[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 220 (Friday, November 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72642-72643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25117]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Certificate of Alternate Compliance for USS COOPERSTOWN (LCS-23)

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Issuance of Certificate of Alternate Compliance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Navy hereby announces that a Certificate of Alternate 
Compliance has been issued for USS COOPERSTOWN (LCS-23). Due to the 
special construction and purpose of this vessel, the Deputy Assistant 
Judge Advocate General (DAJAG) (Admiralty and Maritime Law) has 
determined it is a vessel of the Navy which, due to its special 
construction and purpose, cannot comply fully with the navigation 
lights provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing 
Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS) without interfering with its 
special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this notice is 
to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.

DATES: This Certificate of Alternate Compliance is effective November 
13, 2020 and is applicable beginning November 11, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Commander Steven Gonzales, 
JAGC, U.S. Navy, Admiralty Attorney, Office of the Judge Advocate 
General, Admiralty and Maritime Law Division (Code 11), 1322 Patterson 
Ave. SE, Suite 3000, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066, 202-685-5040, 
or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background and Purpose.
    Executive Order 11964 of January 19, 1977 and 33 U.S.C. 1605 
provide that the requirements of the International Regulations for 
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), as to the number, 
position, range, or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as 
to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signaling appliances, 
shall not apply to a vessel or class of vessels of the Navy where the 
Secretary of the Navy shall find and certify that, by reason of special 
construction or purpose, it is not possible for such vessel(s) to 
comply fully with the provisions without interfering with the special 
function of the vessel(s). Notice of issuance of a Certificate of 
Alternate Compliance must be made in the Federal Register.
    In accordance with 33 U.S.C. 1605, the DAJAG (Admiralty and 
Maritime Law), under authority delegated by the Secretary of the Navy, 
hereby finds and certifies that U.S.S COOPERSTOWN (LCS-23) is a vessel 
of special construction or purpose, and that, with respect to the 
position of the following navigational lights, it is not possible to 
comply fully with the requirements of the provisions enumerated in the 
72 COLREGS without interfering with the special function of the vessel:
    Annex I, paragraph 2(a)(i), pertaining to the requirement that the 
forward masthead light be located at least 12 meters above the upper-
most continuous deck; Annex I, paragraph 3(a), pertaining to the 
requirement that the forward masthead light be placed not more than one 
quarter of the length of the vessel from the stem; Annex I, paragraph 
3(a), pertaining to the requirement that when two masthead

[[Page 72643]]

lights are prescribed for a power driven vessel, the horizontal 
distance between them shall not be less than one half the length of the 
vessel but need not be more than 100 meters. The DAJAG (Admiralty and 
Maritime Law) further finds and certifies that these navigational 
lights are in closest possible compliance with the applicable provision 
of the 72 COLREGS.

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1605(c), E.O. 11964

    Approved: November 9, 2020.
K.R. Callan,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-25117 Filed 11-12-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P