The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and its working groups are scheduled to meet Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and the full committee is scheduled to meet on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., to discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. The meetings will be open to the public.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/22/2017: Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee meeting

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee and its working groups will meet Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, and Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/22/2017: Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee meeting

The Coast Guard announced in a Federal Register notice that it will impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving from the Federated States of Micronesia. Conditions of entry are intended to protect the United States from vessels arriving from countries that have been found to have deficient port anti-terrorism measures in place.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/22/2017: Imposition of conditions of entry for certain vessels arriving to the US from Micronesia

Last month, Coast Guard members had the opportunity to present during the 7th Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic at the Naval Heritage Center in Washington, D.C. The event, held biennially since 2007, brings together some of the world’s leading experts to discuss the ongoing and expected impacts on naval and maritime operations due to rapid change in the Arctic sea ice cover. Maritime Commons attended the symposium to bring you, our readers, the latest on Arctic-related topics affecting maritime industry.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 8/14/2017: Recap of Coast Guard remarks at the 7th Symposium on Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic

The Coast Guard posted a notice to the Federal Register announcing that Lynx Terminals LLC has submitted a Letter of Intent and Preliminary Waterway Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Port Arthur, Texas, regarding the company’s plans to handle and transport Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) at the Port of Port Arthur docks. The deadline for the public to submit comments and related material is Sept. 13, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/14/2017: Waterway suitability assessment for operation of liquefied hazardous gas terminal in Port Arthur, Texas

The Coast Guard seeks comments on an extension of its approval for the collection of information for Approval of Alterations to Marine Portable Tanks; Approval of Non-Specification Portable Tanks without change. Comments must be received by Oct. 6, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/8/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Alterations to marine portable tanks

The Coast Guard seeks comments on an extension of its approval for the collection of information for Direct User Fees for Inspection or Examination of U.S. and Foreign Commercial Vessels without change. Comments must be received by Sept. 6, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/7/2017: Collection of Information under review by Office of Management and Budget – direct user fees

The information requirements are necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of the program on safety of commercial vessels as it affects small passenger vessels. The requirements affect small passenger vessels (under 100 gross tons) that carry more than 6 passengers. Comments must be received by Oct. 6, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 8/7/2017: Information Collection Request to Office of Management and Budget – Small passenger vessels

This post provides information on the witness testimony schedule and options for remote public viewing of the fishing vessel Destination marine board of investigation (MBI). The hearing session will focus on weather and human factors as well as the mechanical state and stability of the vessel before and during its final voyage.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 8/4/2017: Witness schedule for F/V Destination marine board of investigation set

Recent inquiries by Coast Guard marine inspectors indicate that a large number of vessel operators and ship masters continue to rely on outdated high seas communications frequencies when communicating with the Coast Guard. This Safety Alert reminds all mariners of the appropriate use of Single Side Band High Frequency (SSB-HF) radios when attempting to contact the Coast Guard outside the normal range of Very High Frequency-Frequency Modulation (VHF-FM) marine radios.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 8/3/2017: Marine Safety Alert 08-17 – Knowing your high seas comms equipment may save your life