. The phone number for the hotel is (212) 385-4900. The public is encouraged to participate by submitting written or verbal comments at the meetings. The comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking closes Dec. 4

CG Public Meetings, Proposed Regulations

The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to hold public meetings in Seattle on Sept. 28 and in New Orleans on Sept. 30 to hear comments about a proposed rulemaking for ballast water discharge standards. A total of six public meetings are slated for the Coast Guard to receive comments about a proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register Aug. 28 (74 FR 44632) that would add ballast water discharge standards to the Coast Guard’s ballast water management regulations in Title 33

PVA Comments on Proposed Maritime Communications Rule

On June 7, the Passenger Vessel Association filed written comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on a proposed rule on maritime communications. FCC had sought comments on whether to require all small passenger vessels to have a reserve power source for their radios (currently, such a requirement applies only to passenger vessels of 100 or more gross tons). PVA recommended that the FCC not require all small passenger vessels to have a reserve power source

Training: Maritime Security Professional Training

By James Shelley, Department Head for Marine Safety & Security, MITAGS Port facilities and Shipping companies are rushing to comply with new international and national maritime security requirements. The ISPS (International Ship and Port Security) and the U.S. maritime security requirements mandate security assessments, plans and training of security personnel. The Maritime Institute of Technology (MITAGS) and its satellite school

American Salvage Assoc. Recognizes SMFF Implementation

After a nearly 20-year wait since the original issuance of the OPA-90 regulatory package, the American Salvage Association (ASA) expressed its recognition for the final implementation of Salvage and Marine Firefighting Regulations (SMFF), 33 Code of Federal Regulations Part 155 Subpart I, for tank vessels that went into effect on February 22, 2011.    From the Exxon Valdez spill that prompted OPA-90, to the 1996 promulgation of Vessel Response Plan (VRP) regulations requiring

BOEMRE Announces Regulatory Authorities for New Agencies

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today announced a final rule that separates the federal regulations that govern offshore energy and resource development between the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), effective October 1, 2011. The two bureaus will become operational on that date, completing the reorganization of the former Minerals Management Service (MMS)

SOLAS and Mandatory Codes Go into Effect

As of January 1, several amendments to IMO Conventions went into effect, including: December 1998 amendments to the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code The amendments to the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code, which are aimed at improving minimum standards of competence of crews sailing on ships carrying solid bulk cargoes, entered into force on January 1. The amendments concern section A-II/1 and A-II/2 under "Cargo handling and stowage at

New Security Regs Will Challenge

By Charley Havnen (Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard) On July 1, 2003 the Coast Guard published in the Federal Register the long anticipated regulations concerning maritime port and vessel security. This is a major rulemaking printed in seven separate individual rulemakings. These rulemakings concern compliance with provisions of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) and implementation of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) International Ship and Port Facility

Maritime Administration Releases Compilation of Maritime Laws

The Maritime Administrations announced it has released its annual Compilation of Maritime Laws for fiscal year 2007. Each year since 1995, the Maritime Administration has published the laws as an essential reference for its Agency leadership and staff. The compilation is also widely used by the Members of Congress, their staffs and committees, attorneys practicing in the area of Federal Maritime Law and interested members of the general public.

CG Final Report, Lady D Accident

On August 24, the U.S. Coast Guard released the final report of investigation into the March 2004 capsizing of the passenger vessel Lady D in the northwest harbor of the Patapsco River, Baltimore. Five passengers aboard the Lady D died in the accident. The report states the accident was initiated by the master's unsafe decision to depart the dock at Fort McHenry in the face of an approaching visible squall line. The report also states that the Lady D, a small pontoon water taxi