[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6205-6207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02924]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0044]


Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY: U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and its 
Working Groups will meet to discuss various issues related to the 
training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. The meetings will be 
open to the public.

DATES: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and its Working 
Groups are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 and on 
Wednesday March 21, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and the full 
Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, March 22, 2018, from 8:00 
a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Please note that these meetings may adjourn early 
if the Committee has completed its business.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the U.S. Coast Guard's Eighth 
Coast Guard District, Hale Boggs Federal Building, 500 Poydras St., New 
Orleans, LA 70130 in Room B106.
    Pre-registration Information: Pre-registration is not required for 
access. All attendees will be required to provide a REAL ID Act-
compliant government-issued picture identification card in order to 
gain admittance to the building. For more information on REAL ID and to 
check the compliance status of your state/territory, please see https://www.dhs.gov/real-id and https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
the Alternate Designated Federal Officer as soon as possible using the 
contact information provided in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice.
    Instructions: You are free to submit comments at any time, 
including orally at the meetings, but if you want Committee members to 
review your comment before the meetings, please submit your comments no 
later than March 19, 2018. We are particularly interested in comments 
on the issues in the ``Agenda'' section below. You must include 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number USCG-2018-
0044. Written comments may also be submitted using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If you encounter 
technical difficulties with comments submission, contact the individual 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below. Comments 
received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You 
may review the Privacy and Security Notice for the Federal Docket 
Management System at https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    Docket Search: For access to the docket to read documents or 
comments related to this notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type 
USCG-2018-0044 in the ``Search'' box, press Enter, and then click on 
the item you wish to view.

[[Page 6206]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Davis Breyer, Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee, 
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, Stop 7509, Washington, DC 20593-
7509, telephone 202-372-1445, fax 202-372-8382 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given pursuant to 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Title 5 United States Code 
Appendix.
    The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee was established 
under authority of section 310 of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, codified at Title 46, United 
States Code, section 8108, and chartered under the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, (Title 5, United States Code, 
Appendix). The Committee acts solely in an advisory capacity to the 
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security through the Commandant 
of the U.S. Coast Guard on matters relating to personnel in the United 
States merchant marine, including training, qualifications, 
certification, documentation, and fitness standards and other matters 
as assigned by the Commandant. The Committee shall also review and 
comment on proposed U.S. Coast Guard regulations and policies relating 
to personnel in the United States merchant marine, including training, 
qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness standards; 
may be given special assignments by the Secretary and may conduct 
studies, inquiries, workshops, and fact finding in consultation with 
individuals and groups in the private sector and with State or local 
governments; and shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations 
reflecting its independent judgment to the Secretary.

Agenda

Day 1

    The agenda for the March 20, 2018, meeting is as follows:
    (1) The Committee will facilitate, under Task Statement 101, 
Provide feedback and avenues to further enhance open communication 
between external stakeholders and the U.S. Coast Guard's mariner 
credentialing program regarding all aspects of the program, the U.S. 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, section 315 requirement that the 
``Coast Guard Performance Technology Center--
    (A) prioritizes the review of examinations required for merchant 
mariner credentials; and
    (B) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the U.S. 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, completes a formal review, 
including an appropriate analysis, of the topics and testing 
methodology employed by the National Maritime Center for merchant 
seamen licensing.''
    This task is available for viewing at https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/ports-and-waterways/safety-advisory-committees/merpac.
    (2) The Performance Technology Center has been actively collecting 
data from the stakeholders on issues related to the examination 
process. The team has been working with U.S. Coast Guard personnel; 
U.S. Coast Guard approved training providers, and other federal 
agencies and private organizations that conduct examinations. As part 
of the data collection process the U.S. Coast Guard will be seeking 
active input from all facets of maritime industry in this important 
initiative on March 20, 2018, as follows:
    (3) At 8:00 a.m. the members of the Merchant Marine Personnel 
Advisory Committee and the attending public will meet in an informal 
discussion group in order to provide insight on maritime labor's 
experience with the merchant mariner credentialing examination system 
and process to the Performance Technology Center. All other Committee 
members and members of the public are also welcome to participate.
    (4) At 10:30 a.m. the members of the Merchant Marine Personnel 
Advisory Committee and the attending public will meet in an informal 
discussion group in order to provide insight on shipowners' experience 
with the merchant mariner credentialing examination system and process 
to the Performance Technology Center. All other Committee members and 
members of the public are also welcome to participate.
    (5) At 2:00 p.m. the members of the Merchant Marine Personnel 
Advisory Committee and the attending public will meet in an informal 
discussion group in order to provide insight on maritime training 
providers' experience with the merchant mariner credentialing 
examination system and process to the Performance Technology Center. 
All other Committee members and members of the public are also welcome 
to participate.
    The U.S. Coast Guard Performance Technology Center website is 
http://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-DIVISIONS/Training/Training-Branches/FC-Tptc/.
    (6) Adjournment of meeting.

