Guard Issues News

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking proposals from shipyards to design and construct its new river buoy and inland construction tenders as part of the waterways commerce cutter (WCC) program.In total, the Coast Guard plans to acquire 16 river buoy tenders, 11 inland construction tenders and three inland buoy tenders to replace its aging inland tender fleet, which has an average vessel age of over 55 years.The request for proposal (RFP) released on April 30 encompasses designing the river buoy tender and inland construction tender (designs which share 95% commonality)…

On October 18 the U.S. Coast Guard issues a Request for Information (RFI) for information and planning purposes only.On October 10, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security approved and granted extraordinary relief to Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc., on its OPC contract, for up to four hulls as a result of the impact of Hurricane Michael (DHS & USCG press releases are available at the following links: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/1987279/department-of-homeland-security-approves-limited-extraordinary-relief-for-offsh/ and https://www.dhs.gov/news/2019/10/11/dhs…

The Captain of the Port Hampton Roads has imposed restrictions due to onset of storm force winds and heavy seas at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay Friday. Effective at 3 a.m. Friday, no vessels may enter or depart Chesapeake Bay, and no vessels over 2,000 gross tons may move within the port without obtaining permission from the COTP or his designated representative. These restrictions are anticipated to last until approximately 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018, but are subject to adjustment based on conditions. Vessels under 2,000 gross tons will be permitted to move within the port, but should do so with extreme caution. If a vessel or vessel representative believes there are circumstances that require a vessel to arrive or depart during the time of this restriction…

It has been years (2009) since I last wrote an article discussing the availability of U.S. citizens to work offshore in support of oil and gas projects during a downturn in the economy. And now, it is even worse. With the price of oil and gas remaining depressed for many months now, and the many new developments related to drilling ashore, and domestic vessels remaining stacked in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), companies are working hard to find work in any market around the world. This downturn in activity also means less jobs for U.S. citizen seafarers.

Members of the public have been urged to heed the advice of the Irish Coast Guard as Met Éireann has issued an orange weather warning. Southerly gales will develop overnight on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea, gradually veering southwest to west later tonight and tomorrow and increasing gale to storm force. Frequent heavy showers are expected with some thunder, sleet and snow for a time, mainly on higher ground. Also expected is a high coastal flood risk, due to the combination of very high spring tides, extremely high waves (greater than 10 m). The Coast Guard strongly advises the public not to go out on exposed coasts, cliffs, piers, harbor walls, beaches, promenades or any other coastal areas during the inclement weather. Huge waves can be whipped up by high seas.

The US Coast Guard issues a policy letter describing procedures for obtaining an Alternative Management System (AMS) determination of a foreign type-approved ballast water management system (BWMS). Foreign approved systems in accordance with applicable IMO standards must be as effective as traditional ballast water exchange for the prevention of introductions of aquatic nuisance species, says the Coast Guard. Foreign manufacturers of type-approved BWMS can request a Coast Guard determination that the BWMS is an AMS for purposes of the federal regulation. Applicants are also required to apply for USCG type-approval. Use of an AMS will be allowed for up to five years after the vessel is required to comply with the federal ballast water discharge standards.

Coast Guard issues standard for living organisms in ships' discharged ballast water. The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday the final rule for standards for living organisms in ships' ballast water discharged into waters of the United States is scheduled for publication March 23 in the Federal Register. A public inspection copy of the final rule is available online. The Coast Guard is amending its regulations on ballast water management by establishing a standard for the allowable concentration of living organisms in ballast water discharged from ships in waters of the United States. The Coast Guard is also amending its regulations for engineering equipment by establishing an approval process for ballast water management systems.

The US Coast Guard issues regulations to ensure maritime safety. USCG Commandant Bob Papp is interviewed in DNV’s corporate magazine DNV Forum: “To be sure, we have prescriptive regulations, such as many of the lifesaving and fire protection regulations, but we are moving more towards performance based regulations,” he says. The magazine is now being distributed worldwide.   Source:  DNV

The US Coast Guard issued a Marine Safety Bulletin stating that Port Condition Whiskey has been set for the New Orleans COTP Zone in anticipation of the impacts of Hurricane Ike. All mariners in the projected path of this large weather system should exercise extreme caution. Source:  HK Law

The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP), St. Louis, opened the Mississippi River to vessel traffic following the completion of dredging at mile marker 161.0, near the mouth of the Meramec River. The river had been closed to commercial vessel traffic since Dec. 14. However, low river levels have prompted the COTP St. Louis, and the COTP Paducah, Ky., to establish a joint Safety Advisory on the Upper Mississippi River between Cairo, Ill., (mile marker 0.0) and St. Louis (mile marker 184.0). Northbound tows entering the advisory area may not have more than 30 barges in their tow, of which only 15 may be loaded. Southbound tows are limited to no more than 20 barges. All barges within the advisory area may not draft more than 9 feet, except for those barges loaded prior to noon on Dec.

