[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 122 (Friday, June 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27653-27654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11914]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2025-0091]
Certificates of Alternative Compliance for the Eighth Coast Guard
District
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notification of issuance of certificates of alternative
compliance.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that the Eighth Coast Guard
District's Prevention Division has issued certificates of alternative
compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions
at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), to vessels of special construction or
purpose that cannot fully comply with the light, shape, and sound
signal provisions of 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's
design and construction. We are issuing this notice because its
publication is required by statute. This notification of issuance of
certificates of alternative compliance promotes the Coast Guard's
marine safety mission.
DATES: These Certificates of Alternative Compliance were issued between
August 2024 and December 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information or questions about
this notice call or email Lieutenant Jenifer Abiona, District Eight,
Prevention Division, U.S. Coast Guard, telephone 206-827-2691, email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States is signatory to the
International Maritime Organization's International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), as amended. The
special construction or purpose of some vessels makes them unable to
comply with the light, shape, or sound signal provisions of the 72
COLREGS. Under statutory law, however, specified 72 COLREGS provisions
are not applicable to a vessel of special construction or purpose if
the Coast Guard determines that the vessel cannot comply fully with
those requirements without interfering with the special function of the
vessel.\1\
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\1\ 33 U.S.C. 1605.
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[[Page 27654]]
The owner, builder, operator, or agent of a special construction or
purpose vessel may apply to the Coast Guard District Office in which
the vessel is being built or operated for a determination that
compliance with alternative requirements is justified,\2\ and the Chief
of the Prevention Division would then issue the applicant a certificate
of alternative compliance (COAC) if he or she determines that the
vessel cannot comply fully with 72 COLREGS light, shape, and sound
signal provisions without interference with the vessel's special
function.\3\ If the Coast Guard issues a COAC, it must publish notice
of this action in the Federal Register.\4\
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\2\ 33 CFR 81.5.
\3\ 33 CFR 81.9.
\4\ 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.
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The Eighth Coast Guard District has issued COACs to the following
vessels from August 2024 to December 2024:
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Year Vessel name Details
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2024................ LEN O'CONNOR..... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
sidelights on the elevated
pilothouse roof, 34'-9'' above
the main deck, 7'-\1/2\''
inboard from the sides of the
vessel, and 4'-\5/8\'' aft of
the forward masthead light.
2024................ HOS RUGER........ This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's aft
masthead light positioned on
the main mast above the
pilothouse at a distance of
21'-9\11/16\'' aft of the
forward masthead light and 67'-
10\1/16\'' above the main
deck; and sternlight
positioned centerline on the
aft end of the pilot at a
distance of 36'-10\1/8\''
above the main deck and 17'-
2\7/16\'' aft of the aft
masthead light.
2024................ HOS BENELLI...... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's aft
masthead light positioned on
the main mast above the
pilothouse at a distance of
21'-9\11/16\'' aft of the
forward masthead light and 67'-
10\1/16\'' above the main
deck; and sternlight
positioned centerline on the
aft end of the pilot at a
distance of 36'-10\1/8\''
above the main deck and 17'-
2\7/16\'' aft of the aft
masthead light.
2024................ USNS ROBERT This certificate authorized the
BALLARD. placement of the vessel's
sternlight positioned
centerline on the elevated
pilothouse at a distance of
21' above the main deck; and
aft masthead light positioned
centerline at a distance of
156'-9'' aft of the Forward
Masthead Light and 69'-5''
above the main deck.
2024................ MARY JANE MORAN.. This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
sidelights on the elevated
pilothouse, positioned 12'
from the side of the vessel,
and 19'-6\13/16\'' above the
main deck; stern light aft
side of the elevated
pilothouse, 1'-4'' starboard
of centerline and 20'-10\1/
8\'' above the main deck;
masthead light centerline on
the elevated pilothouse, 39'
above the main deck when
upright, and 25'-10\3/8\''
above the main deck when mast
is in the lowered position
during ship assist work in
order to prevent damage when
working in close proximity to
a ship's bow/stern flare;
restricted in ability to
maneuver (RAM) and not under
command (NUC) lights placed 1'-
3'' forward of the masthead
lights starting at a height of
27'-6\1/16\'' above the main
deck with vertical spacing
between the RAM/NUC lights
being 3'-3\3/8\''.
2024................ HOS RUNNING BUCK. This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's aft
masthead light positioned on
the main mast above the
pilothouse at a distance of
21'-5\1/4\'' aft of the
forward masthead light and at
a vertical distance of 37'-1\1/
8\'' from the forward masthead
light; and sternlight
positioned centerline on the
aft edge of the fo'c'sle deck
at a distance of 12'-9'' above
the main deck and 176'-6''
forward of the vessel's stern.
2024................ ARTEMIS.......... This certificate authorized
placement of the vessel's
masthead light positioned
centered on the elevated pilot
house, 22'-7\1/8\'' above the
main deck when the mast is in
the lowered position; and 39'-
4\5/8\'' above the main deck;
sidelights on the elevated
pilot house, 10'-1'' outboard
from the centerline of the
vessel, and 12'-5\5/8\'' above
the main deck; and stern light
based on the dual direction
operational towing vessel:
ahead direction--stern light
centered on the pilot house at
a height of 22'-7\1/8\'' for
pushing ahead operations
(e.g., pushing, hauling
alongside, and pulling); and
astern direction--stern light
placed on the main mast at a
height of 27'-9\5/8\'' for
astern operations (e.g.,
towing).
2024................ BAHIA GULF....... This certificate authorized
placement of the vessel's
masthead light positioned on
the mast above the pilot house
at a height of 39'-4\5/8\''
above the hull and when the
mast is in the lowered
position, a height of 22'-7\1/
8\'' above the hull;
sidelights positioned near the
pilot house at a height of 12'-
5\5/8\'' above the hull and
10'-1'' outboard from the
centerline of the vessel;
sternlight based on the towing
vessel being dual direction
operation: ahead direction--
Sternlight centered on the
pilot house at a height of 22'-
7\1/8\'' for pushing ahead
operations (e.g., pushing,
hauling alongside, and
pulling); and astern
direction--Sternlight placed
on the mast at a height of 27'-
9\5/8\'' for astern operations
(e.g., towing); and Restricted
in Ability to Maneuver (RAM)
and Not Under Command (NUC)
lights placed 1'-6'' off
centerline starting at 25'-5\1/
8\'' above the hull and
vertically spaced at 6'-7''.
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The Chief of Prevention Division of the Eighth Coast Guard
District, U.S. Coast Guard, certifies that the vessels listed above are
of special construction or purpose and are unable to comply fully with
the requirements of the provisions enumerated in the 72 COLREGS,
without interfering with the normal operation, construction, or design
of the vessels. The Chief of Prevention Division, further finds and
certifies that the listed vessels are in the closest possible
compliance with the applicable provisions of the 72 COLREGS.\5\
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\5\ 33 U.S.C. 1605(a); 33 CFR 81.9.
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This notice is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33
CFR 81.18.
Dated: June 16, 2025.
J.E. Fothergill,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief of Prevention, Acting, By direction
of the Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2025-11914 Filed 6-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P