[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40378-40380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15769]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2025-0644]
Certificates of Alternative Compliance for the Coast Guard
Heartland 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 Coast Guard Heartland
(Previously District 8) 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
January 2025 and June 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information or questions about
this notice call or email Lieutenant Jenifer Abiona, Heartland
District, 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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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 Coast Guard Heartland (D8) District has issued COACs to the
following vessels from January 2025 to June 2025:
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Year Vessel Name Details
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2025................ HOS ROCINANTE.... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
forward masthead light
positioned centerline as far
forward as possible on Deck 05
at a distance of 47'-10 \3/
8\'' above the main deck, 96'-
11 \1/4\'' forward of the aft
masthead light, and a vertical
distance of 34'-1 \7/8\'' from
the aft masthead light; and
the restricted in ability to
maneuver and not under command
(RAM/NUC) lights placed 7'-8
\1/8\'' off centerline
starting 66'-4 \3/8\'' above
the main deck and vertically
spaced at 6'-6 \3/4\''.
2025................ DAVID NORTH...... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
sidelights on the 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.
2025................ ECO LIBERTY...... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
forward masthead light on the
elevated pilothouse,
centerline, positioned 76'-3
\9/16\'' aft of the vessels
bow, 58'-9 \9/16\'' above the
main deck and the aft masthead
light positioned centerline,
placed 71'-7 \13/16\'' aft of
the FWD masthead light, and
46'-3 \5/16\'' above the FWD
masthead light.
[[Page 40379]]
2025................ WILLIAM E MORAN.. This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
sidelights on the elevated
pilothouse, positioned 13'-2''
from side of the vessel, and
21'-1'' above the main deck;
stern light aft side of the
elevated pilothouse, 1'-4''
starboard of centerline, and
6'-9 \1/2\'' aft of amidships;
masthead light centerline on
the elevated pilothouse, 40'-3
\1/2\'' above the main deck
when upright, and 27'-2''
above the main deck when mast
is in the lowered position
during ship assist work to
prevent damage when working in
close proximity to a ship's
bow/stern flare; and
restricted in ability to
maneuver (RAM) and not under
command (NUC) lights placed
6'' forward of the masthead
lights starting at a height of
28'-9 \11/16\'' above the main
deck with vertical spacing
between the RAM/NUC lights
being 3'-3 \3/8\''.
2025................ AET PARTNERSHIP.. This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
stern light at centerline on
the aft edge of the foc'sle
deck, 107'-1 \5/16\'' from the
stern, and 17'-8 \7/8\'' from
the main deck, and towing
light positioned centerline on
the aft edge of the foc'sle
deck, 107'-1 \5/16\'' from the
stern, and 24'-3 \5/8\'' from
the main deck.
2025................ AET INNOVATOR.... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
stern light at centerline on
the aft edge of the foc'sle
deck, 107'-1 \5/16\'' from the
stern, and 17'-8 \7/8\'' from
the main deck, and towing
light positioned centerline on
the aft edge of the foc'sle
deck, 107'-1 \5/16\'' from the
stern, and 24'-3 \5/8\'' from
the main deck.
2025................ AET This certificate authorized the
RESPONSIBILITY. placement of the vessel's
stern light at centerline on
the aft edge of the foc'sle
deck, 107'-1 \5/16\'' from the
stern, and 17'-8 \7/8\'' from
the main deck and towing light
positioned centerline on the
aft edge of the foc'sle deck,
107'-1 \5/16\'' from the
stern, and 24'-3 \5/8\'' from
the main deck.
2025................ AET EXCELLENCE... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
stern light at centerline on
the aft edge of the foc'sle
deck, 107'-1 \5/16\'' from the
stern, and 17'-8 \7/8\'' from
the main deck, and towing
light positioned centerline on
the aft edge of the foc'sle
deck, 107'-1 \5/16\'' from the
stern, and 24'-3 5/8'' from
the main deck.