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to work with local, state, and federal agencies to assess and improve port security throughout the region. Based on information received across the U.S. Government, there is a credible threat to maritime interests from swimmers and divers. The Captain of the Port Puget Sound has notified individual maritime industry and port authority stakeholders to heighten awareness and discuss appropriate security measures. This information does not change the Homeland Security Advisory System threat level. The threat level remains “yellow” (elevated). The Captain of the Port Puget Sound has established a communication network with local port authorities and marine industry leaders to report anomalous behaviors…

The U.S. Coast Guard issued an annual report today that found foreign-flagged vessel compliance with new international security requirements was better than expected in the first six months of implementation, although safety compliance declined in 2004. The report, known as the Annual Port State Control Report, examined the safety and security compliance of foreign vessels visiting the United States. New international maritime security requirements went into effect July 1 of last year, just 18 months after 143 countries signed an agreement establishing basic security standards for ships and ports around the world. In the weeks leading up to the July 1 deadline, observers and industry members worried that strict U.S.

According to reports, the Coast Guard has issued new rules governing the transportation of oil through Buzzards Bay that require single-hulled tankers and oil barges to be escorted by a second tugboat. The rules are designed to reduce the likelihood of a spill and apply to vessels carrying 5,000 or more barrels of oil. They also require the primary tugboat to have a federally licensed pilot on board, independent of the master and crew. The Coast Guard also is instituting a system to monitor the movement of all larger commercial vessels in the bay. Buzzards Bay has been the site of several oil spills, including one in which nearly 100,000 gallons of fuel leaked from a barge that struck a shoal in 2003. The new rules take effect on Nov. 28. Source: AP

The US Coast Guard issued an alert reminding the maritime industry in general and the commercial diving community in particular of the importance of safety in commercial diving.

The US Coast Guard issued a reminder for owners and operators of commercial and recreational vessels who have not already done so that they need to acquire the new generation of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) that operate on the 406 MHz frequency. In yesterday’s newsletter, I erroneously reported that, as of 1 January 2007, the COSPAS-SARSAT satellites will quit monitoring the old 121.5/243 MHz frequency utilized by the old EPIRBs. Actually, the issue is more insidious. As of 1 January 2007, it is a violation of USCG regulations for US-flag vessels to utilize the old Class A, B, and S 121.5/243 MHz EPIRBs. The restriction…

The US Coast Guard issued a notice stating that it has drafted revised guidelines on medical and physical examinations for merchant mariner credentials. Comments on the draft guidelines should be submitted by November 27. 71 Fed. Reg. 56998 Source: HK Law

A cargo terminal on Blount Island, Fla., has resumed operations after being shut down yesterday afternoon by Coast Guard inspectors from Sector Jacksonville for not having a facility security officer present or specifically named in writing. After receiving an anonymous tip, Coast Guard inspectors went to the Ceres Marine Terminal Inc. and found that they had been without a facility security officer at the terminal for more than a week. After discovering this, Coast Guard inspectors immediately put a halt to operations. Early this morning the terminal company sent a facility security officer from Virginia, so that the facility could become compliant with Marine Transportation Security Act (MTSA) regulations again.

The US Coast Guard issued a press relase stating that it is enforcing a safety zone around the ex-USS ORISKANY as the obsolete aircraft carrier is towed into waters of the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola where it will be scuttled to create the largest artificial reef in history. Source: HK Law

The Coast Guard began issuing a newly revised U.S. STCW Endorsement, Form CG-5611 (Rev. 01-05), yesterday to qualified licensed and unlicensed merchant mariners. Over 59,000 U.S. merchant mariners hold a valid STCW endorsement. Mariners’ existing endorsements will be replaced at the time of their scheduled expiration or when their qualifications are upgraded. The new document contains significant security and accountability enhancements. The design is based on the U.S. Merchant Marine Officer License (Form CG-2849) and advice by senior intelligence officers at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Forensics Document Laboratory for cost-effective, fraud-resistant features; and the Production and Design Team of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). The revised U.S.

The Coast Guard has issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) that makes technical changes to its proposed requirements for lease financing of vessels in the domestic coastwise trade. While the proposal makes clear that the Coast Guard recognizes its obligation to implement the 1996 statute that eased lease financing requirements for Jones Act vessels in a way consistent with congressional intent, the SNPRM does not appear to completely close loopholes that have become apparent since the statute was first enacted. In enacting the lease financing requirements, Congress made clear that its objective was to broaden the sources of investment capital available to domestic vessel operators, and not to undermine the basic principle of U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice stating that it intends to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) as part of the environmental planning process for the Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS) project. The Coast Guard will conduct a public meeting in Washington, DC on December 22. Written comments on the project should be submitted by December 23. 70 Fed. Reg. 70862 Source: HK Law

– draft programmatic environmental assessment The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice seeking comments on the draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) on its proposal to clarify and set new response time requirements for salvage and marine firefighting requirements in vessel response plans (VRP) for oil spills. Comments should be submitted by February 17. 71 Fed. Reg. 125 Source: HK Law

The Coast Guard issued its final press release on the response to the oil spill into Arthur Kill. Active shoreline cleanup has been suspended. Excavation and cleanup at the wharf area continues. The incident is under investigation. Source: HK Law