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Docket Management Facility News

01 May 2020

MarAD Extends Comment Period for SPOT Terminal Services LLC

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced the extension of the period for the public to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed SPOT Terminal Services, LLC deepwater port facility. The comment period was initially scheduled to end on March 23, 2020, but is now extended 30-days from the publication date of this Federal Register notice published on Friday, May 1, 2020.Due to the nationwide impacts of COVID-19 and the associated social distancing protocols, MARAD and the U.S. Coast Guard determined that the impact of these protocols have affected the public’s ability to assemble and provide feedback on the SPOT DEIS.

14 Apr 2014

Coast Guard Seeks Comment on New Safety Training

U.S. The U.S. Coast Guard Monday, April 14, 2014, announced the publication of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking involving the possible expansion of its maritime safety training requirements to cover all persons other than crew working on offshore supply vessels and mobile offshore units. These vessels are defined as the OSVs and MOUs engaged in activities on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, regardless of flag. This regulatory action aims to enhance personnel preparedness for persons other than crew (U.S. and foreign) when responding to emergencies such as fire, personal injury and abandon ship situations in hazardous environments.

20 Dec 2013

USCG Seeks Comments on Overhead Clearance Accidents

The U.S. Coast Guard, in the Code of Federal Regulations, has called for public comment on a petition that requests the Coast Guard to initiate a rulemaking to address the problem of overhead clearance (air-draft) accidents. In its petition, which calls for vessel masters to be provided with accurate vertical air draft information, a maritime organization has described 16 overhead clearance accidents that it says were avoidable and that resulted in damage to or destruction of waterway infrastructure and inconvenienced the public. The Coast Guard will consider all comments received in response to this notification in determining whether or not to initiate the requested rulemaking.

09 Dec 2013

USCG Extend Ship-to-Ship Oil Transfer Comment Period

The US Coast Guard (USCG) inform it has extended the comment period related to proposed new measures to reduce the risks of oil spills in oil transfer operations from or to a tank vessel. The original deadline for feedback to be submitted to the online docket via http://www.regulations.gov by 22, November 2013 has now been extended until 30, December 2013. The Coast Guard earlier announced that it is considering new measures to reduce the risks of oil spills in oil transfer operations from or to a tank vessel, and requests public input on measures that can be implemented to reduce these risks. The Coast Guard may use that input to inform future rulemaking efforts. (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. (2) Fax: 202–493–2251.

29 May 2013

MARAD Seeks Input on Cruise Security and Safety Training Certification

The Maritime Administration is proposing that organizations seeking to have their cruise vessel security and safety training programs certified by MARAD may voluntarily submit their programs for review and approval by the MARAD Administrator. The proposed policy is in keeping with the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, and may be viewed in the Federal Register at (LINK). Comments may be submitted to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-12300 or by mailing or hand delivering comments to: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, D.C., 20590.

28 Feb 2013

USCG Guidance on Maritime Security Program Released

Guidance Regarding Inspection and Certification of Vessels Under the Maritime Security Program; A Notice by the Coast Guard on 02/28/2013. Dates: NVIC 01-13 is effective as of February 28, 2013. Action: Notice of availability. The Coast Guard announces the availability of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-13, “Inspection and Certification of Vessels Under the Maritime Security Program (MSP).” The MSP serves as a means for establishing a fleet of commercially viable and militarily useful vessels to meet national defense as well as other security requirements. NVIC 01-13 sets forth the Coast Guard's policies and procedures regarding the inspection and certification of vessels under the MSP.

01 Aug 2012

USCG Proposes Great Lakes Pilot Rate Adjustment

The US Coast Guard proposes rate adjustments averaging approximately 1.87% for pilotage services on the Great Lakes. Comments on the proposal should be submitted by 1 October. 77 Fed. Reg. 45539 (August 1, 2012). ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes rate adjustments for pilotage services on the Great Lakes, which were last amended in February 2012. The proposed adjustments would establish new base rates and are made in accordance with a required full ratemaking procedure. The proposed update reflects changes in benchmark contractual wages and benefits and an adjustment for inflation. This rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard’s strategic goal of maritime safety.

