[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 134 (Friday, July 14, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32488-32489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14738]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Chapter I

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0669]


Marine Safety Manual, Volume III, Parts B and C, Change-2

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Availability of updated Marine Safety Manual.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of Change-2 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 Parts B 
and C of MSM Volume III. All changes are underlined in the final 
version and each changed page is annotated with CH-2 in the footer. The 
date of each change since

[[Page 32489]]

1999 is shown in parentheses at the end of the subsection/paragraph 
titles within the text of each Part as well as at the end of each NOTE. 
Part A will be reviewed and revised as part of a separate initiative.

DATES: Unless specifically stated otherwise, Change-2 to Marine Safety 
Manual, Volume III, Marine Industry Personnel, COMDTINST M16000.8B is 
in effect as of July 14, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To view the documents mentioned in this document, go to the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov and use 
``USCG-2016-0669'' as your search term.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
call or email Lieutenant Commander Corydon Heard, U.S. Coast Guard; 
telephone 409-978-2704, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you discover a discrepancy between the 
manning or endorsements specified by the Certificate of Inspection/Safe 
Manning Documentation (COI/SMD) and the provisions of the MSM, Volume 
III, bring it to the attention of the OCMI with a view toward aligning 
with the revised MSM III. Documents discussed in this document should 
be available in the online docket within three business days of this 
publication. There will be no hardcopy distribution of this change. 
This change has been incorporated into the electronic copy of the 
manual available on the INTERNET at http://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-C4IT-CG-6-/The-Office-of-Information-Management-CG-61/aboutCGDS/cim/smdpage2823/4/.

Background and Purpose

    Volume III of the Marine Safety Manual (MSM) provides information 
and interpretations on international conventions and U.S. statutes and 
regulations relating to marine industry personnel. The last updates to 
Volume III of the MSM were released on July 30, 2014 (79 FR 45451, Aug. 
5, 2014). The Coast Guard published a notice in the Federal Register 
announcing the availability of a draft Change-2 and requested public 
comments (See 81 FR 46042). This document announces updates portions of 
Part B and C.
    Specifically, substantive changes include: (1) Updated guidance to 
align with the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 
of 2014; (2) manning scales for towing vessels certificated under 
Subchapter M from recently published Inspection of Towing Vessels final 
rule (81 FR 40003, June 20, 2016); and (3) various policy updates 
impacting vessel manning. Further, all manning scales throughout Part B 
Chapters 2, 4, 6 and 7 are presented in a new standard format. 
Additionally, a Suggested Safe Manning Proposal Template, Coast Guard 
Work Instruction, Master's Field Guide, and Verification Check-sheet 
have been added to the Annex. These are intended to aid Coast Guard 
personnel as well as owners/operators, masters and persons in charge of 
U.S. vessels, respectively.
    We received 10 public comment responses to the July 15, 2016 
Federal Register document. These comment responses contained a total of 
approximately 31 specific recommendations, suggestions and other 
comments. We have created a change matrix that provides a summary of 
each comment and the corresponding Coast Guard response, as well as 
Coast Guard changes. A copy of this change matrix is available for 
viewing in the public docket for this notice. For more detailed 
information, please consult the actual public comment letters in the 
docket. You may access the docket going to http://www.regulations.gov, 
using ``USCG-2016-0669'' as your search term, and following the 
instructions in the ADDRESSES section above.
    Some commenters included a DOT mailing address in their comments. 
The Coast Guard no longer receives mail at the DOT Docket Management 
Facility. Each Coast Guard notice soliciting public comment includes 
instructions on how to comment on the online docket at 
www.regulations.gov, and what to do if commenters are unable to submit 
comments online.
    The basic ideas and principles encompassed in the initial and 
supplemental drafts remain. Some commenters proposed revisions to the 
MSM or requested additional clarification. In response to these 
comments, the Coast Guard has made some additional revisions. The Coast 
Guard notes, however, that the MSM (and any revisions made to the MSM) 
reflect current law and regulation and are intended to provide guidance 
and information to marine industry personnel. For an in-depth 
discussion of the individual comments submitted, please visit the 
docket for this notice to view submitted comments and the change 
matrix.
    It should be noted that Change-2 is not intended to preempt or take 
the place of separate policy initiatives regarding specific decisions 
on appeal or future regulations. Future changes to the MSM may be 
released if the Coast Guard promulgates new regulations or issues 
appeal decisions, which may affect the guidance and information 
contained within the MSM.
    This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: July 5, 2017.
Paul F. Thomas,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-14738 Filed 7-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P