[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 60 (Thursday, March 28, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18846-18848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07224]


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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.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DoN) is amending its 
certifications and exemptions under the International Regulations for 
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), to reflect that the 
Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General (DAJAG)(Admiralty and Maritime 
Law) has determined that USS MINNESOTA (SSN 783) is a vessel of the 
Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot fully 
comply with certain provisions of the 72 COLREGS without interfering 
with its special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this 
rule is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.

DATES: This rule is effective March 28, 2013 and is applicable 
beginning March 11, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Jocelyn Loftus-Williams, 
(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 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 MINNESOTA (SSN 783) is a vessel of the Navy 
which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot fully comply 
with the following specific provisions of 72 COLREGS without 
interfering with its special function as a naval ship: Annex I, 
paragraph 2(a)(i), pertaining to the vertical placement of the masthead 
light; Annex I, Section 2(f) (i), pertaining to Virginia class 
submarine masthead light location below the submarine identification 
lights; Annex I, paragraph 2(k), pertaining to the vertical separation 
of the anchor lights and vertical placement of the forward anchor light 
above the hull; Rule 30 (a) and Rule 21 (e), pertaining to arc of 
visibility of the forward and after anchor lights; Annex I, paragraph 
3(b), pertaining to the location of the sidelights; and Rule 21(c), 
pertaining to the location and arc of visibility of the sternlight. 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 technical findings that the placement of 
lights on this vessel in a

[[Page 18847]]

manner differently from that prescribed herein will adversely affect 
the vessel's ability to perform its military functions.

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 706

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), and Vessels.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the DoN amends part 706 
of title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations 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 follows:

     Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1605.

0
2. Section 706.2 is amended as follows:
0
A. In Table One by adding, in alpha numerical order, by vessel number, 
an entry for USS MINNESOTA (SSN 783);
0
B. In Table Three by adding, in alpha numerical order, by vessel 
number, an entry for USS MINNESOTA (SSN 783); and
0
C. Section 706.2 is amended by adding paragraphs 25 and 26 following 
Table Four 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 One
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Distance in
                                                            meters of
                                                             forward
                                                          masthead light
              Vessel                        No.           below  minimum
                                                             required
                                                           height. Sec.
                                                          2(a)(i), Annex
                                                                I
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
USS MINNESOTA....................  SSN 783.............            2.76
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

                                                                       Table Three
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                               Anchor
                                                                                                     Side lights     Stern       Forward       lights
                                                                Masthead                               distance      light,       anchor    relationship
                                                               lights arc  Side lights  Stern light   inboard of    distance      light,        of aft
               Vessel                           No.                of         arc of       arc of       ship's     forward of     height      light to
                                                              visibility;  visibility;  visibility;   sides  in     stern in   above  hull     forward
                                                               rule 21(a)   rule 21(b)   rule 21(c)     meters      meters;    in  meters;    light in
                                                                                                     3(b)  annex   rule 21(c)      2(K)      meters 2(K)
                                                                                                          1                      annex 1       annex 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
USS MINNESOTA.......................  SSN 783...............  ...........  ...........   205.1[deg]         4.37        11.05          2.8    0.30 below
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    25. On the following ships the masthead light is located 0.81 
meters below the submarine identification lights and does not meet the 
requirement described by Annex I, 2(f)(i).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Distance in
                                                             meters of
                                                          masthead light
              Vessel                         No.             below the
                                                             submarine
                                                          identification
                                                              lights
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USS VIRGINIA......................  SSN 774.............            0.81
USS TEXAS.........................  SSN 775.............            0.81
USS HAWAII........................  SSN 776.............            0.81
USS NORTH CAROLINA................  SSN 777.............            0.81
USS NEW HAMPSHIRE.................  SSN 778.............            0.81
USS NEW MEXICO....................  SSN 779.............            0.81
USS MISSOURI......................  SSN 780.............            0.81
USS CALIFORNIA....................  SSN 781.............            0.81
USS MISSISSIPPI...................  SSN 782.............            0.81

[[Page 18848]]

 
USS MINNESOTA.....................  SSN 783.............            0.81
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    26. On the following ships the arc of visibility required by Rule 
30(a) and Rule 21(e), for the forward and after lights may be 
obstructed through the following angles relative to the ship's heading 
due to the ship's sail.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Obstruction angle relative to  ship's heading
               Vessel                           No.           --------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Forward anchor light       Aft anchor  light
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USS VIRGINIA........................  SSN 774................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
USS TEXAS...........................  SSN 775................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
USS HAWAII..........................  SSN 776................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
USS NORTH CAROLINA..................  SSN 777................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
USS NEW HAMPSHIRE...................  SSN 778................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
USS NEW MEXICO......................  SSN 779................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
USS MISSOURI........................  SSN 780................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
USS CALIFORNIA......................  SSN 781................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
USS MISSISSIPPI.....................  SSN 782................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
USS MINNESOTA.......................  SSN 783................  172[deg] to 188[deg]...  359[deg] to 1[deg]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Approved: March 11, 2013.
A. B. Fischer,
Captain, JAGC, U.S. Navy, Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate, General 
(Admiralty and Maritime Law).
    Dated: March 21, 2013.
C. K. Chiappetta.
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-07224 Filed 3-27-13; 8:45 am]
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