[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 79 (Friday, April 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22084-22085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9198]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2004-17495]


Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) and 
its working groups will meet to discuss various issues relating to the 
training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. MERPAC advises the 
Secretary of Homeland Security on matters relating to the training, 
qualifications, licensing, and certification of seamen serving in the 
U.S. merchant marine. All meetings will be open to the public.

DATES: MERPAC will meet on Wednesday, June 2, 2004, from 8 a.m. to 4 
p.m. and on Thursday, June 3, 2004, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. These 
meetings may adjourn early if all business is finished. Requests to 
make oral presentations should reach the Coast Guard on or before May 
19, 2004. Written material and requests to have a copy of your material 
distributed to each member of the committee or subcommittee should 
reach the Coast Guard on or before May 19, 2004.

ADDRESSES: MERPAC will meet on both days in Room 2415 of the Coast 
Guard Headquarters Building, 2100 Second St., SW., Washington, DC 
20593. Further directions regarding the location of Coast Guard 
Headquarters may be obtained by contacting Mr. Mark Gould (202) 267-
6890. Send written material and requests to make oral presentations to 
Commander Brian J. Peter, Commandant (G-MSO-1), U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. This 
notice is available on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchFormSimple.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, contact 
Commander Brian J. Peter, Executive Director of MERPAC, or Mr. Mark C. 
Gould, Assistant to the Executive Director, telephone 202-267-6890, fax 
202-267-4570, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of these meetings is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 
Stat. 770, as amended).

Agenda of Meeting on June 2, 2004

    The full committee will meet to discuss the objectives for the 
meeting. The committee will then break up into the following working 
groups as necessary: Task statement 30, concerning utilizing military 
sea service for STCW certifications; Task statement 36, concerning 
recommendations on a training program for officers in charge of an 
engineering watch coming up through the hawsepipe; Task statement 37, 
concerning credit for sea service on vessels with no, or limited, 
underway time; Task statement 38, concerning improvements to STCW 
certificates; Task statement 40, concerning methods to determine the 
date at which a mariner established competency in Basic Safety Training 
in light of National Maritime Policy Letter 12-01; Task statement 42, 
concerning recommendations on actual demonstrations of skills for 
masters and chief mates on ships of between 500 and 3,000 gross tonnage 
(ITC) on international and near-coastal voyages; Task statement 43, 
concerning recommendations on a training and assessment for able-bodied 
seamen on sea-going vessels in preparation for discussions of this 
issue at the Subcommittee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping at 
the International Maritime Organization; and Task statement 44, 
concerning security training and certification for vessel personnel, 
vessel security officer, and

[[Page 22085]]

other vessel personnel. These task statements may be viewed at the 
MERPAC Web site at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/advisory/merpac/merpac.htm.
    New working groups may be formed to address issues proposed by the 
Coast Guard, MERPAC members, or the public. At the end of the day, the 
working groups will make a report to the full committee on what has 
been accomplished in their meetings. No action will be taken on these 
reports on this date.

Agenda of Meeting on June 3, 2004:

    The agenda comprises the following:
    (1) Introduction.
    (2) Working Groups' Reports
    (a) Task Statement 30, concerning Utilizing military sea service 
for STCW certifications.
    (b) Task Statement 36, concerning Recommendations on a training 
program for officers in charge of an engineering watch coming up 
through the hawsepipe.
    (c) Task Statement 37, concerning Credit for sea service on vessels 
with no, or limited, underway time.
    (d) Task Statement 38, concerning Improvements to STCW Certificate.
    (e) Task statement 40, concerning Qualifications in Basic Safety 
Training.
    (f) Task statement 42, concerning Recommendations on actual 
demonstrations of skills for masters and chief mates on ships of 
between 500 and 3,000 gross tonnage (ITC) on international and near-
coastal voyages.
    (g) Task Statement 43, concerning Recommendations on a training and 
assessment program for able-bodied seamen on sea-going vessels.
    (h) Task Statement 44, concerning Security training and 
certification for vessel personnel, vessel security officer, and other 
vessel personnel.
    (i) Other task statements which may have been adopted for 
discussion and action.
    (3) Other items to be discussed:
    (a) Standing Committee--Prevention Through People.
    (b) Briefings concerning on-going projects of interest to MERPAC.
    (c) Other items brought up for discussion by the committee or the 
public.

Procedural

    Both meetings are open to the public. Please note that the meetings 
may adjourn early if all business is finished. At the Chair's 
discretion, members of the public may make oral presentations during 
the meetings. If you would like to make an oral presentation at a 
meeting, please notify the Executive Director no later than May 19, 
2004. Written material for distribution at a meeting should reach the 
Coast Guard no later than May 19, 2004. If you would like a copy of 
your material distributed to each member of the committee or 
subcommittee in advance of the meeting, please submit 25 copies to the 
Executive Director no later than May 19, 2004.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meetings, contact 
the Assistant Executive Director as soon as possible.

    Dated: April 15, 2004.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director of Standards, Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 04-9198 Filed 4-22-04; 8:45 am]
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