Author: MC Staff

The Office of Design and Engineering Standards issued Policy Letter No. 02-19 “Design Guidance for Lithium-Ion Battery Installations Onboard Commercial Vessels” to improve the plan approval process for commercial vessel propulsion or electrical systems powered by installed Lithium-ion batteries. The policy does not apply to the carriage of Li-ion batteries as cargo or portable devices with Li-ion batteries that are not permanently installed on the vessel.
Source: USCG
Link: Design guidance for commercial vessels using Lithium-Ion batteries for propulsion or electrical systems

The Marine Safety Center issued the 24th U.S. Coast Guard Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to HANLA IMS Co., Ltd., after a detailed review of the manufacturer’s type approval application determined the system met the requirements of 46 CFR 162.060.
Source: USCG
Link: Marine Safety Center issues Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to HANLA IMS Co., Ltd.

Section 315 of the 2015 Coast Guard Authorization Act requires the Coast Guard to commission a working group to review existing and new examination questions for accuracy and availability of examination references. Examination question review is an opportunity to help the National Maritime Center and other mariners make long-term improvements to the knowledge examination system.
Source: USCG
Link: Merchant Mariner Examination Working Group 2020 meeting schedule

The Mutual Recognition Agreements are parallel agreements the United States has with the European Union and with the European Free Trade Association countries that are part of the European Economic Area on the Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Conformity for Marine Equipment.
Source: USCG
Link: NVIC: Guide to Marine Equipment Approvals Covered by a Mutual Recognition Agreement

PIA GmbH located in Aachen, Germany is now a Coast Guard accepted Independent Laboratory.
Source: USCG
Link: New Independent Lab accepted

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Center issued its 23rd Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to Miura Co., Ltd., after a detailed review of the manufacturer’s type approval application determined the system met the requirements of 46 CFR 162.060.
Source: USCG
Link: Marine Safety Center issues Ballast Water Management System Type Approval Certificate to Miura Co., Ltd.

In our second installment on cybersecurity and cyber risk management in observance of DHS’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Domestic Ports Division discusses the Area Maritime Security Committee as a valuable resource to combat cyber-related threats.
Source: USCG
Link: Area Maritime Security Committees: A mainstay of smart maritime cybersecurity

The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing published changes to five Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars concerning qualification for certain Merchant Mariner Credential Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended endorsements.
Source: USCG
Link: Changes to Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars

Checklists now include items to test for LED lighting interference with VHF radios and AIS.
Source: USCG
Link: Updates to ship radio inspection checklists