Category: News

The U.S. Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that the National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee will conduct a series of meetings May 23-25 to review, discuss, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to Marine Casualty investigation cases related to Personal Flotation Devices (PFD), Cold Water, and Falls Overboard. The meetings will be open to the public.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Federal Register Notice: National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee; May 2023 meetings

The U.S. Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it is seeking input from the public on the Maritime Oil-spill Response Plan Advisory Group recommendations for changes to the Coast Guard’s Vessel Response Plan program and policies.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Federal Register Notice: Request for information on Coast Guard Vessel Response Plan and Maritime Oil-Spill Response Plan Advisory Group (MORPAG) recommendations

The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it is amending its Risk Group A facility regulations so that their provisions to implement Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) electronic inspection requirements by May 8, 2023, is changed to May 8, 2026.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Final Rule: Transportation Worker Identification Credential-facility reader requirement; conforming amendment

The National Boating Safety Advisory Committee will conduct a series of public meetings May 10-12 in Annapolis, MD to discuss matters relating to recreational boating safety.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Federal Register Notice: National Boating Safety Advisory Committee; May 2023 meetings

The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it has received approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an information collection request associated with the interim rule requirements for fire safety on certain covered small passenger vessels.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Interim Rule: Fire safety of small passenger vessels; OMB approval of information collection request

The Coast Guard published a Final Rule in the Federal Register on March 16, 2023, to update the electrical engineering regulations for commercial vessels in 46 CFR Subchapter J, Parts 110-113. 
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Final Rule – Update to electrical engineering regulations  

The National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee will conduct a series of meetings over three days in New Orleans, LA, to discuss issues relating to personnel in the United States Merchant Marine including the training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness of mariners.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Federal Register Notice: National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee; March 2023 meetings

The Department of State announced in the Federal Register it will conduct a public meeting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, both in-person at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC, and via Microsoft Teams. The primary purpose of the meeting is to prepare for the 10th session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Pollution Prevention and Response Sub-Committee (PPR 10) to be held in London, United Kingdom from April 24 to 28, 2023.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Federal Register Notice: Public meeting in preparation for International Maritime Organization PPR 10 meeting

The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register the establishment of new base pilotage rates for the 2023 shipping season. This rule will adjust the pilotage rates to account for changes in district operating expenses, an increase in the number of pilots, and anticipated inflation. These changes, when combined, result in a 16-percent net increase in pilotage costs compared to the 2022 season.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Final Rule: Great Lakes Pilotage Rates-2023 Annual Ratemaking and Review of Methodology

This final rule makes non-substantive technical, organizational, and conforming amendments to existing Coast Guard regulations. This rule is a continuation of our practice of periodically issuing rules to keep our regulations up-to-date and accurate. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: Final Rule: Navigation and Navigable Waters, and Shipping; Technical, Organizational, and Conforming Amendment