[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 130 (Thursday, July 7, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44230-44231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16113]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0611]


Policy for Credentialing Officers of Towing Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of Navigation and 
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 03-16, Guidelines for Credentialing 
Officers of Towing Vessels. This NVIC provides guidance to mariners 
concerning regulations governing endorsements to Merchant Mariner 
Credentials for service on towing vessels.

DATES: The policy announced in NVIC 03-16 is effective on July 7, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about NVIC 03-
16, call or email Luke B. Harden, Mariner Credentialing Program Policy 
Division (CG-CVC-4), U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-2357, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Viewing Documents

    Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 03-16, Guidelines 
for Credentialing Officers of Towing Vessels is available in the docket 
for this notice of availability and can also be viewed by going to 
http://www.uscg.mil/nmc and clicking on ``STCW,'' then click on ``2014 
NVIC Updates.'' To view NVIC 03-16 in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2016-0611 in the ``Search'' box and 
click ``Search.''

Discussion

    On December 24, 2014, the Coast Guard published a final rule in the 
Federal Register (78 FR 77796) amending Title 46, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to implement the International Convention on Standards

[[Page 44231]]

of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, as amended 
1978 (STCW Convention), including the 2010 amendments to the STCW 
Convention, and the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping 
Code. The rule also made changes to reorganize, clarify, and update 
regulations for credentialing merchant mariners.
    NVIC 03-16 describes policy for merchant mariners to qualify for 
and renew endorsements to Merchant Mariner Credentials for service on 
towing vessels. Notable provisions of this NVIC include:
    1. Providing guidance on grandfathering provisions contained in the 
rule published December 24, 2014 (78 FR 77796).
    2. Revising the ``Frequently Asked Questions'' to include 
discussion of the provisions of the new rule, and to include questions 
that have arisen with regularity since publication of the predecessor 
NVIC 04-01.
    3. Revising the Towing Officer Assessment Records (TOARs) to 
include guidance to Designated Examiners on how to perform assessment 
of the tasks in the TOARs and to add certain tasks necessary to fully 
assess the competence of candidates for endorsements. For example, the 
task ``Maneuver through a bridge'' was added to the Near Coastal/Oceans 
TOAR as this TOAR is for an endorsement that will be valid where 
bridges are common.
    4. Providing additional guidance on TOARs restricted to Local 
Limited Areas.
    5. Providing guidance on endorsements that will be restricted to 
routes without locks and to service upon harbor-assist vessels or 
Integrated Tug Barge (ITB) and Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) vessels.

Authority

    This notice of availability is issued under the authority of 5 
U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: June 30, 2016.
V.B. Gifford,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director, Inspection and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-16113 Filed 7-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P