August 7, 2013, 10:22 am
"Alternate Design and Equipment Standard for Floating Offshore Installations (FOI) and Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) Units on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf"
After consultation with industry, facilitated by classification societies who have classed FOIs & FPSOs in the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG), has published CG-ENG Policy Letter No. 01-13, "Alternate Design and Equipment Standard for Floating Offshore Installations (FOI) and Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) Units on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf."
This 23 page policy letter can be found on the CG-ENG website http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg521/docs/CG-ENG.PolicyLetter.01-13.pdf
This policy letter establishes an alternative design and equipment standard to 33 CFR 143.120(b) for FOIs and FPSOs located on the U.S. OCS.
It only covers design and equipment and does not cover operational, manning and training requirements. Under this policy letter FOIs or FPSOs would not need to obtain an equivalent level of safety on a case by case basis, although that option would continue to remain available where appropriate.
August 7, 2013, 9:21 am
On December 3, 2012, the US Coast Guard (USCG) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register that recommended that owners and operators of foreign-flagged Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) that have not previously operated but intend to operate on the U.S. OCS voluntarily comply with Chapter 6 of the 2009 IMO MODU Code. Additionally, we advised that the USCG was considering issuing a rule that would implement Chapter 6 of the 2009 IMO MODU Code and that would be applicable to foreign-flagged MODUs that have never operated, but intend to operate, on the U.S. OCS.
The NPRM is now available on line at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2013-14951.pdf
The NPRM proposes to require 3rd-party testing & certification of electrical equipment in hazardous locations on certain vessels regardless of flag administration. The NPRM would also expand the USCG's list of acceptable national & international explosion protection standards for electrical equipment located within hazardous locations, and the proposal also adds the Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx System) as an accepted method for testing & certifying electrical equipment intended for use in hazardous locations.
The proposed applicability includes:
1. NEW U.S. MODUs, floating facilities, and vessels;
2. FOREIGN MODUs, floating facilities, and vessels that have NEVER operated on the U.S. OCS; and
3. It MAY be used by existing US MODUs, floating facilities, vessels, and tank vessels.
This would update requirements currently in CG regulations from the 1989 MODU Code.
For questions, please contact Commander Chris Marcy, USCG, Office of Design & Engineering Standards, Chief, Systems Engineering Division (CG-ENG-3), Tel: (202) 372-1375, Chris.K.Marcy@uscg.mil.
August 7, 2013, 9:21 am
On December 3, 2012, the US Coast Guard (USCG) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register that recommended that owners and operators of foreign-flagged Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) that have not previously operated but intend to operate on the U.S. OCS voluntarily comply with Chapter 6 of the 2009 IMO MODU Code. Additionally, we advised that the USCG was considering issuing a rule that would implement Chapter 6 of the 2009 IMO MODU Code and that would be applicable to foreign-flagged MODUs that have never operated, but intend to operate, on the U.S. OCS.
The NPRM is now available on line at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2013-14951.pdf
The NPRM proposes to require 3rd-party testing & certification of electrical equipment in hazardous locations on certain vessels regardless of flag administration. The NPRM would also expand the USCG's list of acceptable national & international explosion protection standards for electrical equipment located within hazardous locations, and the proposal also adds the Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx System) as an accepted method for testing & certifying electrical equipment intended for use in hazardous locations.
The proposed applicability includes:
1. NEW U.S. MODUs, floating facilities, and vessels;
2. FOREIGN MODUs, floating facilities, and vessels that have NEVER operated on the U.S. OCS; and
3. It MAY be used by existing US MODUs, floating facilities, vessels, and tank vessels.
This would update requirements currently in CG regulations from the 1989 MODU Code.
For questions, please contact Commander Chris Marcy, USCG, Office of Design & Engineering Standards, Chief, Systems Engineering Division (CG-ENG-3), Tel: (202) 372-1375, Chris.K.Marcy@uscg.mil.
August 7, 2013, 9:19 am
COAST GUARD TERMINATION OF ITS 2 MHZ DISTRESS WATCHKEEPING SERVICE
Effective 01 August, 2013, the U. S. Coast Guard will terminate its radio guard of the international voice distress, safety and calling frequency 2182 kHz and the international digital selective calling (DSC) distress and safety frequency 2187.5 kHz. Additionally, marine information and weather broadcasts transmitted on 2670 kHz will terminate concurrently.
The Coast Guard will continue to maintain a continuous watch on VHF FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz) and on existing voice and DSC frequencies in the 4/6/8/12 MHz bands as described in the Coast Guard Navigation Center website: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=cgcommsCall