[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 134 (Friday, July 14, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32488-32489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14738]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
46 CFR Chapter I
[Docket No. USCG-2016-0669]
Marine Safety Manual, Volume III, Parts B and C, Change-2
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Availability of updated Marine Safety Manual.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of Change-2 to the
Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Volume III, Marine Industry Personnel, and
the corresponding Commandant Change Notice that highlights the changes
made to that manual. MSM Volume III provides information and
interpretations on international conventions and U.S. statutory and
regulatory issues relating to marine industry personnel. This
Commandant Change Notice discusses the substantive changes to Parts B
and C of MSM Volume III. All changes are underlined in the final
version and each changed page is annotated with CH-2 in the footer. The
date of each change since
[[Page 32489]]
1999 is shown in parentheses at the end of the subsection/paragraph
titles within the text of each Part as well as at the end of each NOTE.
Part A will be reviewed and revised as part of a separate initiative.
DATES: Unless specifically stated otherwise, Change-2 to Marine Safety
Manual, Volume III, Marine Industry Personnel, COMDTINST M16000.8B is
in effect as of July 14, 2017.
ADDRESSES: To view the documents mentioned in this document, go to the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov and use
``USCG-2016-0669'' as your search term.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document
call or email Lieutenant Commander Corydon Heard, U.S. Coast Guard;
telephone 409-978-2704, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you discover a discrepancy between the
manning or endorsements specified by the Certificate of Inspection/Safe
Manning Documentation (COI/SMD) and the provisions of the MSM, Volume
III, bring it to the attention of the OCMI with a view toward aligning
with the revised MSM III. Documents discussed in this document should
be available in the online docket within three business days of this
publication. There will be no hardcopy distribution of this change.
This change has been incorporated into the electronic copy of the
manual available on the INTERNET at http://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-C4IT-CG-6-/The-Office-of-Information-Management-CG-61/aboutCGDS/cim/smdpage2823/4/.
Background and Purpose
Volume III of the Marine Safety Manual (MSM) provides information
and interpretations on international conventions and U.S. statutes and
regulations relating to marine industry personnel. The last updates to
Volume III of the MSM were released on July 30, 2014 (79 FR 45451, Aug.
5, 2014). The Coast Guard published a notice in the Federal Register
announcing the availability of a draft Change-2 and requested public
comments (See 81 FR 46042). This document announces updates portions of
Part B and C.
Specifically, substantive changes include: (1) Updated guidance to
align with the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act
of 2014; (2) manning scales for towing vessels certificated under
Subchapter M from recently published Inspection of Towing Vessels final
rule (81 FR 40003, June 20, 2016); and (3) various policy updates
impacting vessel manning. Further, all manning scales throughout Part B
Chapters 2, 4, 6 and 7 are presented in a new standard format.
Additionally, a Suggested Safe Manning Proposal Template, Coast Guard
Work Instruction, Master's Field Guide, and Verification Check-sheet
have been added to the Annex. These are intended to aid Coast Guard
personnel as well as owners/operators, masters and persons in charge of
U.S. vessels, respectively.
We received 10 public comment responses to the July 15, 2016
Federal Register document. These comment responses contained a total of
approximately 31 specific recommendations, suggestions and other
comments. We have created a change matrix that provides a summary of
each comment and the corresponding Coast Guard response, as well as
Coast Guard changes. A copy of this change matrix is available for
viewing in the public docket for this notice. For more detailed
information, please consult the actual public comment letters in the
docket. You may access the docket going to http://www.regulations.gov,
using ``USCG-2016-0669'' as your search term, and following the
instructions in the ADDRESSES section above.
Some commenters included a DOT mailing address in their comments.
The Coast Guard no longer receives mail at the DOT Docket Management
Facility. Each Coast Guard notice soliciting public comment includes
instructions on how to comment on the online docket at
www.regulations.gov, and what to do if commenters are unable to submit
comments online.
The basic ideas and principles encompassed in the initial and
supplemental drafts remain. Some commenters proposed revisions to the
MSM or requested additional clarification. In response to these
comments, the Coast Guard has made some additional revisions. The Coast
Guard notes, however, that the MSM (and any revisions made to the MSM)
reflect current law and regulation and are intended to provide guidance
and information to marine industry personnel. For an in-depth
discussion of the individual comments submitted, please visit the
docket for this notice to view submitted comments and the change
matrix.
It should be noted that Change-2 is not intended to preempt or take
the place of separate policy initiatives regarding specific decisions
on appeal or future regulations. Future changes to the MSM may be
released if the Coast Guard promulgates new regulations or issues
appeal decisions, which may affect the guidance and information
contained within the MSM.
This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: July 5, 2017.
Paul F. Thomas,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-14738 Filed 7-13-17; 8:45 am]
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