[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 3336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01101]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 15

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0758]
RIN 1625-AC25


Offshore Supply Vessels, Towing Vessel, and Barge Engine Rating 
Watches

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of effective date.

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SUMMARY: On October 26, 2015, the Coast Guard published a direct final 
rule, which notified the public of our intent to amend merchant mariner 
manning regulations to align them with statutory changes made by the 
Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. The 
Act allows oilers serving on certain offshore support vessels, towing 
vessels, and barges to be divided into at least two watches. The change 
would increase the sea service credit affected mariners are permitted 
to earn for each 12-hour period of work from one day to one and a half 
days. The rule will go into effect as scheduled.

DATES: The effective date of the direct final rule published at 80 FR 
65165 on October 26, 2015 is confirmed as January 25, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Davis Breyer, Marine Personnel 
Qualifications Division (CG-OES-1), Coast Guard; email 
[email protected], telephone (202) 372-1445.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We received two comments in response to the 
direct final rule (DFR). The two comments we received were either not 
adverse or separable from and not within the scope of the rulemaking.
    One commenter supported the rule and thanked the Coast Guard for 
its prompt action. Another commenter titled its comment as ``adverse'' 
and requested that the Coast Guard withdraw the DFR. The commenter 
agreed that ``the Coast Guard is obliged to align Coast Guard 
regulations with the statutes'' and did not oppose the changes to the 
regulation. The commenter argued, rather, that the Coast Guard should 
delay the rulemaking indefinitely and seek new legislation from 
Congress that limits every merchant mariner to serving a uniform 
maximum of 12 hours in a 24 hour period, except in an emergency.
    The DFR conforms Coast Guard regulations to existing law, under 
which affected mariners may earn one and a half days sea service credit 
for each 12-hour period of work. The commenter did not oppose granting 
such mariners such credit for time worked. Instead, the commenter took 
issue with the absence of statutory restrictions on the length of time 
certain mariners may be required to work. The commenter advocated that 
the Coast Guard delay updating the regulations and request that 
Congress amend the statute further.
    The DFR stated that ``we may adopt, as final, those parts of this 
rule on which no adverse comment was received.'' 80 FR 65166. The 
commenter's requests are separable from the rule and raises issues well 
outside the scope of the rule. The rule will therefore go into effect 
as scheduled.

    Dated: January 14, 2016.
J.G. Lantz,
Director, Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2016-01101 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
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