The Coast Guard is seeking public comment on its intent to enter into a CRADA with American Underwater Contractors, Inc. (AUC) to develop, demonstrate, evaluate and document the use of environmentally friendly buoy mooring systems (line and anchor) attached to a navigational buoy to determine the feasibility and practicality of the Coast Guard using both helix (screw) anchors and elastic mooring lines in environmentally sensitive areas.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/29/2017: Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with American Underwater Contractors, Inc.

The Coast Guard-American Waterways Operators Safety Partnership held its National Quality Steering Committee meeting Aug. 2, 2017 to discuss safety issues and other topics affecting the towing industry. Maritime Commons attended the meeting and is providing a summary of the discussions and key takeaways.
Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: 8/23/2017: Coast Guard-American Waterways Operators National Quality Steering Committee meeting

The safety zones are located in Delaware Bay, Maryland-National Capital Region, and Hampton Roads Captain of the Port zones.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/22/2017: Safety zones established for ice covered waterways in the Fifth Coast Guard District

The Navigation Safety Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Commandant of the Coast Guard, on matters relating to maritime collisions, rammings and groundings; Inland Rules of the Road; International Rules of the Road; navigation regulations and equipment, routing measures, marine information, diving safety and aids to navigation systems. Completed applications should reach the Coast Guard on or before Oct. 23, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/22/2017: Navigation Safety Advisory Council vacancies

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and its working groups are scheduled to meet Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and the full committee is scheduled to meet on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., to discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. The meetings will be open to the public.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/22/2017: Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee meeting

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee and its working groups will meet Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, and Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/22/2017: Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee meeting

The Coast Guard announced in a Federal Register notice that it will impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving from the Federated States of Micronesia. Conditions of entry are intended to protect the United States from vessels arriving from countries that have been found to have deficient port anti-terrorism measures in place.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/22/2017: Imposition of conditions of entry for certain vessels arriving to the US from Micronesia

Last month, Coast Guard members had the opportunity to present during the 7th Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic at the Naval Heritage Center in Washington, D.C. The event, held biennially since 2007, brings together some of the world’s leading experts to discuss the ongoing and expected impacts on naval and maritime operations due to rapid change in the Arctic sea ice cover. Maritime Commons attended the symposium to bring you, our readers, the latest on Arctic-related topics affecting maritime industry.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 8/14/2017: Recap of Coast Guard remarks at the 7th Symposium on Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic

The Coast Guard posted a notice to the Federal Register announcing that Lynx Terminals LLC has submitted a Letter of Intent and Preliminary Waterway Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Port Arthur, Texas, regarding the company’s plans to handle and transport Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) at the Port of Port Arthur docks. The deadline for the public to submit comments and related material is Sept. 13, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/14/2017: Waterway suitability assessment for operation of liquefied hazardous gas terminal in Port Arthur, Texas

The Coast Guard seeks comments on an extension of its approval for the collection of information for Approval of Alterations to Marine Portable Tanks; Approval of Non-Specification Portable Tanks without change. Comments must be received by Oct. 6, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/8/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Alterations to marine portable tanks