[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 127 (Friday, July 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38671-38672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16540]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0525]


Qualification for an STCW Endorsement as Officer in Charge of a 
Navigational Watch (OICNW)

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of Office of Vessel 
Activities (CG-543) Policy Letter 11-07 amending its policy concerning 
qualification for a STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a 
Navigational Watch (OICNW). The policy is currently found in National 
Maritime Center (NMC) Policy Letters 01-02 and 16-02.

DATES: This policy is effective on July 1, 2011.
    This notice, as well as NMC Policy Letters 01-02 and 16-02 and the 
new, amended policy, are available in the docket and can be viewed by 
going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2011-0525 in the 
``Keyword'' box, and then clicking ``Search.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notice, call or e-mail Luke B. Harden, Mariner Credentialing Program 
Policy Division (CG-5434), U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1206, e-
mail [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing material 
in the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 11.903(c) 
establishes that

[[Page 38672]]

applicants for certain officer endorsements on a merchant mariner 
credential (MMC) must comply with competency standards set forth in the 
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and 
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW). Currently, 
National Maritime Center policy letters 01-02 and 16-02 discuss methods 
for mariners to demonstrate their compliance with those standards, and 
thus qualify for an STCW endorsement for Officer in Charge of a 
Navigational Watch (OICNW).
    The Coast Guard plans to amend the policy for qualifying for an 
OICNW endorsement. Most notably, the amendment addresses alternatives 
to formal training for demonstrating competence rather than relying 
solely on completion of formal training. The amended policy is in the 
docket. This policy will cancel NMC Policy Letter 01-02 and 16-02.

    Authority: We issue this notice of policy availability under the 
authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: June 15, 2011.
Kevin S. Cook,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2011-16540 Filed 6-30-11; 8:45 am]
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