[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2741-2743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1004]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2011-1156]
Draft Guidance Regarding Inspection and Certification of Vessels
Under the Maritime Security Program
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a draft
Navigation and Inspection Circular (NVIC) that sets forth the Coast
Guard's policies and procedures regarding the inspection and
certification of vessels under the
[[Page 2742]]
Maritime Security Program (MSP). The draft NVIC provides a
comprehensive approach to the MSP inspection process through the
establishment of two levels of MSP inspection and oversight. This
notice solicits public comment on the impacts that the policies and
procedures contained in this draft NVIC would have on applicable
vessels and other affected parties.
DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to our
online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before March 19,
2012 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2011-1156 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: (202) 493-2251.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice,
call or email Mr. John Hannon, Domestic Vessels Division, U.S. Coast
Guard; telephone (202) 372-1222, email [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) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the
draft NVIC on Inspection and Certification of Vessels Under the
Maritime Security Program. All comments received will be posted,
without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any
personal information you have provided.
Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the
docket number for this notice (USCG-2011-1156) and provide a reason for
each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and
material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only
one of these means. We recommend that you include your name and a
mailing address, an email address, or a telephone number in the body of
your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding
your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov,
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become
highlighted in blue. In the ``Document Type'' drop down menu, select
``Notices'' and insert ``USCG-2011-1156'' in the ``Keyword'' box. Click
``Search'' then click on the balloon shape in the ``Actions'' column.
If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped,
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment period.
Viewing the comments and draft NVIC: To view the comments and draft
NVIC, 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-2011-1156'' and click ``Search.'' 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.
Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a
Privacy Act, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in
the January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Background and Purpose
Title VI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 was amended by passage
of the Maritime Security Act of 1996 (MSA), which authorized the
establishment of a Maritime Security Fleet under the Maritime Security
Program (MSP), which serves as a means for establishing a fleet of
commercially viable and military useful vessels to meet national
defense as well as other security requirements. The purpose of this
draft Navigation and Inspection Circular (NVIC) is to provide the
marine industry and Coast Guard personnel with uniform guidance
regarding the MSP.
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Office of Sealift Support
is the lead governmental office responsible for administration of the
MSP. MARAD, in coordination with the Department of Defense, established
a program whereby certain categories of militarily useful commercial
vessels may be designated for emergency service to carry military cargo
in time of war, national emergency, or military contingency. Some
vessels enrolled in the MSP may receive a payment as part of their
enrollment. Alternatively, vessels may enroll in other voluntary
sealift support programs established by MARAD. Both groups of vessels
would utilize the process outlined in this draft NVIC to obtain a Coast
Guard Certificate of Inspection (COI), provided they otherwise meet MSP
enrollment criteria.
The MSA established standards for issuance of a COI to a previous
foreign flag vessel transitioning to U.S. Flag once eligibility for the
MSP has been established by MARAD and the Coast Guard (46 U.S.C.
53102(e)). The statute does not specify the scope or manner of the
inspections to be carried out by the Coast Guard to verify that MSP
vessels fulfill requirements necessary to receive and maintain a COI.
To avoid the inconsistent application of inspection procedures under
the MSP, this draft NVIC outlines the inspection process for such
transitioning foreign flag vessels to obtain initial and ongoing
certification under the MSP.
To promote consistency and standardization of Coast Guard policies
and procedures, this draft NVIC provides a comprehensive approach to
the MSP inspection process through the establishment of two levels of
MSP inspection and oversight: (1) MSP (Regular); and (2) MSP Select.
This two-level approach would enable the Coast Guard to apply
traditional inspection methods to newly reflagged vessels, while at the
same time apply a less stringent level of oversight to vessels that
have consistently demonstrated satisfactory performance and substantial
compliance with applicable rules. Newly enrolled MSP vessels would
continue to be inspected by the Coast Guard in a manner similar to
traditional Coast Guard inspections. After a period of evaluation, MSP
vessels would be eligible to seek enrollment under MSP
[[Page 2743]]
Select. MSP Select vessel oversight would consist of risk-based vessel
examinations, periodic oversight, and evaluations of Authorized Class
Society (ACS) survey activities.
We request comments from all interested parties to ensure that the
full range and significance of issues related to the Coast Guard's MSP
inspection process are identified.
This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 33 CFR
1.05-1.
Dated: January 12, 2012.
Paul F. Thomas,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Director, Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-1004 Filed 1-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P