The Coast Guard Navigation Center has implemented a small but important change to its website address.
Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: 1/31/2017: Changes to Navigation Center website

Written by Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Hillenbrand, supervisor, Marine Safety Detachment Massena Recently, Marine Safety Detachment (MSD) Massena hosted a joint U.S. and Canadian multi-agency Marine Casualty Table Top Exercise. More than 20 U.S. and Canadian representatives from MSD Massena, Sector […] Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 1/30/2017: Joint US/Canadian Interagency Marine Casualty Response Table Top Exercise

The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Towing Safety Advisory Committee.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 1/24/2017: Towing Vessel Advisory Committee vacancies

The Coast Guard proposes to amend the monetary property damage threshold amounts for reporting a marine casualty, and for reporting a type of marine casualty called a “serious marine incident” (SMI).
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 1/20/2017: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Marine Casualty Reporting Property Damage Thresholds

The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee will meet on February 28, March 1, and March 2, 2017, in Houston to discuss committee matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. These meetings will be open to the public.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 1/13/2017: Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee meeting

On Dec. 30, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking reaffirming its earlier decision to withdraw as an accounting authority of last resort in the maritime mobile and maritime mobile-satellite radio services and to transfer its functions and duties as an accounting authority to private accounting authorities. FCC’s withdrawal as a maritime accounting authority is expected to affect users of Inmarsat terminals, particularly legacy terminals such as those required to be carried onboard ship under Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) regulations, as well as mariners who use ship-to-shore marine radiotelephone operator services of remaining VHF and HF public coast stations.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 1/13/2017: FCC proposes to cease operating as an accounting authority for settling accounts for maritime mobile and maritime mobile-satellite radio services

The Coast Guard is reopening the comment period on the draft Alternate Planning Criteria (APC) National Guidelines. The available draft is the same as that which was made available for comment in May 2016. The APC Guidelines would provide the maritime industry with updated information on the development and submission of an APC request made pursuant to existing regulations. In addition to providing guidance to vessel owners and operators on developing APC requests, the APC Guidelines would also facilitate consistency in the review of APC requests by Coast Guard personnel.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 1/10/2017: Update to Alternative Planning Criteria (APC) National Guidelines

On January 3, 2017, the Coast Guard approved several Third Party Organizations (TPOs) in accordance with 46 CFR 139.115 to carry out functions described in 46 CFR Subchapter M.
Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: 1/6/2017: Coast Guard approves Subchapter M Third Party Organizations

The Coast Guard issued Marine Safety Alert 01-17 to remind owners and operators of vessels of the importance of following established safety management system procedures.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 1/3/2017: Safety alert – Importance of following safety procedures

The Coast Guard seeks comments on an extension of its approval for the collection of information regarding labeling required in 33 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Parts 181 and 183 and 46 CFR 25.10-3.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 12/27/2016: Collection of information under review by Office of Management and Budget – Labeling required in CFR