[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8-10]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33012]


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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, as amended (72 COLREGS), to reflect 
that the Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General (DAJAG)(Admiralty and 
Maritime Law) has determined that USS ZUMWALT (DDG 1000) 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 January 4, 2016 and is applicable 
beginning November 18, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commander Theron R. Korsak, (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 ZUMWALT (DDG 1000) 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 location of the forward masthead 
light at a height not less than 6 meters above the hull; Annex I, 
paragraph 2(g) pertaining to the placement of sidelights above the hull 
of the vessel; Annex I, paragraph 2(i)(iii), pertaining to the equally 
spaced vertical separation of three task lights; and Annex I, paragraph 
2(k) as described in Rule 30 (a)(i), pertaining to the vertical 
separation between anchor lights, and the location of the forward 
anchor light at a height of not less than 6 meters above the hull; 
Annex I, paragraph 3(a), pertaining to the location of the forward

[[Page 9]]

masthead light in the forward quarter of the ship, and the horizontal 
distance between the forward and after masthead lights; Annex I, 
paragraph 3(c), pertaining to the task lights placed at a horizontal 
distance of not less than 2 meters from the fore and aft centerline of 
the vessel. 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 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), 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 by:
0
a. In Table One, adding, in alpha numerical order, by vessel number, an 
entry for USS ZUMWALT (DDG 1000);
0
b. In Table Three, adding, in alpha numerical order, by vessel number, 
an entry for USS ZUMWALT (DDG 1000);
0
c. In Table Four, under paragraph 15, adding, in alpha numerical order, 
by vessel number, an entry for USS ZUMWALT (DDG 1000);
0
d. In Table Four, under paragraph 19, adding, in alpha numerical order, 
by vessel number, an entry for USS ZUMWALT (DDG 1000);
0
e. In Table Four, under paragraph 22, adding, in alpha numerical order, 
by vessel number, an entry for USS ZUMWALT (DDG 1000); and
0
f. In Table Five, adding, in alpha numerical order, by vessel number, 
an entry for USS ZUMWALT (DDG 1000).


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
            Vessel                    Number        light below minimum
                                                    required height Sec.
                                                       2(a)(i) Annex 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
USS ZUMWALT...................  DDG 1000.........  2.55
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

                                                                                           Table Three
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                                                                                                                      Side lights      Stern light,
                                                                 Masthead lights                                        distance         distance     Forward  anchor        Anchor lights
                                                                      arc of      Side lights arc  Stern light arc     inboard of       forward of     light, height      relationship  of aft
                Vessel                          Number             visibility;     of visibility;   of visibility;  ship's sides in      stern in      above hull in    light to  forward light
                                                                    rule 21(a)       rule 21(b)       rule 21(c)      meters 3(b)      meters; rule     meters; 2(K)     in meters 2(K) annex 1
                                                                                                                        annex 1           21(c)           annex 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USS ZUMWALT..........................  DDG 1000................  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............             5.3   2.99 below.
 
                                                                                          * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
* * * * *
    15. * * *

                               Table Four
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Horizontal distance
                                                   from the fore and aft
            Vessel                    Number         centerline of the
                                                       vessel in the
                                                   athwartship direction
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
USS ZUMWALT...................  DDG 1000.........  FWD Lower: \1\ 0.31
                                                    meters.
                                                   FWD Middle: \1\ 0.31
                                                    meters.
                                                   FWD Upper: \1\ 0.29
                                                    meters.
                                                   AFT Lower: \1\ 1.04
                                                    meters.
                                                   AFT Middle: \1\ 1.05
                                                    meters.
                                                   AFT Upper: \1\ 1.06
                                                    meters.
 

[[Page 10]]

 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ On DDG 1000, the ship does not have a traditional mast. To achieve
  the effect of a ``single, all-around light,'' multiple sets of task
  lights are embedded into each of the four faces of the ship's
  superstructure. Except when viewing the ship from dead ahead, dead
  astern or broadside, two deckhouse surfaces are visible; consequently,
  two sets of task lights are visible simultaneously. Because the
  deckhouse surfaces are sloped, unless the lights are viewed dead-on,
  the three task lights do not present as being in a vertical line.

* * * * *
    19. * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Distance in meters of
                                                      sidelights above
            Vessel                    Number          maximum allowed
                                                           height
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USS ZUMWALT...................  DDG 1000.........  2.55 PORT.
                                                   2.52 STBD.
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    22. * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Vertical Separation
                                                     of the task light
                                                    array is not equally
                                                        spaced, the
                                                     separation between
            Vessel                    Number        the middle and lower
                                                   task light exceed the
                                                     separation between
                                                    the upper and middle
                                                          light by
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
USS ZUMWALT...................  DDG 1000.........  FWD: 0.01 meter.
                                                   AFT: 0.178 meter.
                                                   PORT: 0.64 meter.
                                                   STBD: 0.01 meter.
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

                                                                       Table Five
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                         After masthead
                                                                                      Masthead lights      Forward      light less than
                                                                                        not over all    masthead light    \1/2\ ship's      Percentage
                                                                                        other lights    not in forward   length aft of      horizontal
                     Vessel                                     Number                      and           quarter of        forward         separation
                                                                                       obstructions.    ship. annex I,  masthead light.      attained
                                                                                       annex I, sec.      sec. 3(a)         annex I,
                                                                                            2(f)                            sec.3(a)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
USS ZUMWALT.....................................  DDG 1000..........................               X                X                X            76.94
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Approved: November 18, 2015.
 A.B. Fischer,
Captain, JAGC, U.S. Navy, Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate, General 
(Admiralty and Maritime Law).
    Dated: December 10, 2015.
N.A. Hagerty-Ford,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-33012 Filed 12-31-15; 8:45 am]
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