[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 249 (Thursday, December 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68090-68091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32838]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD08-96-055]


Manning Requirements--Pilotage

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of designated areas.

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SUMMARY: This notice lists the designated areas in the Eighth Coast 
Guard District for which new first class pilot licenses and 
endorsements will be issued by the Eighth Coast Guard District Regional 
Examination Centers. These areas have been designated consistent with 
the revised manning requirements introduced in 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
CDR Guy A. Tetreau, Marine Safety Division, Eighth Coast Guard 
District, (504) 589-3624, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, except federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    New first class pilot licenses and endorsements will only be issued 
for those areas within the Eighth Coast Guard District that have been 
designated by the cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection 
(OCMI). Eighth District Regional Examination Centers shall continue to 
renew existing first class pilot licenses with all previously earned 
endorsements.

Background

    ``Designated areas'' are ``* * * those areas within pilotage waters 
for which first class pilot's licenses or endorsements are issued * * 
*'' (46 CFR 15.301). These areas are designated by the OCMI based upon 
the particular hazards of the waterway involved. They are the only 
areas for which first class pilots licenses and endorsements are 
required, and for which new first class pilotage licenses and 
endorsements will be issued.

Eighth Coast Guard District Designated Areas

    The following is a list of the Eighth District designated areas for 
which first class pilots licenses or endorsements are required. Future 
changes to designated areas will be published in the Federal Register.

MSO Mobile

--The Port St. Joseph Bay Channel from St. Joseph Bay entrance lighted 
buoy ``SJ'' to the turning basin in Port St. Joe for St. Joseph, FL.
--The St. Andrews Bay Channel from St. Andrews Bay entrance lighted 
buoy ``SA'' to the port of Panama City, including the area between the 
Hathaway Bridge and the Dupont Bridge, or St. Andrews Bay, Panama City, 
FL.
--The Pensacola Bay Channel, Inner Harbor, and its approaches, to three 
miles from Pensacola Bay, Pensacola, FL.
--The Mobile Alabama Main Ship Channel from Mobile entrance lighted 
buoy ``m'' to the Cochran Bridge, including Hollinger's Island, 
Theodore, and Arlington Channels.
--The Horn Island Pass Ship Channel from Horn Island Pass entrance 
lighted buoy ``HI'' to the Bayou Cassotte turning basin via the Bayou 
Cassotte Channel, and to the Pascagoula River turning basin via the 
Pascagoula Channel, Pascagoula, MS.
--The Ship Island Bar Channel from Ship Island Bar lighted buoy ``GP'' 
to the state dock facility including the Gulfport Ship Channel, 
Gulfport, MS.
--The coastal approach from St. George Sound, Dog Island Reef light #1 
to St. Marks, FL., including the St. Marks River channel.
--The Bayou Labatre entrance channel from the intersection of the Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway to the Bayou Labatre Lift Bridge, Bayou Labatre, 
AL.

MSO New Orleans

--The Lower Mississippi River including:

    (1) Southwest Pass from sea buoy to Head of Passes;
    (2) from Head of Passes to mile 234 Above Head of Passes (AHOP).

--The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet.
--The Inner Harbor Navigational Canal.

MSO Morgan City

--The Lower Atchafalaya River from Point Au Fer Reef Light (LLN 18030) 
to Stout's Pass at Atchafalaya River mile 115.5.
--The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from its intersection with the Lower 
Atchafalaya River at 20 Grand Point (MM 95.5 WHL) east to the Bayou 
Boeuf Locks.

MSO Port Arthur

--The Sabine River from the Offshore Sea buoys ``29'' and ``30'' to the 
north end of the Old Navy piers in Orange, TX.
--The Neches River from the Sabine/Neches intersection to the I-10 
Bridge, north of Beaumont, TX.
--The Calcasieu River from the Offshore ``CC'' buoy, in Pilot Boarding 
Area 4, north to the I-10 Bridge spanning the Calcasieu, including the 
Industrial Canal at Devil's Elbow, and the deep water channels for 
Clooney and Coon Islands.

MSO Houston-Galveston

--The Galveston Entrance Channel from the red and white ``GB'' buoy to 
red buoy ``18.''
--The Galveston Ship Channel from the green ``1`` buoy to Pelican 
Island Bridge.
--The Boliver Roads Ferry Route from the Bolivar Ferry Landing to the 
Galveston Ferry Landing, crossing the Bolivar Roads Channel.
--The Texas City Channel from Green ``1'' buoy to the turning basin.
--The Houston Ship Channel from red buoy ``18'' to Buffalo Bayou 
turning basin.
--The Bayport Ship Channel from the intersection of the Houston Ship 
Channel to the Bayport turning basin.
--The Freeport Channel from the red and white ``FP'' buoy to the 
turning basin.

MSO Corpus Christi

--The Matagorda Ship Channel from the sea buoy to Port of Point 
Comfort.
--The Corpus Christi Ship Channel from the sea buoy to Viola turning 
basin including La Quinta Channel.
--The Brownsville Ship Channel to Port Isabel.


[[Page 68091]]


    Dated: November 27, 1996.
T.W. Josiah,
Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-32838 Filed 12-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M