[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 18643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07939]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0231]


Distant Water Tuna Fleet Manning Exemption

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of an updated 
policy letter entitled ``Distant Water Tuna Fleet (DWTF) Vessels 
Manning Exemption Guidance.'' The letter provides revised guidance on 
procedures for requesting and issuing a Manning Exemption Letter as a 
result of recent statutory changes that affected the previous 2013 
guidance.

DATES: The revised policy guidance is effective May 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
call or email Mr. Jack Kemerer, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1249, 
email [email protected]. For information about viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826, toll free 1-800-
647-5527.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The revised policy letter is available at www.fishsafe.info. It 
updates guidance on the issuance of Distant Water Tuna Fleet Manning 
Exemption Letters. Similar guidance was issued in 2013, and is being 
brought up to date in light of recent statutory changes.
    The DWTF consists of U.S. commercial purse seine fishing vessels, 
under masters who are U.S. citizens, that operate in the tuna fisheries 
of the Western Pacific Ocean far from U.S. territories other than Guam 
and American Samoa. Because of the difficulty of hiring U.S. merchant 
mariners (other than vessel masters) to serve in this fleet, the law 
authorizes foreign citizens to hold required navigation and engineering 
positions, if they are properly licensed by their countries, and 
subject to certain restrictions and limitations, and if qualified U.S. 
citizens are not readily available. Vessels that comply with these 
conditions may apply for and receive a Coast Guard Manning Exemption 
Letter attesting to compliance. The letter may expedite a vessel 
boarding or examination process.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: April 2, 2015.
J.C. Burton,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Prevention and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2015-07939 Filed 4-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE CODE 9110-04-P