[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62434-62435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25128]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 104
46 CFR Parts 10, 11, 12, and 15
[Docket No. USCG-2012-0917]
Policy Letters on the International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of three policy
letters providing guidance to vessels and mariners subject to the
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW). These letters
provide guidance on: The hours of rest requirements of the 2010
amendments to the STCW Convention and Code; issuance of endorsements
and approval of training for Vessel Personnel with Designated Security
Duties (VPDSD) and vessel personnel
[[Page 62435]]
requiring security awareness training; and issuance of other
endorsements and approval of other training to meet the 2010
amendments. These letters are necessary to provide guidance to affected
parties until regulations implementing amendments to the STCW are
promulgated.
DATES: The three letters are available for viewing beginning October
15, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The policy letters are available for viewing on the Coast
Guard's National Maritime Center Web site at http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/.
The docket for this notice is available for inspection or copying
at the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this
docket on the Internet by going to http://www.regulations.gov,
inserting USCG-2012-0917 in the ``Keyword'' box, and then clicking
``Search.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice,
call or email the U.S. Coast Guard, Mariner Credentialing Program
Policy Division (CG-CVC-4) at (202) 372-2357 or [email protected]. If
you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket,
call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone
202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
In 2007, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) embarked on
a comprehensive review of the entire STCW Convention and STCW Code. The
Parties adopted amendments on June 25, 2010 at the STCW Diplomatic
Conference in Manila, Philippines, and the amendments entered into
force for all ratifying countries on January 1, 2012.
The STCW Convention is not self-implementing; therefore, the U.S.,
as a signatory to the Convention, must initiate regulatory changes to
ensure full implementation of the amendments to the STCW Convention and
STCW Code. The U.S. implements these provisions under the Convention
and under the authority of United States domestic laws in United States
Code Titles 5, 14, 33, 46, and pursuant to 46 CFR, Chapter I,
Subchapter B.
The Coast Guard published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (SNPRM) on August 1, 2011 (76 FR 45908), proposing changes
to implement the STCW Convention and Code, to address the comments
received from the public in response to the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking published on November 17, 2009 (74 FR 59354), and to
incorporate the 2010 amendments to the STCW Convention that came into
force on January 1, 2012. The public comment period for the SNPRM ended
on September 30, 2011. The Coast Guard intends to publish a final rule
to implement amendments to the STCW, including the 2010 amendments, and
ensure that the U.S. is meeting its obligations under the Convention.
Description of Policy Letters
The following three policy letters provide guidance to parties
affected by STCW:
1. Hours of Rest
This policy letter provides guidance to clarify the changes
associated with the hours of rest requirements found within the 2010
amendments to the STCW Convention and Code. This policy will provide
information on the changes to the hours of rest requirements that are
now being monitored internationally. It also provides recommended
methods to lessen the port state control impact on U.S. vessels while
operating abroad until the Coast Guard promulgates the final rule
implementing STCW.
2. Security Endorsements
This policy letter provides guidance on the issuance of
endorsements and approval of training for Vessel Personnel with
Designated Security Duties and vessel personnel requiring security
awareness training under the 2010 amendments to the STCW Convention and
Code. The IMO has provided an alternative means of compliance until
January 1, 2014, and the Coast Guard has determined that the
requirements in 33 CFR 104.220 and 104.225 can be used to comply with
the 2010 amendments under this alternative. Endorsements will be issued
based upon the documentary evidence that an individual has complied
with existing regulations.
3. Issuing Endorsements and Approving Training
This policy letter provides guidance on issuance of endorsements
other than the security endorsements discussed above, and approval of
other related training to meet the 2010 amendments to the STCW
Convention and Code. The guidance in this document is intended to
assist industry and individual mariners to meet the requirements of
STCW and 46 CFR, Chapter I, Subchapter B. This policy provides methods
for issuing STCW endorsements established by the 2010 amendments that
may be obtained by meeting current domestic requirements. In addition
to the information regarding the STCW endorsements, the policy letter
announces that the Coast Guard will consider granting approval of
training to meet various provisions of the 2010 amendments.
This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and United
States Code Titles 5, 14, 33, 46.
Dated: September 28, 2012.
Paul F. Thomas,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Inspections and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2012-25128 Filed 10-12-12; 8:45 am]
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