2025................ ACBL MARINER..... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
forward masthead light on the
pilothouse roof, 52'-3'' above
the main deck, 14'-10 \3/4\''
forward of the main mast; and
stern light on the upper deck
aft mast, 4'-3 \1/4\'' above
the main deck, centerline of
the vessel.
2025................ RIO GULF......... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
masthead light 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;
stern light--based on the
towing vessel being dual
direction operation: 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 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''.
2025................ HOS ROSEBUD...... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
stern light centered on the
aft end of the 03 deck at a
height of 29'-4'' and 192'-6''
forward of the stern.
2025................ JOHN PAUL This certificate authorized the
ECKSTEIN. placement of the vessel's
masthead light centered on the
forward end of the top deck,
33'-2'' aft of the bow and 14'-
10 \15/16\'' forward of the
aft masthead and stern light
centered on the upper deck at
a height of 4'-10 \1/2\'' and
11'-\1/2\'' forward of the
stern.
2025................ KENTUCKY......... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
masthead light centerline on
the pilot house, 24'-6 \3/8\''
above the main deck and 38'-3
\5/8\'' aft of the bow; stern
light centered on the upper
deck at a height of 20'-4 \3/
4\'' and 46'-1 \15/16\''
forward of the stern;
sidelights positioned on the
pilot house, 4'-6'' outboard
from the centerline of the
vessel and 20'-4 \3/4\'' above
the main deck and restricted
in ability to maneuver (RAM)
and not under command (NUC)
lights placed 17' \13/16\''
off centerline starting at 23'-
7 \7/8\'' from main deck, and
vertically spaced at 6'-7''.
2025................ CAMERON BLAIR.... This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
Masthead Lights--Based on the
pilot house being retractable:
Raised Pilot House: Upper
Masthead Light at a height of
42'-6 \3/8\'' from the main
deck and Lower Masthead Light
at a height of 35'-10 \3/8\''
from the main deck; and
Lowered Pilot House: Upper
Masthead Light at a height of
31'-\3/8\'' from the main deck
and Lower Masthead Light at a
height of 24'-4 \3/8\'' from
the main deck. Sidelights can
be positioned on the pilot
house at a height of 29'-10''
from the main deck in the
raised position, 6'-11''
outboard from the centerline
of the vessel, and at a height
of 14'-4'' from the main deck
when the pilot house is in the
lowered position, and
Restricted in Ability to
Maneuver (RAM) and Not Under
Command (NUC) lights rather
than placing these lights on
the centerline in a vertical
line with the masthead lights,
they may be placed 3'-4'' off
centerline starting 4'-10''
above the pilot house and
vertically spaced at 3'-4''.
2025................ CAPTAIN JERRY O.. This certificate authorized the
placement of the vessel's
Masthead Lights--Based on the
pilot house being retractable:
Raised Pilot House: Upper
Masthead Light at a height of
42'-6 \3/8\'' from the main
deck and Lower Masthead Light
at a height of 35'-10 \3/8\''
from the main deck; and
Lowered Pilot House: Upper
Masthead Light at a height of
31'-\3/8\'' from the main deck
and Lower Masthead Light at a
height of 24'-4 \3/8\'' from
the main deck. Sidelights can
be positioned on the pilot
house at a height of 29'-10''
from the main deck in the
raised position, 6'-11''
outboard from the centerline
of the vessel, and at a height
of 14'-4'' from the main deck
when the pilot house is in the
lowered position, and
Restricted in Ability to
Maneuver (RAM) and Not Under
Command (NUC) lights rather
than placing these lights on
the centerline in a vertical
line with the masthead lights,
they may be placed 3'-4'' off
centerline starting 4'-10''
above the pilot house and
vertically spaced at 3'-4''.
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[[Page 40380]]
The Chief of Prevention Division of the Heartland 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: August 7, 2025.
J.B. Wheeler,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief of Prevention, Coast Guard Heartland
District.
[FR Doc. 2025-15769 Filed 8-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P