July 1, 2013, 8:58 am
WASHINGTON - U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Joseph Servidio, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director James Watson signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for regulating Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU) on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
"The Coast Guard and BSEE share the goal of keeping our oceans clean and offshore workers safe," said Servidio. "This agreement solidifies the commitment of each of our agencies to work across agency boundaries to promote safety and most effectively use government resources."
Under the current regulatory system, both the U.S. Coast Guard and BSEE have shared responsibilities for the regulation of safety management systems on the OCS. This MOA ensures a comprehensive joint approach in the regulation of MODUs by clearly outlining the responsibilities of each agency for inspection and oversight of the systems and sub-systems associated with mobile offshore drilling units engaged in offshore drilling operations. The Coast Guard and BSEE will use this MOA to better align policies and procedures while also collaborating on future regulatory projects.
"MODUs are unique and dynamic vessels that are an important part of the offshore oil and gas industry's exploration efforts but as we learned from the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, these highly complex drilling units with their state-of-the-art equipment and ultra-deepwater drilling capabilities must be closely monitored" said Watson. "This agreement between BSEE and the Coast Guard serves as a significant milestone in achieving coordinated oversight of MODUs while continuing our joint effort to improve offshore safety."
The MOA is implemented in accordance with an overarching Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BSEE and the Coast Guard signed November 29, 2012. The MOU outlined the efforts of the two agencies to closely coordinate responsibilities for regulation and enforcement on the OCS and for the establishment of future focused agreements such as the one signed today. It was the first MOU between the two agencies since the creation of BSEE following the reorganization of the Mineral Management Service in 2011.
The MOA may be viewed here: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg522/cg5222/mou.asp
More information on the MOU that was signed on November 27, 2012 can be found here: http://www.bsee.gov/BSEE-Newsroom/BSEE-News-Briefs/2012/BSEE---Coast-Guard-Sign-Memorandum-of-Understanding.aspx
July 1, 2013, 8:57 am
The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) Subcommittee met on June 11 and 12, 2013 to work on Task Statement 83, entitled ''Development of competency requirements to meet the provisions of Table A-III/2 of the Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (1978), as amended (STCW), for personnel working on small vessels with high horsepower.'' This meeting was open to the public.
Written comments to be distributed to working group members and placed on MERPAC's Web site are due by May 28, 2013.
ADDRESSES: The working group will meet at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Room 6103, 2100 Second St. SW., Washington, DC 20593.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Davis Breyer, Alternate Designated Federal Officer of MERPAC, telephone 202-372-1445. Davis.J.Breyer@uscg.mil.
July 1, 2013, 8:56 am
The Coast Guard announced Federal Register publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise regulations related to the design, certification, inspection, and testing of cranes. See attached.
Under the proposed rule, this revision would update industry standards incorporated by reference with more recent versions, which are used by industry and incorporated in Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations. The US Coast Guard proposes to revise regulations related to the design, certification, inspection, and testing of cranes installed on mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs), offshore supply vessels (OSVs), and floating outer continental shelf (OCS) facilities. Additionally, in this rulemaking the Coast Guard proposes to revise regulations by allowing use of additional third-party organizations to act in lieu of Coast Guard marine inspectors. Comments on the proposal should be submitted by 12 August. 78 Fed. Reg. 27913 (May 13, 2013).
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and related materials may be reviewed at http://www.regulations.gov
docket number: USCG-2011-0992.
For more information, please contact Mr. Ken Smith, CG-OES-2, Coast Guard at 202-372-1413; e-mail Ken.A.Smith@uscg.mil
July 1, 2013, 8:55 am
USCG - US vessel voluntary compliance with IEE
The US Coast Guard issued a notice stating that it published a Policy Letter providing guidance for voluntary compliance by US-flag vessels with MARPOL Annex VI International Energy Efficiency (IEE) requirements. Vessels to which MARPOL applies are required to obtain an IEE Certificate. The Coast Guard has not yet promulgated regulations implementing the IEE requirements. In the interim, owners and operators of US-flag vessels may voluntarily obtain IEE Certificates in accordance with the policy letter guidelines. 78 Fed. Reg. 27982 (May 13, 2013).
Purpose. This policy letter provides interim guidance to ensure compliance with reference (a) by U.S. vessels required to hold MARPOL Annex VI IEE certificates until reference (b) is revised to reflect U.S. implementation. This policy letter also provides guidance for foreign vessels calling on U.S. ports. Reference (a) revises MARPOL Annex VI to include a new Chapter 4 and implements the mandatory requirements for a new International Energy Efficiency (IEE) Certificate and Shipboard Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP).
Questions concerning this policy and guidance should be directed to COMDT (CG-CVC-1), Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance, at CG-CVC-1@uscg.mil
This policy and other Domestic Vessel Policy documents are posted on Homeport at http://homeport.uscg.mil/USvsls