[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 199 (Friday, October 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63934-63935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26641]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0204]


Navigation Safety Advisory Council

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Navigation Safety Advisory Council (NAVSAC) will meet on 
November 1-2, 2011, in San Diego, California to discuss matters 
relating to maritime collisions, rammings, groundings, Inland and 
International Rules of the Road, navigation regulations and equipment, 
routing measures, marine information, diving safety, and aids to 
navigation systems. The meeting will be open to the public.

DATES: NAVSAC will meet Tuesday, November 1, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 5 
p.m., and Wednesday, November 2, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please 
note that the meeting may close early if the committee has completed 
its business.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Catamaran Resort Hotel and 
Spa, 3999 Mission Boulevard, San Diego, California 92109.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
the persons listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as 
possible.
    To facilitate public participation, we are inviting public comment 
on the issues to be considered by the committee as listed in the 
``Agenda'' section below. You may submit presentations and/or written 
comments no later than October 24, 2011, and they must be identified by 
USCG-2011-0204 using one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments (preferred method to 
avoid delays in processing).
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department 
of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The 
telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number for this 
action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You 
may review a Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets in the 
January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
    Docket: For access to the docket to read documents or comments 
related to this notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov., click on the 
``read comments'' box, which will then become highlighted in blue. In 
the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2011-0204'' and click ``Search.'' 
Click the ``Open Docket Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column. If you do 
not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online by 
visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground 
floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement 
with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management 
Facility.
    Public comments may be taken by the DFO throughout the conduct of 
the meeting. Additionally, a public presentation/comment period will be 
held during the meeting on November 1, 2011, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 
November 2, 2011, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Speakers are requested to 
limit their presentations/comments to 10 minutes. Please note that the 
public comment period may end before the time indicated, following the 
last call for comments. Contact either of the individuals listed in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT to submit written comments to appear on 
the agenda.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
meeting, please contact Mr. Mike Sollosi, the NAVSAC Alternate 
Designated Federal Officer (ADFO), at telephone 202-372-1545 or e-mail 
[email protected], or Mr. Dennis Fahr, at telephone 202-372-1531 
or e-mail [email protected]. 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: Notice of this meeting is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463).
    The NAVSAC is an advisory committee authorized in 33 U.S.C. 2073 
and chartered under the provisions of the FACA. NAVSAC provides advice 
and recommendations to the Secretary, through the Commandant of the 
U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to maritime collisions, rammings, 
and groundings, Inland and International Rules of the Road, navigation 
regulations and equipment, routing measures, marine information, diving 
safety, and aids to navigation systems.

Agenda

    The NAVSAC will meet to review, discuss and formulate 
recommendations on the following topics:

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

    (1) Navigation Rules Regulatory Project. This topic will address 
the Coast Guard's progress toward implementing NAVSAC approved changes 
to the Inland Navigation Rules.
    (2) E-Navigation Strategy. Under the auspices of the Committee on 
the Marine Transportation System, the Coast Guard and other agencies 
have developed a National e-Navigation Strategy that will establish a 
framework for data exchange between and among ships and shore 
facilities. The Council will be updated on that effort.
    (3) Electronic Chart Display and Information System 
(ECDIS)Anomalies.

[[Page 63935]]

Mandatory carriage of ECDIS will be phased in beginning in 2012. This 
series of presentations will inform the Council of developments and 
difficulties encountered in deploying ECDIS, including accuracy of 
charted positions, the range of vessels to be impacted, and training 
requirements for ECDIS.
    The following tasks will also be discussed and further action 
contemplated by work groups assigned for each task:
    (1) NAVSAC Task 11-01 Kite Propulsion Systems (Sky Sails). The use 
of Sky Sails to augment propulsion on vessels is a real possibility. 
This task will address whether there should be restrictions on their 
use.
    (2) NAVSAC Task 11-02 Proximity of Offshore Energy Installations 
(OREI) to established ships' routing measures. The Council will be 
asked to complete the discussion on the need for ``buffer zones'' 
around offshore renewable energy.
    (3) NAVSAC Task 11-03 RACONS. The Council will be asked to discuss 
and provide an opinion on the continued used of radar beacons (RACONS) 
as aids to navigation.
    (4) NAVSAC Task 11-04 Sound Signals. The Council will be asked to 
discuss and provide an opinion on the continued use of sound signals as 
aids to navigation.
    (5) NAVSAC Task 11-05 ECDIS Anomalies. The Council will be advised 
of the current status of Electronic Chart Display and Information 
Systems (ECDIS) and of the types of anomalies being discovered as more 
ECDIS enter into use.
    (6) NAVSAC Task 11-06 e-Nav Strategy. The Council will be advised 
of the current status of the United States' e-Navigation Strategy 
development.
    (7) NAVSAC Task 11-07 Virtual Aids to Navigation Aids. Navigation 
authorities are considering deploying virtual aids to navigation as an 
alternative to physical lights, daybeacons and buoys under certain 
circumstances. This topic will inform the Council on virtual aids and 
discuss their possible use in United States' waters.
    (8) NAVSAC Task 11-08 Crew Fatigue. The Council will discuss the 
unintended consequences some regulations are causing regarding crew 
endurance and crew fatigue.
    A public presentation/comment period will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. 
Speakers' presentations/comments are limited to 10 minutes each.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

    (1) Task Working Group Discussions continue from November 1, 2011.
    (2) Working Group Reports presented to council.
    (3) New Business:
    a. IMO Safety Navigation Subcommittee.
    The Coast Guard will update the Council on recent decisions and 
planned outputs of the IMO Safety Navigation Subcommittee.
    b. Summary of NAVSAC Action Items.
    c. Schedule Next Meeting Date--Spring 2012.
    d. Committee discussion of new tasks.
    (4) A public presentation/comment period will be held after the 
discussion of new tasks. Speakers' presentations/comments are limited 
to 10 minutes each.

    Dated: October 11, 2011.
Dana A. Goward,
Director, Marine Transportation Systems Management U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2011-26641 Filed 10-13-11; 8:45 am]
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