[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 32851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15056]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0692]


Equivalency Determination for ``Marine Charts,'' ``Charts,'' or 
``Maps,'' ``Publications,'' and Navigation Functions--Notice of 
Availability of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 01-16 Change 
1

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard (USCG) is announcing, the availability of 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-16 change 1. The 
NVIC provides that display of certain electronic charts and 
publications will meet--as an equivalency--the ``marine charts,'' 
``charts,'' ``maps,'' or ``publications'' carriage requirements and 
provides for an equivalency for position fixing and plotting. USCG 
intends, by this policy, to provide a path for U.S. flagged vessels to 
replace paper charts and most hard copy publications if so desired.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please address questions or feedback 
concerning this policy to LCDR Matthew Walter, telephone 202-372-1565 
or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to recommendations from Coast 
Guard Federal Safety Advisory Committees, industry stakeholders and 
agency partners, the Coast Guard updated its original policy on 
electronic charts and publications. Navigation and Vessel Inspection 
Circular (NVIC) 01-16 change 1 is revised to focus on the equivalency 
determination for charts, publications and, newly added, navigation 
functions. It only accepts certain electronic charts as described. It 
requires vessels that operate offshore to display charts on certain 
systems. It describes the minimum performance requirements for 
equipment receiving position information and restates our policy on 
electronic navigation publications.
    Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires ``currently 
corrected marine charts'' of a large enough scale and with enough 
detail to make safe navigation possible. In 2002, the Coast Guard 
authorized U.S. flagged SOLAS-compliant vessels to use an Electronic 
Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) in lieu of paper 
charts.\1\ That policy did not apply to the U.S. flagged vessels 
engaged solely on domestic voyages. Therefore, the Coast Guard is 
publishing an equivalency to address electronic chart carriage on those 
vessels.
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    \1\ 67 Federal Register 53382 as amended by 69 Federal Register 
42192, Carriage of Navigation Equipment for Ships on International 
Voyages.
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    Title 33 of the CFR 164 also requires that some vessels fix their 
position \2\ and other vessels fix and plot their position.\3\ The USCG 
recognizes the benefit of real-time positioning data, and that it can 
provide greater situational awareness than what could be achieved using 
paper charts. Therefore, USCG is announcing an equivalency to fixing 
and plotting. Title 33 of the CFR, along with the International 
Convention of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter V Regulation 27, 
also requires currently corrected editions of, or applicable currently 
corrected extracts from, nautical publications necessary for the 
intended voyage. In 2010, USCG announced policy accepting some 
electronic publications in lieu of paper publications.\4\ NVIC 01-16 
change 1 does not substantively change this USCG publication policy, 
but rather consolidates information.
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    \2\ 33 CFR 164.11 & 164.78--Self-propelled vessels 1600 or more 
gross tons and towing vessels 12 meters or more in length.
    \3\ 33 CFR 164.11--Self-propelled vessels 1600 or more gross 
tons.
    \4\ CG-543 Policy Letter 10-05 canceled and replaced by 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 01-16.
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    Additionally, NVIC 01-16 change 1 also provides guidance to marine 
inspectors regarding how to identify approved and/or appropriate 
electronic charts, display systems, position information and electronic 
publications. Finally, this Circular recommends practices that vessel 
owners and operators should consider when navigating with the 
assistance of electronics.
    This Circular is not a substitute for applicable legal 
requirements, nor is it itself a rule. It does not provide equivalence 
for the purposes of SOLAS certificates. Mariners are responsible to 
safely navigate and follow applicable regulatory requirements.

    Dated: July 10, 2017.
RADM Paul F. Thomas,
Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2017-15056 Filed 7-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P