[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25080-25081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11607]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4307]


Shipping Coordinating Committee; Notice of Meeting

    The Shipping Coordinating Committee (SHC) will conduct an open 
meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2003, in Room 2415, at U.S. 
Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC. The 
purpose of the meeting is for members of the SHC to discuss and decide 
upon changes to the SHC charter regarding SHC subcommittee structure. 
The proposed change to the subcommittee structure is described below.
    The SHC has presently established six subcommittees, the 
Subcommittee for the Prevention of Marine Pollution, the Subcommittee 
on Safety of Life at Sea, the Maritime Law Subcommittee, the 
Subcommittee on Tonnage and Measurement, the Subcommittee on the United 
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the 
Subcommittee on Ocean Dumping. This subcommittee structure was 
established at the time of the original SHC charter in 1958, and has 
not been amended since the mid-1970's. The Subcommittees on Tonnage 
Measurement and UNCTAD have not met in over 10 years. The primary focus 
of the SHC is to assist in the development of and receive public input 
on U.S. negotiating positions at the International Maritime 
Organization (IMO) and on various international instruments (i.e., 
treaties, conventions and protocols) administered by the IMO. Over the 
last 15 years, the IMO has added a number of committees and 
subcommittees, whose functions are not directly addressed by the 
current subcommittees contained in the SHC Charter.
    At this meeting SHC members will be asked to discuss and decide 
whether to:
    1. Disestablish the Subcommittee on Tonnage and Measurement and the 
Subcommittee on UNCTAD.
    2. Establish the following new subcommittees:
    a. The Subcommittee on IMO Administration and Budgeting. The 
purpose of the subcommittee would be to ascertain views and make 
recommendations consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article I of 
the SHC Charter for matters before the IMO Assembly and Council.
    b. The Subcommittee on IMO Technical Cooperation. The purpose of 
the subcommittee would be to ascertain views and make recommendations 
consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article I of the SHC Charter 
for matters before the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee.
    c. The Subcommittee on Facilitation. The purpose of the 
subcommittee would be to ascertain views and make recommendations 
consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article I of the SHC Charter 
in regards to United States participation in the Convention on 
Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, 1965, and for matters 
before the IMO Facilitation Committee.
    d. The Subcommittee on the Carriage of Bulk Liquids and Gases. The 
purpose of the subcommittee would be to ascertain views and make 
recommendations consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article I of 
the SHC Charter for matters before the IMO Bulk Liquids and Gases 
Subcommittee.
    e. The Subcommittee on Ship Design and Equipment. The purpose of 
the subcommittee would be to ascertain views and make recommendations 
consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article I of the SHC Charter 
for matters before the IMO Design and Equipment Subcommittee.

[[Page 25081]]

    f. The Subcommittee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargos and 
Containers. The purpose of the subcommittee would be to ascertain views 
and make recommendations consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
Article I of the SHC Charter for matters before the IMO Dangerous 
Goods, Solid Cargos and Containers Subcommittee.
    g. The Subcommittee on Radio Communications and Search and Rescue. 
The purpose of the subcommittee would be to ascertain views and make 
recommendations consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article I of 
the SHC Charter regarding United States participation in the 
International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979 and for 
matters before the IMO Radio Communications and Search and Rescue 
Subcommittee.
    h. The Subcommittee on Fire Protection. The purpose of the 
subcommittee would be to ascertain views and make recommendations 
consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article I of the SHC Charter 
for matters before the IMO Fire Protection Subcommittee.
    i. The Subcommittee on Flag State Implementation. The purpose of 
the subcommittee would be to ascertain views and make recommendations 
consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article I of the SHC Charter 
for matters before the IMO Flag State Implementation Subcommittee.
    j. The Subcommittee on the Safety of Navigation. The purpose of the 
subcommittee would be to ascertain views and make recommendations 
consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article I of the SHC Charter 
for matters before the IMO Safety of Navigation Subcommittee.
    k. The Subcommittee on Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessel 
Safety. The purpose of the subcommittee would be to ascertain views and 
make recommendations consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 
I of the SHC Charter regarding United States participation in the 
International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, the International 
Convention on Tonnage Measurement, 1969 and for matters before the IMO 
Subcommittee on Stability and Loadlines and on Fishing Vessels Safety.
    l. The Subcommittee on Standards of Training, Certification and 
Watchkeeping. The purpose of the subcommittee would be to ascertain 
views and make recommendations consistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) 
of Article I of the SHC Charter regarding United States participation 
in the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification 
and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 and for matters before the IMO 
Standards for Training and Watchkeeping Subcommittee.
    3. Designate the head of the United States delegation to the 
relevant IMO committee or subcommittee as the chairperson of the 
subcommittee with cognizance over that IMO committee or subcommittee.
    Members of the public may attend this meeting up to the seating 
capacity of the room. Interested persons may seek information by 
writing: Commander Frederick J. Kenney, Executive Secretary, Shipping 
Coordinating Committee, U.S. Department of State (OES/OA), Room 5805, 
2201 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20520, by e-mailing 
[email protected], or by calling 202-647-3946.

    Dated: May 1, 2003.
Frederick J. Kenney,
Executive Secretary, Shipping Coordinating Committee, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 03-11607 Filed 5-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P