[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40035-40036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19449]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 90, 98, 125-136, 170, 174, and 175

[CGD 97-042]


Offshore Supply Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is considering developing additional 
regulations to address offshore supply vessels (OSV's). First, it needs 
to determine a tonnage breakpoint and appropriate standards for larger 
OSV's because of concerns on the adequacy of the existing regulations, 
especially for vessels competing in the international market. Second, 
because of industry commitments to a previous rulemaking, it needs to 
bring crew boats under regulations for OSV's.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before September 23, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Executive Secretary, Marine Safety 
Council (G-LRA), Room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or deliver them to 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James M. Magill, Office of Operating

[[Page 40036]]

and Environmental Standards (G-MSO-2), Room 1210, U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593, telephone 
(202) 267-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Information

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this request by submitting written data, views, or arguments. Persons 
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify 
this notice, and give the reason for each comment. Please submit two 
copies of all comments and attachments in an unbound format, no larger 
than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. 
Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments should enclose 
stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes. The Coast Guard will 
consider all comments received during the comment period.
    The Coast Guard plans no public meeting. Persons may request a 
public meeting by writing to the address under ADDRESSES. The request 
should include the reasons why a meeting would be beneficial. If the 
Coast Guard determines that the opportunity for oral presentations is 
appropriate, it will hold a public meeting at a time and place 
announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

    On December 18, 1996, the Coast Guard published in the Federal 
Register a final rule (61 FR 66613) interpreting the alternative 
tonnage for OSVs and establishing a limit of 6,000 gross tons, as 
measured under the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of 
Ships (ITC), for OSVs regulated under 46 CFR subchapter L. This tonnage 
corresponds to the maximum length of 100 meters for OSVs constructed to 
the latest international standards, and enables the domestic OSV 
industry to be more competitive in the international market. That final 
rule resulted from amended section 709(3) of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-324; 110 Stat. 3901) and resides 
in 46 CFR 125.160.
    With the promulgation of the new definition of OSVs and the need 
for the fleet of OSVs to serve drilling and production units in deeper 
waters, the Coast Guard is closely monitoring all aspects of the 
design, construction, and operation of OSVs built since the effective 
date of that final rule. With the increase in gross tonnage and length 
of OSVs, it is obvious that larger OSVs need standards beyond those of 
46 CFR subchapter L to address the safety concerns inherent within 
large size and deepwater operations. The National Offshore Safety 
Advisory Committee (NOSAC) recommended that the Coast Guard promulgate 
supplementary regulations to deal with the new issues peculiar to 
larger OSVs.
    Comments received after the publishing of the interim rule on 46 
CFR subchapter L in November 1995 also indicated a desire that the 
Coast Guard regulate crew boats under subchapter L. NOSAC recommended 
the same.
    The final rule for 46 CFR subchapter L is currently in final 
clearance and should be published during July 1997. Although the Coast 
Guard cannot promulgate new rules until that rule is published, it can 
begin to develop them; hence this notice.

Discussion of Prospective Rules

    The Coast Guard is publishing this notice to indicate its 
consideration of additional issues relating to OSVs. There are two main 
ones.
    First, the Coast Guard is considering establishing a breakpoint in 
convention gross tonnage (between 2,000 ITC gross tons and 6,000 ITC 
gross tons) so as to develop two categories of OSVs, large and small. 
It also is considering developing appropriate standards for the larger 
OSVs beyond those now in subchapter L to enable the vessels to engage 
in fair competition in international markets while ensuring their 
safety.
    Second, the Coast Guard is considering regulating crew boats under 
46 CFR subchapter L. These boats would have been proper subjects of the 
rule about to become final, but the issue of how to treat them arose 
too late.

Questions

    To adequately address the issues raised by this notice, the Coast 
Guard needs more information. Public response to the questions 
contained in this notice will help the Coast Guard to more completely 
and carefully consider these issues. The questions are not all-
inclusive, and any supplemental, germane information is welcome. 
Responses to the following questions would be particularly useful:
    1. Where (between 2,000 ITC gross tons and 6,000 ITC gross tons) 
should the breakpoint between large and small OSVs fall, and for what 
reasons? For example, given the provisions of the 1978 International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping 
for Seafarers (STCW), does a breakpoint of 3,000 gross tons make sense?
    2. What standards (whether domestic, international, or both) beyond 
those already in subchapter L should the larger OSVs meet?
    3. Should crew boats be regulated under 46 CFR subchapter L? Why or 
why not?
    4. What should be the appropriate manning levels of larger OSVs? Of 
crew boats? Of both?
    5. What should be the appropriate license requirements of larger 
OSVs (as provided for by STCW)? Of crew boats? Of both?

    Dated: July 15, 1997.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 97-19449 Filed 7-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M