[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39306-39308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19006]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 5, 10, 12, and 15

[CGD 95-062]


International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification 
and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as revised by the 1995 Amendments 
to It

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting, availability of documents, and 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is holding a public meeting to discuss the 
outcome of the 1994 Conference of Parties to the International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers, 1978 (STCW), which adopted comprehensive amendments to the 
Annex to STCW. The amendments are scheduled to come into force on 
February 1, 1997, and they may affect virtually all phases of the 
system used in the United States to train, test, evaluate, document, 
and license merchant mariners. The meeting will provide an opportunity 
for the public to comment on the steps that the Coast Guard considers 
necessary to implement the requirements of STCW as amended under the 
laws of the United States, including regulations of the Coast Guard.

DATES: The meeting will be held August 31, 1995, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 
p.m. Written comments must be received not later than September 29, 
1995.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in room 2415, Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. 
Written comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council (G-LRA), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., 
Washington DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered to room 3406 at the same 
address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Comments will become part of this docket [CGD 95-062] 
and will be available for inspection or copying at 

[[Page 39307]]
room 3406, Coast Guard Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. A copy of the 1995 Amendments 
to STCW may be obtained by writing Commandant (G-MOS), U.S. Coast 
Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or by calling 
(202) 267-0214, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Requests may also be submitted by facsimile at (202) 
267-4570.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Christopher Young, Operating and Environmental Standards Division 
(G-MOS), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 
20593-0001, telephone (202) 267-0214.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Discussion

    On July 7, 1995, a Conference of Parties to the International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers, 1978 (STCW), meeting at the International Maritime 
Organization in London, adopted a package of Amendments to STCW. The 
amendments will enter into force on February 1, 1997, unless a third of 
the parties to the Convention, or parties representing over 50 percent 
of the world's shipping tons, object to them by August 1, 1996. Because 
they were adopted unanimously by the Conference, no objections are 
expected. Consequently, the Coast Guard is taking necessary steps to 
implement them, to ensure that U.S. documents and licenses are issued 
in compliance with them.
    The Coast Guard will hold a public meeting on August 31, 1995, to 
discuss the outcome of the Conference and seek public comment on how 
the 1995 Amendments to STCW, adopted by the Conference, should be 
implemented. Comments are invited not only on the substance of any new 
requirements but also on the economic impact of meeting the 
requirements, whether on individuals, maritime training, owners and 
operators of vessels, small businesses, or others.
    The Coast Guard must consider revising the current regulations on 
licensing and documentation (46 CFR Parts 5, 10, 12, and 15) as well as 
those on workhours and watchkeeping (46 CFR Part 15) to reflect the 
requirements of the 1995 Amendments to STCW. The following is a list of 
the most significant changes necessary to the regulations:
    1. All candidates for STCW certificates (i.e., licenses and 
documents for service on seagoing ships) will have to undergo approved 
training and assessment of competence.
    2. Virtually all training will be subject to a system of approval 
and independent monitoring under standards of quality. Persons engaged 
in training, whether on board ship or at shore-side training 
facilities, will have to meet qualification standards. Many will have 
to use a training-record book.
    3. Assessment of competence will involve both examination, to 
verify a sufficient level of knowledge and understanding of essential 
subjects, and demonstration of practical skills. Persons engaged in 
assessment of competence, whether on board ship or at shore-side 
assessment facilities, will themselves have to meet qualification 
standards. They will have to document proof of candidates' successful 
demonstration of skills.
    4. Simulators used in training or assessment must meet certain 
performance standards.
    5. All persons employed or engaged on seagoing vessels (i.e., all 
persons on board except passengers) will have to undergo 
familiarization training to ensure they can look after themselves in 
the event of an emergency or a life-threatening situation. Persons 
responsible for safety or pollution prevention (i.e., the required crew 
complement, as well as those with assigned safety duties) will have to 
get additional basic training in safety, including firefighting. 
Persons responsible for medical care must also meet certain standards.
    6. All persons employed or engaged on seagoing vessels must meet 
certain standards of medical fitness.
    7. Current standards for unlicensed seamen must be reviewed to 
ensure they reflect the 1995 Amendments to STCW relating to ratings for 
those who are members of navigational watches on ships of 500 gross 
tons or more, or those who are members of engine-room watches or are 
designated to perform duties in periodically unmanned engine-rooms on 
seagoing ships powered by propulsion machinery of 750 kW [1000 hp] or 
more.
    8. Watchkeeping personnel must receive a minimum of rest. Masters 
must arrange watchkeeping adequate for safe watches.
    9. Suspension-and-revocation procedures must enable the taking of 
appropriate action against a licensed or documented person who has (a) 
allowed a shipboard function to be performed by a person not holding a 
required STCW certificate or (b) certified that a skill has been 
properly demonstrated when it has not, or when it has not been directly 
observed.
    10. Companies must ensure that new crewmembers are familiarized 
with ship-specific equipment, procedures, and other arrangements 
necessary for performing their jobs.
    11. New regulations may be necessary to address the special 
provisions governing personnel on tankers and on ro-ro passenger ships.
    12. New policy will be necessary to implement expanded port-state 
control.
    Beyond the above, specific revisions will be necessary to ensure 
that requirements for being issued a license or document under domestic 
regulations fully meet those of the 1995 Amendments to STCW. For 
example, officers of the navigational watch will need training in the 
use of Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) for service on ships fitted 
with ARPA. Also, such officers will have to hold radio operators' 
certificates valid under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System 
(GMDSS) for service in ships operating in the GMDSS.
    In revising domestic regulations, the Coast Guard should consider 
harmonizing the license categories with the structure outlined in the 
1995 Amendments to STCW, which is as follows:

Deck Department

    1. Officers of the navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tons or 
more.
    2. Officers of the navigational watch on ships of less than 500 
gross tons not engaged on near-coastal voyages.
    3. Officers of the navigational watch on ships of less than 500 
gross tons engaged on near-coastal voyages.
    4. Masters and Chief Mates on ships of 3000 gross tons or more.
    5. Master and Chief Mates on ships of between 500 and 3000 gross 
tons.
    6. Masters on ships of less than 500 gross tons not engaged on 
near-coastal voyages.
    7. Masters on ships of less than 500 gross tons engaged on near-
coastal voyages.

Engine Department

    1. Officers in charge of the engineering watch in manned engine-
rooms.
    2. Designated duty engineers in periodically unmanned engine-rooms.
    3. Chief engineer officers of ships powered by main propulsion 
machinery of 3,000 kW [4000 hp] or more.
    4. Second engineer officers of ships powered by main propulsion 
machinery of 3,000 kW [4000 hp] or more.
    5. Chief engineer officers of ships powered by main propulsion 
machinery of between 750 kW [1000 hp] and 3,000 kW [4000 hp].
    6. Second engineer officers of ships powered by main propulsion 
machinery 

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of between 750 kW [1000 hp] and 3,000 kW [4000 hp].
    Likewise, in revising domestic regulations, the Coast Guard should 
consider applying the standards of competence set out in tables in the 
1995 Amendments to STCW, by incorporating those tables by reference 
into the appropriate sections of the revised regulations.
    The above subjects will be open for discussion and comment at the 
meeting on August 31. Any comments received at the meeting or in 
response to this notice will be taken into account in the development 
of implementing-regulations.
    Attendance at the meeting is open to the public. Members of the 
public may make oral presentations during the meeting. Persons wishing 
to make oral presentations should notify the person listed above under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than the day before the 
meeting. Written material may be submitted before, during, or after the 
meeting.

    Dated: July 27, 1995.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-19006 Filed 8-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M