[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1648-1649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-535]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[USCG-1998-4951]


Cargo Securing on Vessels Operating in U.S. Waters

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will hold a public meeting to discuss 
potential cargo securing standards for vessels operating in U.S. waters 
carrying general cargo and hazardous materials while engaged in 
international and U.S. domestic coastwise trade. Potential standards 
would reduce the risk of serious injury or death, vessel loss, property 
damage, and environmental damage caused by improperly secured cargo 
aboard a vessel. The Coast Guard encourages interested parties to 
attend the meeting and submit comments for discussion during the 
meeting. In addition, the Coast Guard seeks written comments from any 
party who is unable to attend the meeting.

DATES: The Coast Guard will hold this public meeting on February 3, 
1999, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. This meeting may close early if all 
business is finished. Written material for discussion during the 
meeting should reach the Docket Management Facility on or before 
January 29, 1999. Other written comments must reach the Docket 
Management Facility on or before February 28, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The Coast Guard will hold this public meeting at the U.S. 
Coast Guard Headquarters Transpoint Building, room 2415, 2100 Second 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. The telephone number is 202-267-
1181. You may mail your comments to the Docket Management Facility 
(USCG-1998-4951), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to room 
PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at the same address 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for 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, on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at 
the same address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. You may also access this docket on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For questions on this notice, contact Mr. Bob Gauvin, Project Manager, 
Vessel and Facility Operating Standards Division (G-MSO-2), Coast 
Guard, telephone 202-267-1053. For questions on viewing, or submitting 
material to the docket, contact Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, 
Department of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Requests for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written 
data, views, or arguments. Persons submitting comments should include 
their names and addresses, identify this notice (USCG-1998-4951), and 
give the reason for each 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 Docket Management 
Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting 
acknowledgement of receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-
addressed postcards or envelopes.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period.

Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Mr. Bob Gauvin at the address or phone number under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible.

Background Information

    Several maritime incidents during the early 1990's underscored the 
risk of serious injury or death, vessel loss, property damage, and 
environmental damage caused by improperly secured cargo abroad vessels. 
The most well-known incident occurred off the New Jersey coast in early 
1992. The incident involved the M/V SANTA CLARA I, which lost 21 
containers overboard, including 4 containers of the hazardous material 
arsenic trioxide.
    The Coast Guard convened a Board of Inquiry to investigate the M/V 
SANTA CLARA I incident. The Board found that the incident was caused by 
cargo securing failures in connection with bad weather and human error. 
Based on its findings, the Board recommended adopting the International 
Maritime Organization (IMO) voluntary guidelines on cargo securing 
manuals as regulations in the International Convention for the Safety 
of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). The Commandant approved the Board's 
recommendation. With the support of other IMO member governments, the 
U.S. led a proposal to include new requirements for cargo securing 
manuals in SOLAS. These requirements were adopted as part of the 1994 
amendments to SOLAS. These requirements are located in SOLAS Chapters 
VI/5.6 and VII/6.6.
    Under SOLAS, all cargo vessels engaged in international trade and 
equipped with a cargo securing system or an individual securing 
arrangement must have an approved cargo securing manual on board by 
December 31, 1997. The vessel's flag state administration must approve 
the cargo securing manual. Under SOLAS and Title 46, Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) 90.05-10, these requirements for a cargo securing 
manual apply to all U.S. flag cargo vessels of 500 gross tons or more, 
engaged in international trade. Vessel types affected include general 
cargo vessels, cellular containerships, roll-on/roll-off vessels, 
passenger/cargo vessels, supply vessels, bulk vessels capable of 
carrying non-bulk cargo, heavy lift ships, freight ships carrying 
packaged or break-bulk cargoes, and other similar vessels. Any vessel 
engaged solely in the carriage of bulk solids or liquid cargo is exempt 
from the requirements for a cargo securing manual.
    Approved cargo securing manuals must provide up-to-date information 
and guidance to assist a vessel's master and crew regarding the proper 
use of the equipment available to adequately stow and secure the 
vessel's cargo.
    Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 10-97 (NVIC 10-97), 
``Guidelines for Cargo Securing Manual Approval'', provides interim 
guidance for U.S. flag vessel compliance with the SOLAS requirements 
for a cargo securing manual. The NVIC includes interim cargo securing 
manual submittal, review, approval, and appeal procedures. A copy of 
the NVIC is available in the public docket or in the Internet at http:/
/www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/.
    Problems with cargo securing are not limited to vessels engaged in 
international trade. There have been a number of cargo-related marine 
casualties (such as loss overboard of containerized hazardous material) 
involving U.S. flag vessels engaged in U.S. domestic coastwise trade. 
The majority of domestic marine casualties were caused by poor cargo 
securing methods, inadequate equipment, and poor planning and 
management of cargo

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securing personnel. Because of this trend and the resulting risk to the 
public and the environment, the Coast Guard is considering the need for 
cargo securing requirements for U.S. vessels engaged in U.S. domestic 
coastwise trade.

Public Meeting

    This meeting is open to the public. Please note that the meeting 
may close early if all business is finished. Members of the public may 
make oral presentations during the meeting. If you would like to make 
an oral presentation at the meeting, please notify the Coast Guard 
point of contact listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later 
than January 29, 1999.
    The Coast Guard will begin the public meeting with a brief 
presentation discussing the primary causes and contributing factors of 
cargo-related marine casualties occurring in U.S. waters during the 
last 5 years. The presentation will highlight the need to comply with 
and enforce applicable SOLAS regulations for vessels engaged in 
international trade, and explore potential standards for vessels 
engaged in U.S. domestic coastwise trade.

    Dated: January 5, 1999.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Envionmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc 99-535 Filed 1-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M