[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72616-72617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6899]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 102805E]


Vessel Monitoring Systems; Additional Approved Mobile 
Transmitting Units for use in the South Atlantic Rock Shrimp Fishery

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of vessel monitoring systems; additional approval.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice of vessel monitoring systems 
(VMS) approved by NOAA for use by vessels participating in the Rock 
Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region and sets forth relevant 
features of the VMS.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the list of NOAA approved VMS mobile 
transmitting units and NOAA approved VMS communications service 
providers, or information regarding the status of VMS systems being 
evaluated by NOAA for approval, write to NOAA Fisheries Office for Law 
Enforcement (OLE), 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 415, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    To submit a completed and signed checklist, mail or fax it to NOAA 
Enforcement, 7600 Sand Point Way, Seattle, WA 98115, fax 206-526-6528. 
VMS provider addresses can be found in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this notice under the heading VMS Provider Addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For current listing information Mark 
Oswell, Outreach Specialist, phone 301-427-2300, fax 301-427-2055. For 
questions regarding VMS installation, activation checklists, and status 
of evaluations, contact Jonathan Pinkerton, National VMS Program 
Manager, phone 301-427-2300; fax 301-427-2055. For questions regarding 
the checklist, contact Beverly Lambert, Southeast Divisional VMS 
Program Manager, NMFS Office for Law Enforcement, Southeast Division, 
phone 727-824-5344.
    The public may acquire this notice, installation checklist, and 
relevant updates by calling 301-427-2300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. VMS Mobile Transceiver Units

BOATRACS - FMTC/G
    The Boatracs satellite communications VMS transmitting unit that 
meets the minimum technical requirements for the Rock Shrimp Fishery is 
the FMTC/G. The address for the Boatracs distributor dealer contact is 
provided under the heading VMS Provider Addresses.
    The FMTC/G is an integrated GPS two-way satellite communications 
system, consisting of two major hardware components, the Mobile 
Communication Transceiver (MCT) and the Enhanced Display Unit (EDU). 
The MCT contains the antenna and integrated GPS that communicates with 
the satellite and contains the operating circuitry and memory. The EDU 
is a shock and splash resistant display and keyboard unit consisting 
of, a liquid crystal display, keyboard, with adjustable contrast, 
brightness, and audible alerts. A backlight illuminates the display for 
night view. The EDU has message waiting, no signal, and audible message 
received indicators.
    The MCT is 6.7 inches high, 11.4 inches wide and weighs 11 pounds 
(4.99 kg). The base of the unit is 6.595 inches in diameter. The MCT 
draws approximately 2.3 amps of current from the power supply while 
transmitting and 1.2 amps when the vessel is idle.
    The EDU is a hardened and splash proof keyboard display unit with a 
15-line X 40-character screen that allows for both text and graphics. 
It is 12.72 inches wide, 9.3 inches long, 2.21 inches in depth, and 
weighs 3 pounds (1.36 kg) and is holster mounted in the cabin.

II. Satellite Communication Services

    The FMTC/G utilizes KU band geostationary satellite to provide two-
way date services. The data satellite transmits and receives all two-
way message traffic between the vessel and NMFS, Shore Office, Network 
Operations Center or third party. The satellite is located 22,300 miles 
over the equator at 103 W. Longitude (south of Florida).
    Boatracs operates a redundant NOC. This facility is online 24 hours 
a day,

[[Page 72617]]

365 days a year, including holidays. Customer service representatives 
are available to relay messages and provide customer service. The NOC 
is also the facility that allows for automatic boat-to-boat, boat-to-
email, boat-to-fax, and email-to-boat service. Data on demand and 
information services are also provided by the NOC.
    Boatracs contracts their satellite communication services from 
QUALCOMM Corporation of California. QUALCOMM offers 24 hours a day 365 
days a year network support, and operates fully redundant earth 
stations in California and Nevada.
    VMS units must be installed in accordance with vendor instructions 
and specifications. All installation costs are paid by the owner. The 
vessel owner is required to fax or mail the Fisheries Off the West 
Coast States and in the (Western Pacific Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Fishery Activation Fax) directly to NOAA Enforcement, 7600 Sand Point 
Way, Seattle, WA 98115, fax 206-526-6528.
    The owner must confirm the FMTC/G operation and communications 
service to ensure that position reports are automatically sent to and 
received by OLE before leaving on their first fishing trip requiring 
VMS. OLE does not regard the fishing vessel as meeting the requirements 
until position reports are automatically received. For confirmation 
purposes, owners must contact NOAA Enforcement, 7600 Sand Point Way, 
Seattle, WA 98115, voice 206-526-6135, fax 206-526-6528.

III. VMS Provider Addresses

    Boatracs corporate office address is 9155 Brown Deer Rd, Suite 8, 
San Diego, CA 92121. Telephone numbers are toll free (877) 468-8722 and 
direct dialed (858) 458-8100. The primary point of contact is Lauri 
Paul, Fisheries Market Segment Executive, e-mail [email protected], 
direct telephone number (858) 458-8113, and toll free (877) 468-8722 
ext 113. The alternate contact is David Brandos, e-mail 
[email protected], direct telephone number (858) 458-8102, and toll 
free (877) 468-8722 ext 102.

    Dated: December 1, 2005.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E5-6899 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S