The full council is scheduled to meet by teleconference Aug. 23, 2017, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT, to help the Coast Guard identify existing regulations, guidance, and collections of information (that fall within the scope of the committee’s charter) for possible repeal, replacement, or modification.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/27/2017: Coast Guard seeks Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee’s assistance on regulatory evaluations

The Coast Guard would appreciate comments from owners, operators and masters of vessels for the collection of information for the Plan Approval and Records for Subdivision and Stability Regulations—Title 46 CFR Subchapter S without change. The regulations require owners, operators, or masters of certain inspected vessels to obtain and/or post various documents as part of the Coast Guard commercial vessel safety program. Title 46 U.S.C. 3306 authorizes the Coast Guard to prescribe rules for the safety of certain vessels. Comments must be received by Sept. 25, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/27/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Plan approval, records for subdivision and stability (Subchapter S)

The Coast Guard seeks comments from vessel owners, operators, and masters by Sept. 25, 2017, on an extension of its approval for the collection of information for the Navigation Safety Information and Emergency Instructions for Certain Towing Vessels without change. Navigation safety regulations in 33 CFR part 164 help assure that the mariner piloting a towing vessel has adequate equipment, charts, maps, and other publications. For inspected towing vessels, under 46 CFR 199.80 a muster list and emergency instructions provide effective plans and references for crew to follow in an emergency situation.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/27/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Navigation safety information, emergency instructions for certain towing vessels

The full council is scheduled to meet by teleconference Aug. 16, 2017, from
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT, to help the Coast Guard identify existing regulations, guidance, and collections of information (that fall within the scope of the council’s charter) for possible repeal, replacement, or modification.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/26/2017: Coast Guard seeks Navigation Safety Advisory Council’s assistance on regulatory evaluations

In his last post as assistant commandant for prevention policy, Rear Adm. Thomas shares a few thoughts with maritime stakeholders before moving on to his new assignment as commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 7/26/2017: Rear Adm. Paul Thomas passes helm to new assistant commandant for prevention policy, Rear Adm. John Nadeau

The Coast Guard seeks comments from manufacturers of chemicals on an extension of its approval for the collection of information for the Characteristics of Liquid Chemicals Proposed for Bulk Water Movement without change. Comments must be received by the Coast Guard by Aug. 23, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/25/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Characteristics of liquid chemicals proposed for bulk water movement

The Office of Great Lakes Pilotage is seeking a revision of the Office of Management and Budget’s current approval for Great Lakes Pilotage data collection requirements for the three U.S. pilot associations it regulates. This revision would require continued submission of data to an electronic collection system. This system is identified as the Great Lakes Electronic Pilot Management System which will eventually replace the manual paper submissions currently used to collect data on bridge hours, vessel delay, vessel detention, vessel cancellation, vessel movement, pilot travel, revenues, pilot availability, and related data. Comments must be received by Aug. 23, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/24/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Great Lakes Pilotage

During two recent vessel inspections Coast Guard marine inspectors participated in and witnessed occasions where the testing and maintenance of a CO2 system resulted in serious safety threats that could have easily led to loss of lives.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 7/24/2017: Marine Safety Alert 07/17 – CO2 hazards are nothing new

Two NOAA ships, en route to scientific missions in Alaskan waters, helped locate the missing fishing vessel Destination at the request of the Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation. The Destination and its six crew members were lost Feb. 11, 2017, while fishing for Opilio crab (snow crab) northwest of St. George, Alaska.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 7/21/2017: NOAA locates f/v Destination wreckage, Coast Guard hearing set for August

This post provides a summary of actions and due dates required for the towing vessel industry to comply with Subchapter M.
Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: 7/20/2017: July 20 significant date for Subchapter M implementation