[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44701-44702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17338]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Certificate of Alternate Compliance for Block IV VIRGINIA Class 
Submarines

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 Block IV VIRGINIA Class Submarines. All 
Block IV VIRGINIA Class submarines are built to the same design. Due to 
the special construction and purpose of each submarine of this class, 
the Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General

[[Page 44702]]

(DAJAG)(Admiralty and Maritime Law) has determined that each submarine 
of this class 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 vessel. The intended effect of this notice 
is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.

DATES: This Certificate of Alternate Compliance is effective August 13, 
2021 and is applicable beginning August 6, 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 Secretary of the Navy, 
hereby finds and certifies that all Block IV VIRGINIA Class submarines 
are vessels 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, Section 2(a)(i) pertaining to the height of the masthead 
light; Annex I, Section 2(f)(i) pertaining to the vertical position of 
the masthead light; Annex I, Section 2(k) pertaining to the height of 
the forward anchor light; Rule 30(a) and Rule 21(e) pertaining to the 
360 degree arc of visibility of the forward and aft anchor lights; 
Annex I, Section 3(b) pertaining to the position of the sidelights; 
Rule 21(c) pertaining to the position and the arcs of visibility of the 
stern light.
    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: August 10, 2021.
K.R. Callan,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-17338 Filed 8-12-21; 8:45 am]
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