[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 76 (Thursday, April 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21307-21308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08351]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Certificate of Alternate Compliance for USS FRANK E. PETERSON JR. 
(DDG 121)

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Issuance of Certificate of Alternate Compliance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Navy hereby announces that a Certificate of Alternate 
Compliance has been issued for USS FRANK E. PETERSON JR. (DDG 121). 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 April 22, 
2021 and is applicable beginning April 16, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Commander Darren E. Myers, 
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

[[Page 21308]]

Secretary of the Navy, hereby finds and certifies that USS FRANK E. 
PETERSON JR. (DDG 121) 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 3(a), pertaining to the position of the forward 
masthead light; Annex I, paragraph 2(f)(i) pertaining to the vertical 
position of the aft masthead light; Annex I, paragraph 3(a), pertaining 
to the horizontal distance between the masthead lights; Annex I, 
paragraph 3(c), pertaining to the horizontal distance of the ``task 
lights'' below the masthead lights; Annex I, paragraph 2(f)(ii), 
pertaining to the horizontal position of the task lights above the aft 
masthead light(s) and vertical position of the task lights between the 
forward masthead light(s) and aft masthead light(s).
    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: April 19, 2021.
K.R. Callan,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U. S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-08351 Filed 4-21-21; 8:45 am]
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