The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will conduct a public workshop in Washington, D.C., June 5, 2018, in preparation for the upcoming intersessional working group meeting of the International Maritime Organization on consistent implementation of regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex IV (Global 0.50% Sulfur Cap). The purpose of this meeting will be to consider the issues that will be discussed at that intersessional working group meeting.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 5/21/2018: Notice of public workshop on consistent implementation of regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex VI (Global 0.50% Sulfur Cap)

As a courtesy to our readers, Maritime Commons is sharing the content of U.S. Maritime Advisory 2018-008 to alert mariners that the Center for Disease Control issued a Travel Health Alert Notice regarding Measles Outbreaks in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 5/21/2018: U.S. Maritime Advisory 2018-008 – Global Measles Outbreak

The Navigation Safety Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, through the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to maritime collisions, rammings, and groundings; Inland Rules of the Road; International Rules of the Road; navigation regulations and equipment, routing measures, marine information, diving safety; and aids to navigation systems. Completed applications should be submitted to the Coast Guard on or before July 17, 2018.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 5/18/2018: Navigation Safety Advisory Council vacancies

Rear Adm. John Nadeau, assistant commandant for prevention policy, recently joined Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Director Scott Angelle for a panel session during this year’s Offshore Technology Conference in Houston. The session, moderated by Charlie Williams with Center for Offshore Safety, was part of COS’s Senior Regulatory Leadership Perspective series on Safety, Safety Management, and Future Regulatory Activity.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 5/17/2018: Recap of Center for Offshore Safety’s panel session with assistant commandant for prevention policy and BSEE director

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that owners and operators consider the value of implementing reporting systems recognizing that such reporting can assist them in remaining compliant with various domestic and international requirements. Reporting will allow the owner and operator to become knowledgeable of issues related vessel material safety, operational safety and environmental concerns. This additional awareness allows management control and may reduce the impact of costs associated with repairs, environmental penalties, injuries and other circumstances before they become problematic to the owner and operator.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 5/14/2018: Marine Safety Alert – Implementing an internal reporting system may reduce risks

The hearing will convene at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston July 16-27, 2018, to consider evidence related to the explosion, fire, and subsequent loss of life that occurred onboard the Bouchard No. 255 Tank Barge off the coast of Texas in 2017.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 5/9/2018: Date set for formal public hearing for Bouchard No. 255 Tank Barge

The Coast Guard announced in a Federal Register notice that it is seeking public comment on a proposal to amend its regulations on ballast water management by eliminating the requirement for vessels operating on voyages exclusively between ports or places within a single Captain of the Port Zone to submit an Annual Ballast Water Summary Report for calendar year 2018. The deadline to submit comments is June 8, 2018.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 5/9/2018: Ballast water management – annual reporting requirement

The Coast Guard released TugSafe in December 2017. TugSafe is designed to streamline and maximize efficiency of the Subchapter M inspection process by providing no guesswork inspections by dynamically generating a customized inspection checklist specific to a given towing vessel. After numerous requests from the towing community, the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise announced that it has launched TugSafe “Lite” to allow access to the TugSafe compliance guidance without the need to generate a checklist for a specific vessel.
Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: 5/8/2018: Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise adds Tugsafe “Lite” to suite of Subchapter M job aids

As a courtesy to our audience, Maritime Commons will provide a daily compilation of nationally-relevant Federal Register Notices. To provide comments for the public record, follow the Federal Register link for each individual notice. Please note, the Coast Guard cannot […] Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 4/26/2018: Polar Icebreaker Program public scoping process has begun for preparation of Environmental Impact Statement, intent to hold public meetings

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg has issued the first Certificate of Inspection in accordance with Subchapter M to the towing vessel ENDEAVOR of Marine Towing of Tampa.
Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: 4/20/2018: First Certificate of Inspection issued under Subchapter M