MC Staff – Maritime Consulting

Work Instruction update: MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14 compliance, & Global Sulfur Fuel Oil Sulfur Cap enforcement

January 17, 2020

The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) released work instruction CVC-WI-022 to provide guidance to Coast Guard marine inspectors and port state control officers for ensuring vessel compliance with MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14. Additionally, this work instruction cancels CG-CVC Policy Letter 12-04 Change 1, and includes a Job Aid as an enclosure.
Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: Work Instruction update: MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14 compliance, & Global Sulfur Fuel Oil Sulfur Cap enforcement

Waste Reception Facilities Series Part 4: Fishing ports and Certificates of Adequacy

January 16, 2020

In the last post of our series on Waste Reception Facility regulatory requirements, the Facility Safety Branch staff discusses how MARPOL 73/78 governing waste reception facilities applies to the three different categories of commercial fishing ports.
Source: USCG
Link: Waste Reception Facilities Series Part 4: Fishing ports and Certificates of Adequacy

Notice of public meeting: IMO Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response

January 16, 2020

The Department of State will conduct an open public meeting Jan. 23, 2020, led by the Coast Guard, to prepare for the seventh session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response to be held at the IMO Headquarters, United Kingdom in February.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Notice of public meeting: IMO Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response

Recommendation for immediate patching for critical vulnerabilities on Microsoft Windows Operating System

January 16, 2020

For the convenience of our readers, the Office of Port and Facility Compliance is sharing information recently released through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency regarding fixes for a critical vulnerability identified in Microsoft’s handling of certificates.
Source: USCG
Link: Recommendation for immediate patching for critical vulnerabilities on Microsoft Windows Operating System

Waste Reception Facility Series Part 3: Waivers and alternatives

January 15, 2020

In Part 3 of our series on Waste Reception Facility regulatory requirements, the Facility Safety Branch staff discusses waivers and alternatives, which allow the ports/terminals and the Captains of the Port to identify alternative means of ensuring they meet the intent of MARPOL 73/78.
Source: USCG
Link: Waste Reception Facility Series Part 3: Waivers and alternatives

Extension of comment period for Alaskan Arctic Coast Port Access Route Study

January 15, 2020

The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it is extending the comment period for the notice of study and request for comments for the Port Access Route Study: Alaskan Arctic Coast until June 30, 2020.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Extension of comment period for Alaskan Arctic Coast Port Access Route Study

Waste Reception Facility Series Part 2: Services provided by 3rd party contractors

January 14, 2020

As discussed in the first blog of this series, when applying for a Certificate of Adequacy (COA), the port/terminal must provide the particulars of the company they plan to use for waste reception/removal services, and update this information with the Coast Guard if it changes.
Source: USCG
Link: Waste Reception Facility Series Part 2: Services provided by 3rd party contractors

Request for membership applications: National Towing Safety Advisory Committee

January 14, 2020

The Coast Guard is accepting applications until March 16, 2020, for membership on the recently established National Towing Safety Advisory Committee.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Request for membership applications: National Towing Safety Advisory Committee

Waste Reception Facility Series Part 1: Documentation

January 13, 2020

Over a series of four blogs we will be providing clarification on some of the regulatory requirements related to port waste reception facilities for oil, noxious liquid substance and garbage, and provide information on the roles and responsibilities of port/terminals, vessels, and their agents.
Source: USCG
Link: Waste Reception Facility Series Part 1: Documentation

Policy Letter: Accepted Distress Signal Devices for Ocean Going Vessels

January 13, 2020

The Office of Design and Engineering Standards has published guidance highlighting suitable distress signal devices for vessels that transit outside the territorial limits and may require long-range rescue response provided through the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
Source: USCG
Link: Policy Letter: Accepted Distress Signal Devices for Ocean Going Vessels