The National Maritime Center issued a notice to assist mariners who are trying to determine, from their Approved to Test letter, whether they will be testing under the previous or current regulations.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/26/2018: Guidance regarding ‘Approval to Test’ letters and grandfathering

In response to increased Arctic shipping traffic, the United States and Russian Federation have proposed voluntary two-way routing measures in the Bering Strait and Bering Sea. Located in U.S. and Russian Federation territorial waters off the coasts of Alaska and the Chukotskiy Peninsula, the routes are being recommended to help ships avoid the numerous shoals, reefs and islands outside the routes and to reduce the potential for marine casualties and environmental disasters.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/25/2018: U.S., Russia jointly propose Bering Strait routing measures

The training covered the chemical and physical properties of LNG, to include flammability, lower explosive limit, compression, cryogenic characteristics, and the general arrangement of LNG Carriers and their safety systems and cargo operations.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/25/2018: Liquefied Gas Carrier NCOE delivers training in Panama

The Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise released Field Notice 01-18, “Tender & Excursion Vessels.” Foreign passenger vessels operating in the United States are increasingly using small vessels stored onboard ship for excursion activities. These excursions are primarily in remote […] Source: USCG
Link: 1/24/2018: Cruise Ship NCOE issues field notice regarding tender and excursion vessels

Congratulations to the latest E-Zero designees under the Coast Guard’s QUALSHIP 21 program! QUALSHIP 21 recognizes foreign ships that have demonstrated the highest commitment to maintaining strict compliance with U.S. and international safety, security and environmental regulations.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/24/2018: Congratulations to the latest E-Zero designees

The U.S. Air Force recently released a memorandum to inform the GPS community of an update to the GPS ground control software that may impact some user equipment. The U.S. Air Force intends to reinstall the software update no earlier than March 1, 2018 to provide time for manufacturers to bring GPS receivers into compliance with the Interface Specification.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/23/2018: Air Force announces update to GPS ground control software

As a courtesy to our readers, Maritime Commons is sharing the content of U.S. Maritime Alert 2018-001A issued Jan. 18, 2018, to inform mariners of two suspicious maritime incidents reported in the Southern Red Sea in the past two weeks.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/19/2018: U.S. Maritime Alert 2018-001A-Threatening approaches in Southern Red Sea

Coast Guard representatives will participate in a WebEx teleconference hosted by the Lifejacket Association Wednesday, January 24, to provide an update on the status of the U.S. and Canadian implementation of lifejacket safety requirements and testing methods.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/18/2018: Coast Guard to provide update on implementation of new lifejacket standards

As the primary federal agency responsible for providing Maritime Safety Information to mariners, the Coast Guard is testing an information delivery method to bring mariners Broadcast Notice to Mariners, Maritime Safety Information Bulletins and other Marine Safety Information currently available only through VHF-FM marine band radio.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/18/2018: Coast Guard testing new delivery method for marine safety information

The Foreign Passenger Vessel Examiner (FPVE) Course three times each year and is open to select segments of industry and Coast Guard active duty, reserve, and civilian members. The course is designed to provide instruction on the process for conducting foreign passenger vessel exams.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/17/2018: Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise Foreign Passenger Vessel Examiner Course