In his last post as assistant commandant for prevention policy, Rear Adm. Thomas shares a few thoughts with maritime stakeholders before moving on to his new assignment as commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 7/26/2017: Rear Adm. Paul Thomas passes helm to new assistant commandant for prevention policy, Rear Adm. John Nadeau

The Coast Guard seeks comments from manufacturers of chemicals on an extension of its approval for the collection of information for the Characteristics of Liquid Chemicals Proposed for Bulk Water Movement without change. Comments must be received by the Coast Guard by Aug. 23, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/25/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Characteristics of liquid chemicals proposed for bulk water movement

The Office of Great Lakes Pilotage is seeking a revision of the Office of Management and Budget’s current approval for Great Lakes Pilotage data collection requirements for the three U.S. pilot associations it regulates. This revision would require continued submission of data to an electronic collection system. This system is identified as the Great Lakes Electronic Pilot Management System which will eventually replace the manual paper submissions currently used to collect data on bridge hours, vessel delay, vessel detention, vessel cancellation, vessel movement, pilot travel, revenues, pilot availability, and related data. Comments must be received by Aug. 23, 2017.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/24/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Great Lakes Pilotage

During two recent vessel inspections Coast Guard marine inspectors participated in and witnessed occasions where the testing and maintenance of a CO2 system resulted in serious safety threats that could have easily led to loss of lives.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 7/24/2017: Marine Safety Alert 07/17 – CO2 hazards are nothing new

Two NOAA ships, en route to scientific missions in Alaskan waters, helped locate the missing fishing vessel Destination at the request of the Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation. The Destination and its six crew members were lost Feb. 11, 2017, while fishing for Opilio crab (snow crab) northwest of St. George, Alaska.
Source: Investigations & Casualty Analysis
Link: 7/21/2017: NOAA locates f/v Destination wreckage, Coast Guard hearing set for August

This post provides a summary of actions and due dates required for the towing vessel industry to comply with Subchapter M.
Source: Domestic Vessels
Link: 7/20/2017: July 20 significant date for Subchapter M implementation

The Coast Guard seeks comments on an extension of its approval for the collection of information for the Facilities Transferring Oil or Hazardous Materials in Bulk—Letter of Intent and Operations Manual without change. A Letter of Intent is a notice to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port that an operator intends to operate a facility that will transfer bulk oil or hazardous materials to or from vessels. An Operations Manual (OM) is also required for this type of facility. The OM establishes procedures to follow when conducting transfers and in the event of a spill.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/19/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Facilities transferring oil or hazardous materials in bulk—letter of intent and operations manual

The Coast Guard seeks comments on an extension of its approval for the collection of information for the U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol (IIP) Customer Survey without change. This information collection provides feedback on the processes of delivery and products distributed to the mariner by the International Ice Patrol.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/19/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – International Ice Patrol customer survey

The Coast Guard will consider applications for 25 positions that expire or become vacant on May 23, 2018. To be eligible, applicants should have experience regarding the transportation, equipment, and techniques that are used to ship cargo and to navigate vessels on the Lower Mississippi River and its connecting navigable waterways, including the Gulf of Mexico.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/19/2017: Coast Guard seeks applicants for the Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee

The Coast Guard seeks comments on an extension of its approval for the collection of information regarding audit reports under the International Safety Management Code without change. This information helps to determine whether U.S. vessels, subject to SOLAS 74, engaged in international trade, are in compliance with that treaty. Organizations recognized by the Coast Guard conduct ongoing audits of vessels’ and companies’ safety management systems.
Source: Federal Register Notices
Link: 7/19/2017: Information collection request to Office of Management and Budget – Audit reports under the International Safety Management Code