[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48548-48550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17496]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2019-0698]
RIN 1625-AC54


Request for Information on Integration of Automated and 
Autonomous Commercial Vessels and Vessel Technologies Into the Maritime 
Transportation System

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Request for information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is seeking input regarding the introduction 
and development of automated and autonomous commercial vessels and 
vessel technologies subject to U.S. jurisdiction, on U.S. flagged 
commercial vessels, and in U.S. port facilities. The Coast Guard is 
also seeking input regarding barriers to the development of autonomous 
vessels. This document solicits the public's view on issues related to 
the opportunities, challenges, and impacts of automated and autonomous 
commercial vessels and vessel technologies.

DATES: Comments must be received by the Coast Guard on or before 
October 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
at https://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and 
Request for Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
for further instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
call or email Ted J. Kim, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1528, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard views public participation as essential to 
understanding the emerging automated and autonomous commercial vessels 
and vessel technologies, how vessel owners and operators foresee 
implementing such technologies, and the Coast Guard's role with regard 
to such technologies. The Coast Guard will consider all information, 
comments, and material received during the comment period. If you 
submit a comment, please indicate the specific question from this 
document to which each comment applies.
    Please submit comments (or related material) through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Enter the docket 
number ``USCG-2019-0698'' into the search bar to find the relevant 
docket and submit comments. Documents mentioned in this notice, and all 
public comments, will be available in the online docket as well. 
Additionally, if you visit the online docket and sign up for email 
alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted.
    If you cannot submit your material by using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the person in the FOR FURTHER

[[Page 48549]]

INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternative 
instructions.
    The Coast Guard accepts anonymous comments. All comments received 
will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov and will 
include any personal information you have provided. For more about 
privacy and submissions in response to this document, see the 
Department of Homeland Security's eRulemaking System of Records notice 
(85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).

II. Request for Information

    On February 11, 2019, the President issued Executive Order (E.O.) 
13859, ``Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.'' 
\1\ The executive order announced the policy of the United States 
Government to sustain and enhance the scientific, technological, and 
economic leadership position of the United States in artificial 
intelligence (AI) research and development and deployment through a 
coordinated Federal Government strategy. Automation is a broad category 
that may or may not incorporate many forms of technology, one of which 
is AI. This request for information (RFI) will support the Coast 
Guard's efforts to accomplish its mission consistent with the policies 
and strategies articulated in E.O. 13859. Input received from this RFI 
will allow the Coast Guard to better understand, among other things, 
the intersection between AI and automated or autonomous technologies 
aboard commercial vessels, and to better fulfill its mission of 
ensuring our Nation's maritime safety, security, and stewardship.
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    \1\ See 84 FR 3967.
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    The transportation industry is currently undergoing a major 
transformation related to automated and autonomous technologies.\2\ All 
modes of transportation have begun introducing and testing automated 
transportation systems. Highly automated and autonomous vessels have 
the potential to improve safety in the maritime system, where it is 
estimated that 75% \3\ of accidents are caused, at least in part, by 
human error. However, the introduction of automation and autonomous 
technology into commercial vessel operations brings a new set of 
challenges that need to be addressed, affecting design, operations, 
safety, security, training, and the workforce.
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    \2\ See generally U.S. Department of Transportation, Automated 
Vehicle Public Notices, https://www.transportation.gov/av/publicnotices (last visited on Dec. 5, 2019).
    \3\ According to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty an 
analysis of almost 15,000 marine liability insurance claims between 
2011 and 2016 shows human error to be a primary factor in 75% of the 
value of all claims analyzed--equivalent to over $1.6bn of losses. 
See https://www.agcs.allianz.com/content/dam/onemarketing/agcs/agcs/reports/AGCS-Safety-Shipping-Review-2019.pdf.
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    Development of automated and autonomous vessel technology is 
happening quickly internationally. In light of this, in 2018, the 
International Maritime Organization (IMO) began a regulatory scoping 
exercise of its various international conventions for the effects 
autonomous technology could potentially have on current regulatory 
approaches and treaties. In 2019, the IMO developed interim guidelines 
for trials of autonomous ships.\4\ The Coast Guard recognizes the 
National Science & Technology Council and the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) efforts to unify automated transportation 
technologies across the Federal government and independent agencies. 
This RFI aims to complement the principles outlined in the National 
Science & Technology Council and U.S. DOT report on ``Ensuring American 
Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies: Automated Vehicles (AVs) 
4.0,'' \5\ and to coordinate across the agencies in its automation 
activities.
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    \4\ http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Documents/MSC.1-Circ.1604%20-%20Interim%20Guidelines%20For%20Mass%20Trials%20(Secretariat).pdf.
    \5\ The report is available at: https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2020-02/EnsuringAmericanLeadershipAVTech4.pdf.
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    The Coast Guard is interested in hearing from the public on a range 
of issues related to the potential introduction and development of 
automated and autonomous technologies aboard commercial vessels or any 
automated and autonomous vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction and U.S. 
port facilities. The Coast Guard recognizes that the phrase ``automated 
and autonomous commercial vessels and vessel technologies'' covers a 
wide range of maritime applications. For purposes of this RFI, 
automated and autonomous commercial vessels and vessel technologies are 
systems that use automation: (1) To perform operations without, or with 
less, human intervention, (2) related to one or more vessel functions, 
and (3) for the duration of operations or in limited time periods. 
These vessel functions may include, but are not limited to, navigation 
operation, communication, machinery operation, cargo management, 
emergency response, and maintenance. The Coast Guard intends for 
commenters to interpret the phrase, ``automated and autonomous 
commercial vessels and vessel technologies,'' expansively. Please 
provide relevant information on all issues, challenges, and solutions 
related to the development and implementation of automation and 
autonomous technologies aboard commercial vessels. In addition, the 
Coast Guard seeks public comments more broadly on automated and 
autonomous commercial vessels and vessel technologies that may not be 
covered in the following questions.
    (1) What existing statutes or Coast Guard-issued regulations, 
policies, or standards may present a challenge or barrier to the 
development, demonstration, deployment, or evaluation of automated and 
autonomous commercial vessels and vessel technologies? Please provide 
specific examples of these statutes, regulations, policies, or 
standards. How would these statutes, regulations, policies, or 
standards need to be changed to remove barriers or challenges?
    (2) What specific Coast Guard regulations, policies, or standards 
may become obsolete or serve as an impediment to overall industry 
participation, innovation, or implementation of automated and 
autonomous commercial vessels and vessel technologies? Please provide 
specific examples of such regulatory barriers that will affect such 
activities. If such barriers would have a particular impact on certain 
types of vessels or businesses (for example, small businesses), please 
specify.
    (3) The Coast Guard currently applies its existing legal 
authorities to allow testing in various locations throughout the United 
States. There are current projects in various developmental stages 
across the nation. Are there are any additional legislative, 
regulatory, or policy changes needed to facilitate testing or enhance 
coordination between the commercial sector and the U.S. government for 
testing? Please provide specific examples.
    (4) What non-Coast Guard regulatory, policy, or legislative 
challenges, not otherwise specified in response to a previous question 
above, may present a challenge or barrier to the development, 
demonstration, deployment, or evaluation of automated and autonomous 
commercial vessels and vessel technologies? Please specify or describe 
these challenges, and propose resolutions, if possible.
    (5) What additional regulations, policies, or voluntary consensus 
standards should the Coast Guard consider to provide better clarity or 
certainty to the maritime industry and communities related to the 
automated

