[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 180 (Friday, September 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47950-47951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22459]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2009-0791]


Certificate of Alternative Compliance for the Offshore Supply 
Vessel BAYOU BEE

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative 
Compliance was issued for the offshore supply vessel Bayou Bee as 
required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

DATES: The Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued on August 
18, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this notice is available for inspection or 
copying at the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this 
docket on the Internet by going to http://www.regulations.gov, 
inserting USCG-2009-0791 in the ''Keyword'' box, and then clicking 
''Search.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call CWO2 David Mauldin, District Eight, Prevention Branch, U.S. Coast 
Guard, telephone 504-671-2153. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    The offshore supply vessel Bayou Bee will be used for offshore 
supply operations. Full compliance with 72 COLREGS and Inland Rules Act 
will hinder the vessel's ability to maneuver within close proximity of 
offshore platforms. Due to the design of the vessel, it would be 
difficult and impractical to build supporting structure that would put 
the side lights within 5.6' from the greatest breadth of the vessel, as 
required by Annex I, paragraph 3(b) of the 72 COLREGS and Annex I, 
Section 84.05(b) of the Inland Rules Act. Compliance with the rule will 
cause the lights to be in a location which will be highly susceptible 
to damage from offshore platforms. Locating the sidelights 12'-4\1/4\'' 
inboard from the greatest breadth of the vessel on the pilot house will 
provide a shelter location for the lights and allow

[[Page 47951]]

maneuvering within close proximity to offshore platforms.
    In addition, the forward masthead light may be located on the top 
forward portion of the pilothouse 38'-2\1/4\'' above the hull. Placing 
the forward masthead light at the height as required by Annex I, 
paragraph 2(a) of the 72 COLREGS would result in a masthead light 
location highly susceptible to damage when working in close proximity 
to offshore platforms.
    Furthermore, the horizontal distance between the forward and aft 
masthead lights may be 18'-10\9/16\''. Placing the aft masthead light 
at the horizontal distance from the forward masthead light as required 
by Annex I, paragraph 3(a) of the 72 COLREGS and Annex I, Section 
84.05(a) of the Inland Rules Act would result in an aft masthead light 
location directly over the aft cargo deck where it would interfere with 
loading and unloading operations.
    Lastly, the aft anchor light may be placed 25'-1\5/16\'' off 
centerline to the starboard side of the vessel, just forward of the 
stern. Placing the aft anchor light directly over the aft cargo deck 
would interfere with loading and unloading operations.
    A Certificate of Alternative Compliance, as allowed under Title 33, 
Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 81 and 89, has been issued for the 
offshore supply vessel Bayou Bee, O.N. 1218414. The Certificate of 
Alternative Compliance allows for the placement of the sidelights to 
deviate from requirements set forth in Annex I, paragraph 3(b) of 72 
COLREGS and Annex I, paragraph 84.05(b) of the Inland Rules Act. In 
addition, the Certificate of Alternative Compliance allows for the 
vertical placement of the forward masthead light to deviate from 
requirements set forth in Annex I, paragraph 2(a) of 72 COLREGS. 
Furthermore, the Certificate of Alternative Compliance allows for the 
horizontal separation of the forward and aft masthead lights to deviate 
from the requirements of Annex I, paragraph 3(a) of 72 COLREGS and 
Annex I, Section 84.05(a) of the Inland Rules Act. Lastly, the 
Certificate of Alternative Compliance allows for the placement of the 
aft anchor light to deviate from the requirements of Rule 30(a)(ii) of 
72 COLREGS and Rule 30(a)(ii) of the Inland Rules Act.
    This notice is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1605(c), and 33 
CFR 81.18.

    Dated: August 24, 2009.
J.W. Johnson,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Inspections and Investigations 
Branch, By Direction of the Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E9-22459 Filed 9-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P