Category: News

The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register a proposed rule to enable electronic submission of Operations Manuals and Emergency Manuals and electronic communication between the operators of regulated facilities and the Coast Guard, reducing the time and cost associated with mailing and processing printed manuals.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Notice of proposed rulemaking: Electronic Submission of Facility Operations and Emergency Manuals

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) announce their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Blue Marlin Offshore port license application. Blue Marlin Offshore Port, LLC proposes the construction and operation of a deepwater port that would be located approximately 99 statute miles off the coast of Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Notice of Public Scoping Meeting for the Blue Marlin Offshore Port License Application

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced in the Federal Register a framework for a phased resumption of cruise ship passenger operations.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Framework for Conditional Sailing and Initial Phase COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Protection of Crew

The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published Policy Letter 20-02: “Inspection Guidance For High Risk Small Passenger Vessels” to provide Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) with inspection guidance for high risk small passenger vessel (SPV) inspection.
Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: Policy Letter: Inspection guidance for high risk small passenger vessels

The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published Policy Letter 20-03: “Carriage of Lithium-Ion Batteries on Small Passenger Vessels” to provide guidance regarding carriage of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries on small passenger vessels […] Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: Policy letter: Carriage of lithium-ion batteries on small passenger vessels

The Coast Guard has announced in the Federal Register the availability of CG-OES Policy Letter 02-20, Commercial Diving Operations—Equivalent Levels of Safety.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Commercial Diving Operations-Equivalent Levels of Safety Policy Letter

The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that, in accordance with the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, it is proposing new base pilotage rates for the 2021 shipping season.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Great Lakes Pilotage Rates-2021 Annual Review and Revisions to Methodology

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council (Council) and its subcommittees will meet via teleconference to discuss matters relating to recreational boating safety. The meeting will be open to the public.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: National Boating Safety Advisory Council; Nov 2020 Teleconference

The Coast Guard published in the Federal Register a proposed amendment to its regulations concerning waterfront facilities handling liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied hazardous gas (LHG).
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Operational Risk Assessments for Waterfront Facilities Handling Liquefied Natural Gas as Fuel, and Updates to Industry Standards

The United States Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it is proposing to update the type approval requirements for certain types of equipment that survival craft are required to carry on U.S.-flagged vessels.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Survival Craft Equipment-Update to Type Approval Requirements