[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 107 (Friday, June 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35414-35415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13869]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[USCG 2000-7373]


Guidelines for Assessing Merchant Mariners' Proficiency Through 
Demonstrations of Skills for Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational 
Watch

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Availability and Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of, and seeks 
public comments on, the national performance measures proposed here for 
use as guidelines when mariners demonstrate their proficiency in skills 
for ratings forming part of a navigational watch. A working group of 
the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) developed and 
recommended national performance measures for this proficiency. The 
Coast Guard has adapted the measures recommended by MERPAC.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management 
Facility on or before August 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please identify your comments and related material by the 
docket number of this rulemaking [USCG 2000-7373]. Then, to make sure 
they enter the docket just once, submit them by just one of the 
following means:
    (1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001.
    (2) By delivery to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif 
Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    (3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251.
    (4) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management 
System at http://dms.dot.gov.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
Notice. Comments and related material received from the public, as well 
as documents mentioned 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, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, 
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. You may also find this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
    The measures proposed here are also available from Mr. Mark Gould, 
Maritime Personnel Qualifications Division, Office of Operating and 
Environmental Standards, Commandant (G-MSO-1), U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, telephone 202-267-0229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this Notice or on the 
national performance measures proposed here, write or call Mr. Mark 
Gould where indicated under ADDRESSES. For questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, 
Department of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 35415]]

What Action Is the Coast Guard Taking?

    Table A-II/4 of the Code accompanying the treaty on Standards of 
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as 
amended in 1995, articulates qualifications for merchant mariners' 
attaining the minimum standard of competence for ratings forming part 
of a navigational watch. The Coast Guard tasked MERPAC with referring 
to the Table, modifying and specifying it as it deemed necessary, and 
recommending national performance measures. The Coast Guard has adapted 
the measures recommended by MERPAC and is proposing them now for use as 
guidelines when assessing mariners' proficiency in skills for ratings 
forming part of a navigational watch.
    Here follow the five skills that a mariner must demonstrate 
respecting ratings forming part of a navigational watch, with an 
example of a Performance Condition, a Performance Behavior, and four 
Performance Standards for one of those five skills:
    Five Skills: Use magnetic and gyro-compasses; Respond to standard 
rudder orders (hard right [starboard] or left [port]; ease the rudder; 
midships; shift your rudder; meet her; steady as she goes; and steer on 
the range); Change over from automatic pilot to hand steering; 
Discharge certain responsibilities of the lookout (reporting sounds, 
lights and objects); and Know watch procedures that contribute to a 
safe watch (relief, maintenance and handover).
    The Performance Condition for the skill entitled, ``Change over 
from automatic pilot to hand steering'' is: At sea speed, when hearing 
the command, ``Put the steering into hand steering, * * *.'' This calls 
for, in the case of this skill, one Performance Behavior.
    The Performance Behavior for the same skill is: The candidate will 
change the steering mode from automatic pilot to hand steering. This 
calls for, in the case of this skill, four Performance Standards.
    The Performance Standards for the same skill are: Repeat order; 
Switch the steering mode from automatic pilot to hand steering; Test 
that the new steering mode is responding; and State, ``She's in hand 
steering.''
    If the mariner properly meets all of the Performance Standards, he 
or she passes the practical demonstration. If he or she fails to 
properly carry out any of the Performance Standards, he or she fails 
the demonstration.

Why Is the Coast Guard Taking This Action?

    The Coast Guard is taking this action to comply with STCW, as 
amended in 1995 and incorporated into domestic law at 46 CFR parts 10, 
12, and 15 in 1997. Guidance from the International Maritime 
Organization on shipboard assessments of proficiency suggests that 
Parties develop standards and measures of performance for practical 
tests as part of their programs for training and assessing seafarers.

How May I Participate in This Action?

    You may participate in this action by submitting comments and 
related material on the national performance measures proposed here. 
(Although the Coast Guard does not seek public comment on the measures 
recommended by MERPAC, as distinct from the measures proposed here, 
those measures are available on the Internet at the Homepage of MERPAC, 
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/advisory/merpac/merpac.htm.) These measures 
are available on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. They are also 
available from Mr. Mark Gould where indicated under ADDRESSES. If you 
submit written comments please include--
     Your name and address;
     The docket number for this Notice [USCG 2000-7373];
     The specific section of the performance measures to which 
each comment applies; and
     The reason for each comment.
    You may mail, deliver, fax, or electronically submit your comments 
and related material to the Docket Management Facility, using an 
address or fax number listed in ADDRESSES. Please do not submit the 
same comment or material more than once. If you mail or deliver your 
comments and material, they must be on 8\1/2\ by 11-inch paper, and the 
quality of the copy should be clear enough for copying and scanning. If 
you mail your comments and material and would like to know whether the 
Docket Management Facility received them, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. The Coast Guard will consider all 
comments and material received during the 60-day comment period.
    Once we have considered all comments and related material, we will 
publish a final version of the national performance measures for use as 
guidelines by the general public. Individuals and institutions 
assessing the competence of mariners may refine the final version of 
these measures and develop innovative alternatives. If you vary from 
the final version of these measures, however, you must submit your 
alternative to the National Maritime Center for approval by the Coast 
Guard under 46 CFR 10.303(e) before you use it as part of an approved 
course or training program.

    Dated: May 16, 2000.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting, Director of Standards.
[FR Doc. 00-13869 Filed 6-1-00; 8:45 am]
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