In November, we published a blog post on illegal passenger vessel operations and the risk they pose to public safety, credentialed mariners, and legitimate operators. In this post, we highlight a recent case in Miami as an example of the dangers associated with illegal charter operations and the importance of a coordinated effort between federal and local law enforcement authorities and the passenger vessel industry to combat the problem.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 6/25/2018: Recent law enforcement case highlights dangers of illegal passenger vessel charter operations

This policy provides guidance for the issuance of Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements in accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended, for Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations. This policy is effective June 22, 2018, but the Coast Guard requests public comments on it.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 6/22/2018: Notice of Policy Implementing the 2016 Amendments to STCW in Support of the Polar Code

The Coast Guard published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register June 22, 2018 to delay the effective date for certain facilities affected by the final rule entitled “Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Reader Requirements,” which was published in the Federal Register Aug. 23, 2016. The Coast Guard proposes to delay the effective date for two categories of facilities by three years, until Aug. 23, 2021.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 6/22/2018: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – TWIC Reader Rule Delay of Effective Date

The Coast Guard and the Passenger Vessel Association held their bi-annual Quality Partnership Meeting last month to discuss safety issues and other topics affecting the professional passenger vessel industry. The Coast Guard/PVA partnership was established in 1996 as a non-regulatory mechanism for cooperative, informal, consistent and structured activities to address issues of passenger, personnel, and property safety, and environmental protection within the domestic passenger industry. This post offers an overview of the discussions as well as updates on the partnership’s on going work.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 6/20/2018: Coast Guard-Passenger Vessel Association Quality Partnership Meeting recap

The Coast Guard congratulates the Charleston Area Maritime Security Committee as the recipient of the 2017 AMSC of the Year award. The award is based on outstanding achievements and contributions in safeguarding the Marine Transportation System, including port areas, adjacent waterways, coastal and/or shore areas, waterfront facilities, and other maritime critical infrastructure and key assets.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 6/15/2018: 2017 Area Maritime Security Committee of the Year announced

We have launched an official Showcase Page on the Coast Guard’s enterprise LinkedIn account as another opportunity for us to communicate with you, the maritime professional, on the latest Coast Guard issues and topics that affect you.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 6/14/2018: Maritime Commons launches official LinkedIn page

The Office of Investigations and Analysis issued three Marine Safety Alerts to warn mariners of several potentially dangerous conditions that owners, operators, and captains should be on the lookout for onboard their vessels.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 6/11/2018: Three Marine Safety Alerts – High levels of hydrogen sulfide gas; water slides aboard commercial vessels; Gulf Coast vessels and blended fuel oils

The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register a proposal to revise its merchant mariner credentialing regulations to remove obsolete portions of the radar observer requirements and harmonize the radar observer endorsement with the merchant mariner credential.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 6/11/2018: Proposed amendments to marine radar observer refresher training regulations

In accordance with the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, effective July 5, 2018, the Coast Guard is establishing new base pilotage rates and surcharges for the 2018 shipping season. Additionally, the Coast Guard is making several changes to the Great Lakes pilotage ratemaking methodology.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 6/5/2018: Great Lakes Pilotage Rates-2018 annual review and revisions to methodology

The Coast Guard announced in a Federal Register Notice that it will conduct an open public meeting in Washington, D.C., June 13, 2018, in preparation for the upcoming 68th session of the International Maritime Organization’s Technical Cooperation Committee Meeting and the 120th session of the IMO Council to be held at the IMO Headquarters in London.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 5/22/2018: Notice of public meeting in preparation for the 68th session of the IMO’s Technical Cooperation Committee Meeting and the 120th session of the IMO Council