[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 130 (Thursday, July 7, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44230-44231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16113]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
46 CFR Parts 1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15
[Docket No. USCG-2016-0611]
Policy for Credentialing Officers of Towing Vessels
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of Navigation and
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 03-16, Guidelines for Credentialing
Officers of Towing Vessels. This NVIC provides guidance to mariners
concerning regulations governing endorsements to Merchant Mariner
Credentials for service on towing vessels.
DATES: The policy announced in NVIC 03-16 is effective on July 7, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about NVIC 03-
16, call or email Luke B. Harden, Mariner Credentialing Program Policy
Division (CG-CVC-4), U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-2357, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Viewing Documents
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 03-16, Guidelines
for Credentialing Officers of Towing Vessels is available in the docket
for this notice of availability and can also be viewed by going to
http://www.uscg.mil/nmc and clicking on ``STCW,'' then click on ``2014
NVIC Updates.'' To view NVIC 03-16 in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2016-0611 in the ``Search'' box and
click ``Search.''
Discussion
On December 24, 2014, the Coast Guard published a final rule in the
Federal Register (78 FR 77796) amending Title 46, Code of Federal
Regulations, to implement the International Convention on Standards
[[Page 44231]]
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, as amended
1978 (STCW Convention), including the 2010 amendments to the STCW
Convention, and the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
Code. The rule also made changes to reorganize, clarify, and update
regulations for credentialing merchant mariners.
NVIC 03-16 describes policy for merchant mariners to qualify for
and renew endorsements to Merchant Mariner Credentials for service on
towing vessels. Notable provisions of this NVIC include:
1. Providing guidance on grandfathering provisions contained in the
rule published December 24, 2014 (78 FR 77796).
2. Revising the ``Frequently Asked Questions'' to include
discussion of the provisions of the new rule, and to include questions
that have arisen with regularity since publication of the predecessor
NVIC 04-01.
3. Revising the Towing Officer Assessment Records (TOARs) to
include guidance to Designated Examiners on how to perform assessment
of the tasks in the TOARs and to add certain tasks necessary to fully
assess the competence of candidates for endorsements. For example, the
task ``Maneuver through a bridge'' was added to the Near Coastal/Oceans
TOAR as this TOAR is for an endorsement that will be valid where
bridges are common.
4. Providing additional guidance on TOARs restricted to Local
Limited Areas.
5. Providing guidance on endorsements that will be restricted to
routes without locks and to service upon harbor-assist vessels or
Integrated Tug Barge (ITB) and Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) vessels.
Authority
This notice of availability is issued under the authority of 5
U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: June 30, 2016.
V.B. Gifford,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director, Inspection and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-16113 Filed 7-6-16; 8:45 am]
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