Day 2

    The agenda for the March 21, 2018, meeting is as follows:
    (1) The full Committee will meet briefly to discuss the Working 
Groups' business/task statements, which are listed under paragraph 
2(a)-(h) below.
    (2) Working Groups will separately address the following task 
statements which are available for viewing at https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/ports-and-waterways/safety-advisory-committees/merpac:
    (a) Task Statement 87, Review of policy documents providing 
guidance on the implementation of the December 24, 2013, International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers rulemaking;
    (b) Task Statement 89, Review and update of the International 
Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee Circular MSC/
Circ.1014 Guidelines on fatigue mitigation and management
    (c) Task Statement 90, Review of International Maritime 
Organization's Model Courses Being Validated by the International 
Maritime Organization's Subcommittee on Human Element, Training and 
Watchkeeping
    (d) Task Statement 96, Review and comment on the course and program 
approval requirements including 46 CFR 10.402, 10.403, 10.407 and 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 03-14 guidelines for approval 
of training courses and programs;
    (e) Task Statement 98, Continue the progress made by the military 
services towards meeting the goals on the use of Military Education, 
Training and Assessment for STCW and National Mariner Endorsements as 
identified in the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 
Act of 2014 and subsequent legislation;
    (f) Task Statement 101, Provide feedback and avenues to further 
enhance open communication between external stakeholders and the U.S. 
Coast Guard's mariner credentialing program regarding all aspects of 
the program;
    (g) Task Statement 102, Consider and make recommendations regarding 
the current requirement for a U.S. Merchant Mariner to read and write 
using English;
    (h) Task Statement 103, Input to Support Regulatory Reform of Coast 
Guard Regulations--Executive Orders 13771 and 13783.
    (3) Public comment period.
    (4) Reports of Working Groups. At the end of the day, the Working 
Groups will report to the full Committee on what was accomplished in 
their meetings. The full Committee will not take action on these 
reports on this date. Any

[[Page 6207]]

official action taken as a result of these Working Group meetings will 
be taken on day three of the meeting.
    (5) Adjournment of meeting.

Day 3

    The agenda for the March 22, 2018, full Committee meeting is as 
follows:
    (1) Introduction.
    (2) Swearing in of newly appointed Committee members.
    (3) Remarks from U.S. Coast Guard Leadership.
    (4) Designated Federal Officer announcements.
    (5) Roll call of Committee members and determination of a quorum.
    (6) Reports from the following Working Groups:
    (a) Task Statement 87, Review of policy documents providing 
guidance on the implementation of the December 24, 2013, International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers rulemaking;
    (b) Task Statement 89, Review and update of the International 
Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee Circular MSC/Circ. 
1014 Guidelines on fatigue mitigation and management
    (c) Task Statement 90, Review of International Maritime 
Organization's Model Courses Being Validated by the International 
Maritime Organization's Subcommittee on Human Element, Training and 
Watchkeeping
    (d) Task Statement 96, Review and comment on the course and program 
approval requirements including 46 CFR 10.402, 10.403, 10.407 and 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 03-14 guidelines for approval 
of training courses and programs;
    (e) Task Statement 98, Continue the progress made by the military 
services towards meeting the goals on the use of Military Education, 
Training and Assessment for STCW and National Mariner Endorsements as 
identified in the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 
Act of 2014 and subsequent legislation;
    (f) Task Statement 101, Provide feedback and avenues to further 
enhance open communication between external stakeholders and the Coast 
Guard's mariner credentialing program regarding all aspects of the 
program;
    (g) Task Statement 102, Consider and make recommendations regarding 
the current requirement for a U.S. Merchant Mariner to read and write 
using English;
    (h) Task Statement 103, Input to Support Regulatory Reform of Coast 
Guard Regulations--Executive Orders 13771 and 13783.
    (7) New Business regarding an addendum to Task Statement 101 
regarding the cancellation of Medical Certificates.
    (8) Other items for discussion:
    (a) Report on the Mariner Credentialing Program;
    (b) Report on National Maritime Center activities from the National 
Maritime Center Commanding Officer;
    (c) Briefings about other on-going U.S. Coast Guard projects 
related to personnel in the U.S. merchant marine.
    (9) Public comment period.
    (10) Discussion of Working Group recommendations.
    The Committee will review the information presented on each issue, 
deliberate on any recommendations presented by the Working Groups, 
approve/formulate recommendations and close any completed tasks. 
Official action on these recommendations may be taken on this date.
    (11) Closing remarks/plans for next meeting.
    (12) Adjournment of meeting.
    A public comment period will be held during each Working Group and 
full Committee meeting concerning matters being discussed.
    A copy of all meeting documentation will be available at https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/ports-and-waterways/safety-advisory-committees/merpac no later than March 19, 2018. Alternatively, you may 
contact Mr. Davis Breyer as noted in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
section above.
    Public comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker. 
Please note that the public comment periods will end following the last 
call for comments. Please contact Mr. Davis Breyer, listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, to register as a speaker.
    A public comment period will be held during each Working Group and 
full Committee meeting concerning matters being discussed.
    Please note that the meeting may adjourn early if the work is 
completed.

    Dated: February 8, 2018.
Jeffrey G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2018-02924 Filed 2-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P