[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 55826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24571]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Parts 26, 161, 164, and 165

[USCG-2003-14757]
RIN 1625-AA67


Automatic Identification System; Vessel Carriage Requirement

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Policy statement.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is announcing its policy and intent to 
establish one uniform compliance date for U.S. domestic vessels subject 
to Automatic Identification System carriage regulations while 
transiting a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) area. On July 1, 2003, the 
Coast Guard published a temporary interim rule that established 3 
different compliance dates, depending on particular VTS areas. This 
policy statement aligns these dates with the deadline date of the 
Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.

DATES: This policy is effective on September 29, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this Policy 
Statement, contact Mr. Jorge Arroyo, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Vessel 
Traffic Management (G-MWV), by telephone 202-267-6277, toll-free 
telephone 1-800-842-8740 ext. 7-6277, or electronic mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 1, 2003, we published a temporary interim rule with request 
for comments and notice of public meeting titled ``Automatic 
Identification System; Vessel Carriage Requirement'' in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 39353). This temporary interim rule was one of a series 
of temporary interim rules on maritime security published in the July 
1, 2003, issue of the Federal Register. On July 16, 2003, we published 
a document correcting typographical errors and omissions in that rule 
(68 FR 41913). The temporary interim rule established an Automatic 
Identification System (AIS) compliance date that varies depending upon 
VTS area. They are as follows:
    (1) For VTS St. Marys River, not later than December 31, 2003;
    (2) For VTS Berwick Bay, VMRS Los Angeles/Long Beach, VTS Lower 
Mississippi River, VTS Port Arthur and VTS Prince William Sound, not 
later than July 1, 2004; and
    (3) For VTS Houston-Galveston, VTS New York, VTS Puget Sound, and 
VTS San Francisco, not later than December 31, 2004.
    These deadline dates were established to coincide with anticipated 
AIS-capability at each of these respective ports via our Ports and 
Waterways Safety System (PAWSS) upgrades. PAWSS is an effort to 
establish a national transportation system that collects, processes, 
and disseminates information on the marine operating environment and 
maritime vessel traffic in major U.S. ports and waterways. Work 
continues on schedule in our PAWSS process; however, we recognize that 
having differing deadline dates has caused unwarranted confusion and 
may place certain vessels at a disadvantage of reaping market benefits. 
Therefore, the Coast Guard will amend its temporary interim rule, by a 
forthcoming final rule, that will adopt December 31, 2004, as the 
compliance date for all VTS users, not on international voyage, that 
are subject to the provisions of 33 CFR 164.46(b).

Policy Statement

    Until the Coast Guard publishes its final rule regarding AIS 
carriage requirements, the following policy applies:
    The Coast Guard will not enforce the deadline dates as stated in 33 
CFR 164.46(c)(1) through (4).

How Long Will This Policy Remain in Effect?

    This policy will remain in effect until publication of the final 
rule regarding AIS carriage [USCG 2003-14757], that we anticipate 
publishing prior to October 25, 2003. In the final rule we intend to 
adopt December 31, 2004, as the deadline date for domestic AIS carriage 
for those vessels denoted in 33 CFR 164.46(b).

    Dated: September, 22 2003.
T.H. Gilmour,
Rear Admiral, Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 03-24571 Filed 9-26-03; 8:45 am]
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