[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 48932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13902]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2006-25560]


Head and Gut Fleet; Alternate Standards for Fish Processing 
Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a policy letter 
detailing the Coast Guard's determination that ``head and gut fleet'' 
vessels constitute fish processing vessels for regulatory purposes. For 
vessels that, because of their age, cannot comply with certain 
regulatory requirements, an exemption from those requirements will be 
granted if the vessel owner proposes an acceptable alternative that 
provides a level of safety that is equivalent to the current 
regulations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
contact Mr. Michael Rosecrans, Chief, Fishing Vessel Safety Division, 
Commandant (G-PCV-3), telephone 202-372-1245, or by e-mail at 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-493-0402.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    In the process of investigating the loss of the fishing vessels 
GALAXY and ARCTIC ROSE, the Coast Guard became aware of a class of 
approximately 65 vessels known as the ``head and gut fleet.'' This 
fleet involves two basic vessel types, freezer trawlers and freezer 
longliners. These vessels operate in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering 
Sea/Aleutian Island fisheries. They catch fish and perform a number of 
operations, including freezing and packaging the catch for later 
distribution to a number of foreign and domestic markets.
    Some of the operations conducted on board exceed the operations 
permitted for fishing vessels. Title 46 U.S. Code 2101(11b) defines a 
``fish processing vessel'' as ``a vessel that commercially prepares 
fish or fish products other than by gutting, decapitating, gilling, 
skinning, shucking, icing, freezing or brine chilling.''
    The Coast Guard has determined that the operations conducted on 
board this fleet of vessels qualify the vessels as fish processing 
vessels. Coast Guard regulations in 46 CFR 28.710 require a fishing 
processing vessel to be classed by the American Bureau of Shipping or a 
similarly qualified organization, and under 46 CFR 42.03-5, a fish 
processing vessel of a certain size must also obtain a Load Line 
Certificate.
    Due to the age of the majority of the vessels in this fleet, they 
are ineligible to enter class with the American Bureau of Shipping or a 
similarly qualified organization. As a result, the Coast Guard has 
developed a policy to address safety concerns by permitting exemptions 
from the aforementioned regulations, as authorized by 46 CFR 28.60, 
provided the owner of a vessel proposes alternatives to the required 
regulations that provide a level of safety that is equivalent to the 
current regulations.
    This decision is documented in G-PCV Policy Letter 06-03. It may be 
viewed on-line at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/moc/docs.htm.

    Dated: August 17, 2006.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of National and International Standards, Assistant 
Commandant for Prevention.
[FR Doc. E6-13902 Filed 8-21-06; 8:45 am]
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