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and autonomous commercial vessels and vessel technologies? Please 
specify areas where additional regulations, policies, standards, or 
common terminology contained within voluntary consensus standards might 
be necessary or appropriate to better ensure safety, security, or 
environmental stewardship, or for other reasons.
    (6) What are the benefits (direct and indirect) and cost-savings of 
automated and autonomous commercial vessels and vessel technologies, if 
any? Please provide information and data that evidences such benefits 
and cost-savings.
    (7) For what purposes and in what ways are commercial vessels 
already making use of automated and autonomous technologies? For 
instance, how are commercial vessels making use of automated and 
autonomous technologies for such purposes as navigation, machinery 
operation, maintenance, docking, security, or firefighting, or other 
purposes?
    (8) What types of automated and autonomous commercial vessels and 
vessel technology (depending on vessel types, classes, and automation 
levels) may be adaptable for use on commercial vessels subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction?
    (9) What vessel functions, procedures, equipment components, or 
systems can be replaced, augmented, or aided with automated and 
autonomous commercial vessels and vessel technologies?
    (10) What changes should be made to ensure port facilities can 
accommodate automated and autonomous commercial vessels and vessel 
technologies?
    (11) What potential economic factors (such as risks, costs, or 
practical limitations) will a commercial vessel owner or operator have 
to consider before implementing automated and autonomous commercial 
vessels and vessel technologies?
    (12) What impacts to the maritime workforce do you anticipate would 
occur with the introduction of automated and autonomous commercial 
vessels and vessel technologies? Please provide information and data 
regarding any relevant costs or benefits to the maritime workforce 
associated with their introduction.
    (13) What specific training may need to be developed in 
consideration of these new technologies? Please provide information and 
data (whether quantitative or qualitative) regarding costs that 
training providers might incur from having to update current courses 
and training requirements.
    (14) What type of infrastructure (whether physical or cyber), 
procedures, and operational data, if available, would help facilitate 
the safe, secure, and efficient deployment of automated and autonomous 
commercial vessels and vessel technologies on subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction?
    (15) What threats do automated and autonomous commercial vessels 
and vessel technologies present to cybersecurity or privacy? How can 
vessel, facility, and port owners and operators mitigate or minimize 
the threat?
    (16) What are the negative or positive safety and security 
implications of automated and autonomous commercial vessels and vessel 
technologies? Please explain and provide details, if possible.

    Dated: August 2, 2020.
Karl L. Schultz,
Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commandant.
[FR Doc. 2020-17496 Filed 8-10-20; 8:45 am]
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