[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 166 (Monday, August 26, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43720-43721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21734]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 10 and 15

[CGD 94-055]
RIN 2115-AF23


Licensing and Manning for Officers of Towing Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is holding a public meeting on its proposed 
rule to revise the requirements for licensing mariners that operate 
uninspected as well as inspected towing vessels. The proposed rule 
would ensure that all towing vessels are manned by officers holding 
licenses specifically authorizing their service. The Coast Guard is 
conducting the public meeting to receive additional views on the 
proposed licensing issues.

DATES: The meeting will be held on September 25, 1996, from 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m. Written material must be received not later than October 17, 1996. 
Comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking must be received on or 
before October 17, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the hearing room of the Marine 
Safety Office, 1615 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70112-1289. Written 
comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety 
Council (G-LRA)[CGD 94-055], U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001 or may be delivered to room 3406 
at the same address between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 267-
1477.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LCDR Don Darcy, Operating and Environmental Standards Division (G-MSO-
1), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, 
DC 20593-0001, telephone (202) 267-0221.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background Information

    The proposed rule is part of a comprehensive initiative by the 
Coast Guard to improve navigational safety for towing vessels. It 
follows a report directed by the Secretary of Transportation entitled, 
``Review of Marine Safety Issues Related to Uninspected Towing 
Vessels'' (hereafter Review), which identified improvements in 
licensing, training, and qualifications of operators of uninspected 
towing vessels that may be necessary to achieve this goal.
    The Secretary of Transportation initiated the Review after the 
collision in September 1993, of a towing vessel and its barges with a 
railroad bridge near Mobile, Alabama (hereafter Amtrak casualty). This 
casualty was closely followed by several others involving towing 
vessels. Each emphasized the urgency of examining the rules for the 
licensing of all operators of towing vessels. In general, the Review 
and a previous study, also by the Coast Guard entitled, ``Licensing 
2000 and Beyond,'' concluded that the requirements for licensing all 
operators of towing vessels are outdated and need improvement.
    In response to the Review on March 2, 1994, the Coast Guard 
published a notice of public meeting and availability of study (59 FR 
1003) that announced the availability of the Review and scheduled a 
meeting to seek public comment on the recommendations made in it. The 
public meeting was held on April 4, 1994.
    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation 
identified one of the probable causes of the Amtrak casualty as the 
Coast Guard's failure to establish higher standards for the licensing 
of inland operators of towing vessels.
    On June 19, 1996, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) entitled, ``Licensing and Manning for Officers of 
Towing Vessels,'' in the Federal Register (61 FR 31332). The proposed 
rule aims to update the licensing, training and qualifications of 
personnel on towing vessels in order to reduce similar vessel 
casualties attributable to human factors. Specifically, the NPRM 
addresses (1) levels of licenses; (2) restrictions of licenses by 
horsepower; (3) practical demonstrations of skills; and (4) 
responsibility of industry.
    In addition, the proposed rule has taken into account nine 
recommendations from the Review that affect licensing:
    (1) The creation of levels of licenses;
    (2) A requirement of practical demonstration, by simulator or 
equivalent, for upgrade of license;
    (3) A requirement of practical demonstration, by simulator or 
equivalent, for increase in scope of license;
    (4) A requirement of practical demonstration, by simulator or 
equivalent, for renewal of license;
    (5) A limitation to smaller vessels of the license for second-class 
operator of uninspected towing vessels;
    (6) A requirement of experience to receive an endorsement on the 
Western rivers;
    (7) The assurance that any new license meets international 
standards:
    (8) Provisions for crossover or equivalence for masters and mates 
of vessels of between 500 and 1,600 gross tons; and

[[Page 43721]]

    (9) Emphasis on responsibility of owners of towing vessels to 
employ qualified, experienced personnel as operators in charge (or 
masters) of their vessels.
    In response to comments received from industry requesting a public 
hearing, the Coast Guard is holding this meeting to receive additional 
views on the licensing requirements as proposed in the NPRM.
    In addition to the requirements set forth in this rulemaking, 
mariners serving on seagoing towing vessels must meet the training 
certification and watchkeeping requirements in the International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers, 1978 (STCW). The Convention was adopted in 1978 and it 
entered into force in 1984. The U.S. became a party in 1991. The 
Convention applies to mariners serving on board seagoing vessels that 
operate beyond the boundary line as defined in 46 CFR part 7. On July 
7, 1995, a Conference of Parties to STCW adopted a comprehensive 
package of Amendments to STCW. The amendments will enter into force on 
February 1, 1997. They will affect virtually all phases of the system 
used in the U.S. to train, test, evaluate, license, certify, and 
document merchant mariners for service on seagoing vessels. On March 2, 
1996, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 
Federal Register (61 FR 13284) concerning changes to the U.S. licensing 
and documentation system to conform to STCW as recently amended.

Public Meeting

    Attendance is open to the public. Persons who are hearing impaired 
may request sign translation by contacting the person under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT at least one week before the meeting. With advance 
notice, and as time permits, members of the public may make oral 
presentations during the meeting. Persons wishing to make oral 
presentations should notify the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT no later than the day before the meeting. Written 
material may be submitted prior to, during, or after the meeting. 
Persons unable to attend the public meetings are encouraged to submit 
written comments as outlined in the interim rule prior to October 17, 
1996.

    Dated: August 20, 1996.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 96-21734 Filed 8-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M