[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49599-49600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17288]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2022-0259]


Safe Loading, Safe Powering and Flotation Compliance Guidance for 
Electrically Powered Recreational Vessels Policy Letter

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the online availability, of a new 
Coast Guard policy that establishes regulatory compliance guidance for 
recreational vessels less than 20 feet in length that use batteries to 
power their primary propulsion. This document provides consistent 
guidance for the design, inspection, and/or testing of recreational 
vessels using batteries to power their primary propulsion. The policy 
can be found at https://safeafloat.com/policies-letters/.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to the online docket via https://www.regulations.gov on or before November 9, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2022-0259 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 Mr. Kevin Ferrie, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1075, 
email [email protected].

[[Page 49600]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments (or related material) on the 
draft guidance document in the docket. We will consider all submissions 
and may adjust our final action based on your comments. If you submit a 
comment, please include the docket number for this notice, indicate the 
specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and 
provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions. Documents mentioned in this notice as being available in 
the docket, and public comments, are in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website's 
instructions. We review all comments received, but we may choose not to 
post off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that we receive. 
If you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will 
be notified when comments are posted or a final document is published.
    We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to https://www.regulations.gov will include any personal information you have 
provided. For more about privacy and submissions in response to this 
document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, 
March 11, 2020).

Background and Purpose

    Advances in battery technology have enabled new possibilities in 
boat power and propulsion systems. Currently, internal combustion 
engines using lead-acid or absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries comprise 
the vast majority of recreational vessel propulsion installations. 
However, recent advancements in the development of lithium-ion (Li-ion) 
battery technology have made all-electric systems possible on some 
recreational vessels. Li-ion batteries are becoming more cost-effective 
and deliver one of the highest energy densities of any currently 
available battery technology, making these batteries and electric 
motors a viable alternative to internal combustion engines and 
traditional lead acid and AGM batteries for powering recreational 
vessels.
    Current regulations for safe loading, safe powering and flotation 
in 33 CFR subchapter S were promulgated with the expectation that 
internal combustion engines for propulsion would be used and did not 
anticipate the use of batteries and electric motors for these 
functions. As a result, further clarification is needed to determine 
capacities required by 33 CFR subchapter S when internal combustion 
engines are replaced with electric motors and large Li-ion battery 
installations. The policy provides consistent guidance for the design, 
inspection, and/or testing of recreational vessels using batteries to 
power their primary propulsion.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: July 6, 2022.
Jeffrey A. Ludwig,
Chief, Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch, United States 
Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2022-17288 Filed 8-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P