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USCG: NOAA to Include Navigation Rules in U.S. Coast Pilot

03/06/2018

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have teamed up on a consolidated publication that will help mariners save time and money.

The Coast Guard Office of Navigation Systems and NOAA Office of Coast Survey will incorporate the amalgamated International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (72 COLREGS) and the Inland Navigation Rules into NOAA’s U.S. Coast Pilot publications.

Click here to access the Coast Pilot.

Click here to read the full press release.

USCG: CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-18 – Guidelines for Requesting Harmonization of Expiration Dates of Merchant Mariner Credentials and Mariner Medical Certificates When Applying for an Original or Renewal Merchant Mariner Credential

02/28/2018

This policy letter provides guidance for requesting a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) and Mariner Medical Certificate with harmonized expiration dates in accordance with the requirements of Section 304 of the 2015 Coast Guard Authorization Act (CGAA), Public Law No. 114-120. Regional Examination Centers (REC) will accept application packets with requests for harmonization of expiration dates.

Click here to download CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-18

USCG: CG-CVC Policy 17-02 (CH-1) Use of Existing Safety Management Systems to Obtain an Initial Certificate of Inspection Under 46 CFR Subchapter M Change 1

03/07/2018

The Coast Guard office of Commercial Vessel Compliance issued CG-CVC Policy Letter 17-02 (CH-1) Use of Existing Safety Management Systems to Obtain an Initial Certificate of Inspection Under 46 CFR Subchapter M

Refer to 6d on page 4:

For the purposes of issuance of a vessel’s initial COi, 46 CFR 138.115 states, “the owners or managing operators selecting the TSMS option must obtain a TSMS Certificate at least six months before obtaining a COi for any of their vessels covered by the TSMS certificate”. In lieu of meeting 46 CFR 138.115, a company may submit objective evidence to the Coast Guard that it and its vessels have been operating under an existing safety management system per 46 CFR 138.225, for a minimum of three years, as an equivalent level of safety, and will not be required to have a TSMS Certificate 6 months prior to the issuance of a vessel’s initial COi. This objective evidence includes, but is not limited to, external management audit reports covering a minimum of three years prior to the date of the issuance of a vessel’s initial COi. The company must possess a TSMS Certificate prior to the date of the issuance of a vessel’s initial COi, if this “3-year objective evidence” equivalency is used by the company.

Click here to download CG-CVC Policy Letter 17-02 (CH-1)