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

The following products are available from the Navigation Center website:

• The Eighth (Gulf) Coast Guard District Local Notice to Mariners (03-2018): https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm0803g2018.pdf
• The weekly update to the 2018 USCG Light List, Volume Four: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lightListWeeklyUpdates
  
• The Summary of Corrections: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lightLists/corrections/V4D08GM.pdf

If the links above do not work, you should either copy and paste the links into your web browser or follow the LNM links from the Navigation Center LNM page.

The Local Notice to Mariners, Light List, and Summary of Corrections are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and viewing them requires a PDF reader.  PDF readers are readily available on the internet, generally free of charge.

To download the latest information:

• Place your mouse over the “PDF” symbol next to the corresponding week.
• Right click for PC / Control click for Mac.
• Choose “Save Target As”.
• Save the PDF to your computer and open using your PDF reader.

If you have questions regarding this message, please contact the Navigation Center (use “LNMs, Charts, Chart Corrections, or Light Lists” as the subject from the pull down menu).

Source: LNM District 8
Link: District 08 (GULF) Week 03 LNM Now Available on Navigation Center Website

This Safety Alert serves as a reminder to vessel owners, operators and those who repair these vessels of the importance of recognizing risks and ensuring proper maintenance and repairs are made to minimize risk.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/17/2018: Marine Safety Alert 01-18 Performing prompt vessel maintenance is critical

2018 Light Lists are available on the USCG Navigation Center’s website at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lightLists

Coast Guard Light Lists are a means for communicating aids to navigation information to the maritime public. The last government printed Light Lists were the 2014 editions.

While the Light Lists will no longer be available in government printed form, commercial reproductions may be available for purchase from maritime service providers.

Local Notice to Mariners will continue to advise Light List corrections and NAVCEN will continue to publish a compilation of corrections.

Complete versions of the 2018 Light Lists are updated weekly on the NAVCEN website and mariners should download applicable copies and updates as needed at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lightListWeeklyUpdates

A summary of 2017 Light List corrections are available at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lightListWeeklyUpdates

Guidance for use of electronic navigation publications onboard U.S. vessels can be found at: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgcvc/cvc/policy/policy_letters/543/CG-543_pol10-05.pdf

If the links above do not work, you should either copy and paste the links into your web browser or follow the LNM links from the Navigation Center LNM page.

The Local Notice to Mariners, Light List, and Summary of Corrections are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and viewing them requires a PDF reader.  PDF readers are readily available on the internet, generally free of charge.

To download the latest information:

• Place your mouse over the “PDF” symbol next to the corresponding week.
• Right click for PC / Control click for Mac.
• Choose “Save Target As”.
• Save the PDF to your computer and open using your PDF reader.

If you have questions regarding this message, please contact the Navigation Center (use “LNMs, Charts, Chart Corrections, or Light Lists” as the subject from the pull down menu).

Source: LNM District 8
Link: 2018 Light List is Now Available on Navigation Center Website

The following, newly released 2018 Light List products are available from the Navigation Center website: •The 2018 Light List (PDF) •The Weekly Updates to the 2018 Light Lists (PDF and XML) •The Summary of Corrections (PDF) If you have questions, […] Source: USCG
Link: 1/17/2018: 2018 Light List now available

Rear Adm. John Nadeau, assistant commandant for prevention policy for the Coast Guard, will testify before the House Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. Details and the internet link to a live-webcast of the hearing follow: […] Source: USCG
Link: 1/16/2018: Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy to testify before Congress

The IGF Code and Polar Code each outline training requirements found in STCW amendments. The National Maritime Center has been and will continue to evaluate courses and issue letters attesting to the conformance of the course content with the training guidance in policy letters CG-OES 01-15 and CG-OES-01-16. Regulations may be published in the future to implement the IGF and Polar Code training requirements. Until then, the policy letters will remain in force and provide the applicable guidance regarding compliance with the STCW amendments. At this time the NMC will not be issuing endorsements to mariners completing the requirements contained in the policy letters.
Source: USCG
Link: 1/16/2018: IGF Code and Polar Code implementation updates