[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 70 (Monday, April 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18067-18068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9640]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[USCG-1998-3721]


Office of Vessel Traffic Management, Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) 
Commanding Officers Conference

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Vessel Traffic Management is hosting a Vessel 
Traffic Service (VTS) Commanding Officers Conference on May 13, 1998. 
Topics to be discussed at this meeting include VTS Customer 
Satisfaction, Ports and Waterway Safety Assessments (PAWSA), Automatic 
Identification Systems (AIS), Partnerships, and Port Operations 
Information for Safety and Efficiency (POISE). This public meeting is 
meant to discuss, answer questions, and get feedback from the public 
about program direction. The Coast Guard is also seeking written 
feedback on AIS.

DATES: The open meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 1998 from 9 
a.m. to 5 p.m. Written material must reach the Coast Guard on or before 
May 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the 1st Hangar Air 
Station Training Room at 2710 North Harboor Drive, San Diego, 
California 92101. You may mail comments to the Docket Management 
Facility, [USCG 1998-3721], U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL-
401, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001, or deliver them 
to room PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at 
the same address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
notice. Comments and documents as indicated in this notice, will become 
part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at 
room PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the 
above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. You may electronically access the public docket for 
this notice on the Internet at http;//dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public docket, 
contact Carol Kelly, Coast Guard Dockets Team Leader, or Paulette 
Twine, Chief, Documentary Services Division, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, telephone 202-366-

[[Page 18068]]

9329. For information concerning this notice, contact Ms. Diane 
Schneider, Coast Guard Office of Vessel Traffic Management at 202-267-
0352 or LCDR Frank Elfring, Coast Guard Office of Vessel Traffic 
Management at 202-267-6623.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    Trends in vessel transit statistics show America's commercial 
waterways are increasingly more congested with larger vessels. In 
conjunction with this trend, there is an increasing urgency to move 
traffic through ports more efficiently and coordinate ship movements 
with ongoing port operations. Additionally, there is a great desire to 
mitigate incidences of miscommunication during inclement weather 
conditions and at night, which can result in accidents and near-miss 
encounters.
    Later this year, the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 
Subcommittee on Safety of Navigation is likely to conclude that AIS 
transponders are useful and worthwhile instruments for promoting safety 
in international waters and has prepared a recommendation on 
performance standards for a universal shipborne AIS. Concurrently, the 
Coast Guard is testing AIS as a domestic VTS tool in both the ship-to-
ship and ship-to-shore modes. In anticipation of advancement of this 
innovative AIS technology, the Coast Guard is seeking public feedback 
on AIS, benefits to domestic waterways safety, and application of this 
technology to domestic vessels by way of carriage requirements.
    The following projects are being tested and evaluated and will be 
discussed at the meeting: Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment 
(PAWSA), Port Operations Information for Safety and Efficiency (POISE), 
and Ports and Waterway Safety Systems (PAWSS).
    PAWSA's main objective is to analyze current safety standards and 
waterways management tools. By analyzing these things, the Coast Guard 
will be able to determine whether or not a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) 
is necessary in that port.
    POISE is a computer Internet-based system that provides a 
collection of hot links to information about port activities.
    PAWSS is an acquisition for future VTS in U.S. waters. This system 
is primarily an AIS-based system that will meet IMO technical and 
operational standards.

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages submission of written data, views, or 
arguments on this notice. Persons submitting comments should include 
their names and addresses, identify this notice [USCG 1998-3721], the 
specific issue that each comment addresses, and the reason for the 
comment. Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound 
format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and 
electronic filing, to the Department of Transportation Docket 
Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. If you want 
acknowledgment of receipt of your comment, enclose a stamped, self-
addressed postcard or envelope. The Coast Guard will consider all 
comments received during the comment period.

Agenda for Meeting

    (1) 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.--Program Direction.
    (2) 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.--Update on Ports and Waterway Safety 
Assessments.
    (3) 1 p.m.-2 p.m.--Partnerships for Operating Vessel Traffic 
Services.
    (4) 2 p.m.-3 p.m.--Update on Automatic Identification Systems.
    (5) 3:15 p.m.-4 p.m.--Vessel Traffic Management Customer 
Satisfaction Tools.
    (6) 4 p.m.-4:30 p.m.--Port Operations Information for Safety and 
Efficiency (POISE) Demonstration.

Public Meeting

    Attendance is open to the public. 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 Ms. 
Diane Schneider or LCDR Elfring listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT no later than the day before the meeting. Written material may 
be submitted before, during, or after the meeting. Persons unable to 
attend the public meetings are encouraged to submit written comments as 
outlined above.

Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities, or to request assistance at the meeting(s), contact Ms. 
Diane Schneider or LCDR Elfring at the address or phone number under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible.

    Dated: April 6, 1998.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 98-9640 Filed 4-10-98; 8:45 am]
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