01 Aug 2011

Supplemental Proposed Rule Published on Implementation of the Amendments to STCW

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard today announced the publication in the Federal Register of a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on implementation of the 1995 Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978, and changes to domestic endorsements. This proposed rule enhances maritime safety by ensuring U.S. mariners meet the standards laid out in the STCW Convention, including amendments adopted in June 2010. It also increases transparency by reorganizing, clarifying, and updating regulations regarding domestic endorsements. “This proposed rule is a key step in our efforts to update and clarify the requirements of both the U.S.

19 Nov 2010

Bering Strait Port Access Route Study for Comments

The Coast Guard is currently seeking input from the public to evaluate the need for establishing vessel routing measures in the Bering Strait. The port access route study will assess whether the creation of a vessel routing system is advisable to increase the predictability of vessel movements which may decrease the potential for collisions, oil spills and other events that could threaten the marine environment. Since 2007’s record minimum for summer ice cover in the Arctic, international attention has been focused on the region and its potential accessibility for shipping and natural gas exploration. The Coast Guard is encouraging comments in order to ensure that the concerns of all interested parties are considered.

25 Oct 2009

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. The public meeting scheduled for Oct. 27 will be from 9 a.m.

27 Sep 2009

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, 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. The first public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 28, from 9 a.m.

09 Jul 2002

USCG Proposes New Changes in Vessel Arrival/Departure Procedures

On June 19, 2002, the United States Coast Guard proposed permanent changes to its notification of arrival and departure information for all commercial vessels greater than 300 gt. (See, 67 Fed. Reg. 41659). The notice of proposed rulemaking is part of a greater port security scheme that seeks to ensure port safety, security without compromising the flow of commerce. The changes to the present Notice of Arrival (NOA) reporting regime are substantive and procedural. The changes affect the estimated 10,367 respondents (vessel owners, operators, masters, agents or others in charge of U.S.-bound vessels, herein "Submitters") that currently submit an approximate, 136,278 NOA and Notice of Departure (NOD) reports. • Submitting cargo manifest information electronically to U.S.

12 Aug 2002

Coast Guard Seeks Comments on Guidelines

In the August 6, 2002, Federal Register, the Coast Guard seeks comments on proposed assessment criteria to be used by Designated Examiners when evaluating candidates for licenses as officers of towing vessels, specifically when evaluating mariners' execution of certain prescribed tasks. These standards appear on the Department of Transportation's website. To access them, (1) go to http://dms.dot.gov/; (2) click on "Simple Search" on the bottom of the page; (3) type "12973" in the search box next to "Docket Number," (4) hit "Enter" on your keyboard. You will then see a page from which you can access the four (4) sets of Performance Assessment Criteria for Towing Officer Assessment Records ("TOAR") tasks. Once on the proper D.O.T.

24 Oct 2006

Live-Fire Training Discussed at Coast Guard Hearing

At a U. S. Coast Guard meeting regarding proposed live-fire training on the Great Lakes, environmental leaders expressed were worried that machine gun training will add lead to the water and upset birds in the air to peace activists and boaters, most of the 20 speakers urged the Coast Guard to delay action until more studies are conducted. The Coast Guard wants to establish 34 zones on the Great Lakes, including four on Lake Erie, where crews can practice using mounted machine guns. The training would occur two to three times a year in each zone, for two to six hours at a time. Each zone is at least five miles offshore. James Maughan, vice president of CH2Mhill, was hired by the Coast Guard to study the human and environmental risks posed by the bullet's lead and other metals.

12 Aug 2002

Coast Guard Publishes Supplemental NPRM

In the August 9, 2002, Federal Register, the Coast Guard publishes a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to solicit further comment on its previous NPRM entitled, "Vessel Documentation: Lease-Financing for Vessels Engaged in the Coastwise Trade." The regulations implement a 1996 federal law codified at 46 U.S.C. 12106(e), which was designed to enlarge vessel financing sources by allowing lease financing to be offered by companies which are less than 75% U.S.-owned. The notice explains the history of the 1996 law and the proposed regulations. Comments on these proposed regulations must reach the Department of Transportation's Docket Management Facility by October 8, 2002. Source: Marine Legal Update