[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 94 (Monday, May 16, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28180-28181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11759]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

32 CFR Part 706


Certifications and Exemptions Under the International Regulations 
for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendment.

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SUMMARY: In the Federal Register of April 21, 2011, the Department of 
the Navy (DoN) published a final rule concerning certifications and 
exemptions under the International Regulations for Preventing 
Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS). That document contained incorrect 
information concerning side lights arc of visibility; rule 21(b). This 
correcting amendment corrects that information.

DATES: Effective Date: May 16, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Jaewon Choi, JAGC, U.S. 
Navy, Admiralty Attorney, (Admiralty and Maritime Law), Office of the 
Judge Advocate General, Department of the Navy, 1322 Patterson Ave., 
SE, Suite 3000, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066, telephone number: 
202-685-5040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the authority granted in 33 
U.S.C. 1605, the DoN amends 32 CFR Part 706.
    This amendment provides notice that the DAJAG (Admiralty and 
Maritime Law), under authority delegated by the Secretary of the Navy, 
has certified that USS MICHIGAN (SSBN 727) and USS Georgia (SSBN 729) 
are vessels of the Navy which, due to their special construction and 
purpose, cannot fully comply with specific provisions of 72 COLREGS 
without interfering with their special function as naval ships. The 
vessels have been converted from SSBN's to SSGN's and this amendment 
will edit the classification of the vessels to accurately reflect their 
new designation as SSGN's. This amendment does not change the vessels' 
previously noted deviations from 72 COLREGS. The DAJAG (Admiralty and 
Maritime Law) has also certified that the lights involved are located 
in closest possible compliance with the applicable 72 COLREGS 
requirements.
    Moreover, it has been determined, in accordance with 32 CFR parts 
296 and 701, that publication of this amendment for public comment 
prior to adoption is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to public 
interest since it is based on previous and unchanged technical findings 
that the placement of lights on these vessels in a manner differently 
from that prescribed herein will adversely affect the vessel's ability 
to perform its military functions. Furthermore, this amendment merely 
changes the classification of these vessels and does not reflect any 
changes to the placement of lights on any of these vessels.

[[Page 28181]]

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 706

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), and Vessels.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, amend part 706 of title 
32 of the CFR as follows:

PART 706--CERTIFICATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL 
REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA, 1972

0
1. The authority citation for part 706 continues to read as follow:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1605.

0
2. Section 706.2 is amended in Table Three, by revising the entries for 
USS MICHIGAN (SSGN 727) and USS GEORGIA (SSGN 729), to read as follows:


Sec.  706.2  Certifications of the Secretary of the Navy under 
Executive Order 11964 and 33 U.S.C. 1605.

* * * * *

                                                                       Table Three
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                                                                                            Side lights                     Forward       Anchor lights
                                                  Masthead                                   distance      Stern light   anchor light,  relationship  of
                                                 lights arc    Side lights   Stern light    inboard of      distance     height above     aft light  to
            Vessel                  Number           of          arc of        arc of      ship's sides    forward of       hull in      forward  light
                                                 visibility;   visibility;   visibility;    in meters:      stern in        meters;        in  meters;
                                                 rule 21(a)    rule 21(b)    rule 21(c)    Section  3(b)     meters;     Section 2(K)     Section 2(K)
                                                                                              annex 1      rule 21(c)       annex 1          annex 1
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                                                                      * * * * * * *
USS MICHIGAN.................  SSGN 727.......      225[deg]    112.5[deg]      209[deg]             5.3           9.0             3.8  4.0 below.
USS GEORGIA..................  SSGN 729.......      225[deg]    112.5[deg]      209[deg]             5.3           9.0             3.8  4.0 below.
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* * * * *

    Approved: May 4, 2011.
M. Robb Hyde,
Commander, JAGC, U.S. Navy, Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General 
(Admiralty and Maritime Law).
[FR Doc. 2011-11759 Filed 5-13-11; 8:45 am]
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