[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48696-48697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19359]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2013-0240]


Draft Revisions to the Marine Safety Manual, Volume III, Chapters 
20-26

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability with request for comments

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a draft update 
to the Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Volume III, Marine Industry 
Personnel, and the corresponding Commandant Change Notice that 
highlights the changes made to that manual. MSM Volume III provides 
information and interpretations on international conventions and U.S. 
statutory and regulatory issues relating to marine industry personnel. 
This Commandant Change Notice discusses the substantive changes to 
chapters 20 through 26 of MSM Volume III. The Coast Guard seeks and 
will consider comments on this draft before issuing a final version of 
this manual.

DATES: Comments must be received by the Coast Guard on or before 
October 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: To view the documents mentioned in this notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov and use ``USCG-2013-0240'' as your search term. 
Locate this notice in the search results, and use the filters on the 
left side of the page to locate specific documents by type. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call or email Lieutenant Corydon Heard, Office of Commercial Vessel 
Compliance, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1208, email 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing material in 
the docket, call Docket Operations at 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Viewing the Commandant Change Notice and Draft of MSM Volume III, 
Chapters 20-26: To view this Commandant Change notice and Draft MSM 
Volume III, chapters 20-26, go to http://www.regulations.gov, use 
``USCG-2013-0240'' as your search term, and follow the instructions in 
the ADDRESSES section above.

Background and Purpose

    Volume III of the Marine Safety Manual (MSM) provides information 
and interpretations on international conventions and U.S. statutory and 
regulatory issues relating to marine industry personnel. The last 
revisions to Volume III of the MSM were released on May 27, 1999. This 
notice updates portions of chapters 20 through 26.
    Specifically, substantive changes include: (1) Updated provisions 
for vessel manning, including guidance for the issuing of safe manning 
documents; (2) clarifying roles, responsibilities, and facilitation of 
communications with the appropriate offices at Coast Guard Headquarters 
in alignment with Deputy Commandant for Operations Organization 3.0; 
and (3) revised discussion on the impact of multiple international 
standards, including the Officer's Competency Certificates Convention 
(OCCC) 1936, the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea 
(SOLAS), the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), and 
the Principles of Minimum Safe Manning (IMO Resolution A.1047(27)). 
Additionally, this draft clarifies the applicability of tonnage 
measurement systems to U.S. flag vessels, and it also includes changes 
resulting from the consolidation of merchant mariner qualification 
credentials, including the removal of

[[Page 48697]]

references to the operated uninspected towing vessel endorsement.
    Future changes to the MSM may be released if the Coast Guard 
promulgates new regulations that may affect the guidance and 
information contained within the MSM.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 
Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1(1).

    Dated: August 5, 2013.
Jonathan C. Burton,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director, Inspections and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-19359 Filed 8-8-13; 8:45 am]
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