The National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a series of meetings over two days to review, discuss, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to marine investigation cases and other relevant initiatives pertaining to commercial fishing vessels (CFVs). For more detailed information see section VI below.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee; September 2024 Meetings

The Coast Guard announces that the Eighth Coast Guard District's Prevention Division has issued certificates of alternative compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), to vessels of special construction or purpose that cannot fully comply with the light, shape, and sound signal provisions of 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's design and construction. We are issuing this notice because its publication is required by statute. This notification of issuance of certificates of alternative compliance promotes the Coast Guard's marine safety mission.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Certificates of Alternative Compliance for the Eighth Coast Guard District

The Coast Guard will establish a Security Zone on the Chicago River (Main Branch) between mile marker 325.6 (point at which the Chicago River connects to the South Branch Chicago River) and 100 yards extending past the end of the Chicago River covering the area of the Federal channel within Chicago Harbor and the North Branch Chicago River between mile marker 325.6 (point at which the North Branch Chicago River connects to the Chicago River-Main Branch and the South Branch Chicago River) and mile marker 331.4 (end of navigation channel). This action is intended to protect spectators and dignitaries associated with the Democratic National Convention. During the enforcement period listed below, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the Security Zone if prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated Coast Guard or U.S. Secret Service Representative.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Security Zone; Chicago River (Main Branch), North Branch Chicago River, South Branch Chicago River, Chicago, IL

The Coast Guard will enforce the Lake Michigan at Chicago Harbor and Burnham Park Harbor safety and security zone on a portion of Lake Michigan in Chicago, IL. This action is intended to protect spectators and dignitaries associated with the Democratic National Convention. During the enforcement period listed below, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety and security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated Coast Guard or U.S. Secret Service representative.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Safety and Security Zone; Lake Michigan at Chicago Harbor & Burnham Park Harbor

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Cuyahoga River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters from position 41-29.716' N, 081-42.137' W to position 41-29.927' N, 081- 42.356' W during the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival on or about September 21, 2024. This rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Safety Zone, Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, OH

The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet in-person along with the SEACOR POWER and Dynamic Positioning subcommittees over two days in Spring, Texas to discuss matters relating to activities directly involved with, or in support of, the exploration of offshore mineral and non-mineral energy resources, to the extent that such matters are within the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard. These three meetings will be open to the public.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee; September 2024 Meeting

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters within a 300 yard radius of the Grosse Tete passenger ferry at MM 46 of the Port Allen Route, Iberville, LA. The safety zone is needed to protect ferry operations for crossing school students during morning and afternoon commutes as a result of the Grosse Tete bridge closure. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) New Orleans. This rule is effective without actual notice from August 22, 2024 through noon on October 9, 2024. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from noon on August 9, 2024, through August 22, 2024.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Safety Zone; Grosse Tete Passenger Ferry, Iberville LA

The National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a virtual open meeting to discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners' documents, medical standards, and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner education, and medical research. The virtual meeting will be open to the public.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee; September 2024 Virtual Meeting

The Coast Guard, as the lead agency, announces its intent to prepare the Viability Testing Method Consideration for Acceptance Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. Through this document, we will evaluate the potential environmental impact of the Coast Guard's Proposed Action to use the best available science to evaluate one or more viability testing methods submitted for consideration. Through this document, we will also evaluate, and potentially accept, methods that demonstrate that ballast water discharge meets U.S. ballast water discharge performance standards currently under development by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: Consideration for Acceptance of One or More Viability Testing Methods for Type Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems

The National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet in-person over two days in Washington, DC to discuss issues relating to personnel in the United States Merchant Marine including the training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness of mariners. Several of the Committee's subcommittees will also be meeting. For more detailed information regarding subcommittees see Day 1, sections (5) and (7) below.
Source: Federal Register USCG
Link: National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee; September 2024 Meetings