[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 12631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06310]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2006-23846-0042]


Consolidated Cruise Ship Security Regulations

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of an updated 
Prohibited Items List (PIL) for Cruise Vessels. On March 19, 2018, the 
Coast Guard published the Consolidated Cruise Ship Security Regulations 
Final Rule (FR) and issued a PIL of dangerous substances and devices. 
The Coast Guard referenced ammunition in the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) published on December 10, 2014, and the Final Rule, 
but inadvertently omitted ammunition from the separate PIL document 
that was included in the docket. The updated PIL is posted on the U.S. 
Coast Guard Homeport website.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
call or email the Cargo and Facilities Division (CG-FAC-2), 202-372-
1092, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In connection with the Consolidated Cruise 
Ship Security Regulations Final Rule (83 FR 12086), the Coast Guard 
developed a PIL that was similar, but not identical to, one that is 
used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at airports, 
which defines certain items that cannot not be brought on board a 
cruise ship by passengers on their persons or in checked luggage. In 
the NPRM (79 FR 73255), the Coast Guard explained that prohibiting the 
items listed on the PIL was not intended to be a new requirement, but 
rather an interpretation of the existing requirement, which is located 
in 33 CFR 104.295(a) and 105.290(a), that cruise ship and cruise ship 
terminal operators ``[s]creen all persons, baggage, and personal 
effects for dangerous substances and devices.'' Considering that the 
definition of ``dangerous substances and devices'' in 33 CFR 101.105 
means ``any material, substance, or item that reasonably has the 
potential to cause a transportation security incident [TSI]'', the 
Coast Guard published the PIL as an interpretive document indicating 
which items the Coast Guard believes are ``dangerous substances and 
devices'' at all times, while other items may or may not be considered 
such at the Facility Security Officer's discretion. The Coast Guard 
notes that cruise ship operators are free to prohibit additional items 
on their vessels if they believe they are dangerous, or for any other 
reason, and also notes that most cruise lines already advertise lists 
of prohibited items that are extremely similar to, if not more 
extensive than, the published PIL.
    The presence of ammunition in secured areas of cruise ship 
terminals and unsecured areas on cruise vessels represents a 
significant threat to cruise ship passengers and the maritime 
transportation personnel who service them. The Coast Guard decided to 
published an updated list, including ammunition, due to an increase in 
the number of reports of bulk quantities of ammunition (>100 rounds) 
detected by screeners at cruise terminals as well as reports of 
ammunition successfully eluding security countermeasures and being 
identified aboard cruise vessels.
    The publication of an updated PIL details those items that are 
prohibited from secured areas in cruise terminals and unsecured areas 
on cruise vessels and ensures a safer environment by prohibiting 
dangerous items across the entire industry.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: March 27, 2019.
Jennifer F. Williams,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Inspections and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019-06310 Filed 4-1-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P