19 Aug 2014

U.S. Coast Guard issues interim rule for offshore supply vesses of at least 6,000 GT ITC, effective immediately

By U.S. Coast Guard HQ Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday issued an interim rule regarding regulations to mitigate the risk created by the removal of the statutory size limit previously placed on offshore supply vessels. The regulations were effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register.

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 removed the statutory size limit previously placed on offshore supply vessels and required the Coast Guard to issue regulations to mitigate the risk created as a result, noting the need to ensure safe carriage of oil, hazardous substances and individuals other than crew on OSVs of at least 6,000 gross tonnage as measured under the Convention Measurement System.

Also, this rule will affect any vessel of at least 500 gross register tons as measured under the Regulatory Measurement System, if that vessel is not assigned a measurement under the Convention Measurement System and the owner desires to have the vessel certified as an OSV.

This interim rule may be found at: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/08/18/2014-18721/offshore-supply-vessels-of-at-least-6000-gt-itc.

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13 Aug 2014

U.S. Coast Guard issues final rule on vessel documentation renewal fees

By U.S. Coast Guard HQ Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard's final rule on vessel documentation renewal fees was published in the Federal Register Tuesday.

The Coast Guard is amending its regulations to separately list an annual fee for renewals of endorsements upon the Certificate of Documentation. The Coast Guard is required to establish user fees for services related to the documentation of vessels.

This final rule separately lists a fee of $26 to cover the current costs of the vessel documentation services provided by the Coast Guard. It will increase the annual Certificate of Documentation fee collections so that they more accurately reflect the actual costs to the Coast Guard of providing the documentation services.

The Coast Guard sets fees at an amount calculated to achieve recovery of the costs of providing the service. This is consistent with the user charges principles set forth in OMB Circular A-25. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (46 U.S.C. 2110) requires the Coast Guard to charge a fee for services but limits charges to no more than the overall cost of the program.

The fees will become effective 90 days after the rule is published.

The final rule may be found at  https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/08/12/2014-18999/vessel-documentation-renewal-fees.

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Date: Aug 12, 2014

U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters

Contact: Headquarters Public Affairs

Office: (202) 372-4632

Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.

02 Jul 2014

U.S. Coast Guard finalizes changes to the inland navigation rules and their annexes

By U.S. Coast Guard HQ Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard announced Wednesday the publication of the final rule finalizing changes to the inland navigation rules and their annexes in 33 Code of Federal Regulations parts 83 through 88.

This action aligns the Inland Navigation Rules in the Code of Federal Regulations with the amendments made by the International Maritime Organization to the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, to which the United States is a signatory. Also, the action incorporates recommendations made by the Navigation Safety Advisory Council.

The changes to the current rules will reduce regulatory burdens by adding more options for vessel lighting, alleviating bell requirements, explaining whistle equipment options and adding more options for navigational equipment. These changes also address the technological advancements of wing-in-ground craft and increase public awareness of the inland navigation requirements by reorganizing and making format changes.

The final rule can be found at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-07-02/pdf/2014-14413.pdf.

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Date: Jul 2, 2014

04 Jun 2014

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Zukunft to participate in 70th anniversary D-Day events in Normandy

By U.S. Coast Guard HQ Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – When the Allied Forces landed on Normandy Beach, the U.S. Coast Guard took part in the greatest amphibious operation the world had ever seen. On June 6, 1944, the Coast Guard joined the other U.S. military branches and Allied Forces in the operation code-named Overlord. The Coast Guard played an integral part in Operation Neptune, the code name given to Overlord's amphibious assault and naval gunfire support operations.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft is scheduled to join with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel this week in France for the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Adm. Zukunft assumed the duties of Coast Guard Commandant May 30, 2014.

A fact sheet about the Coast Guard and its participation in D-Day provides units, commands and statistics about the service's actions.

Read about the events of June 6, 1044, in "U.S. Coast Guard at Normandy" by Coast Guard historian Scott Price: http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/h_normandy.asp.

For tweets from Normandy, link to the Commandant's Twitter account: www.twitter.com/admzukunft

The Commandant's Instagram account, www.instagram.com/admzukunft, will feature photos from Adm. Zukunft's trip to Normandy.

For media interested in arranging interviews with Adm. Zukunft while he is in Normandy, please contact Lt. Cmdr. Matt Moorlag at Matthew.J.Moorlag@uscg.mil.

Some facts about the Coast Guard and D-Day:

  • At least 97 Coast Guard cutters and Coast Guard-manned Navy vessels participated in Operation Neptune.
  • More Coast Guard vessels were lost or damaged that day than at any time in its history. Destroyed in action were LCI(L)-85, 91, 92 and 93. The latter three were lost on Omaha Beach while the 85 sank offshore. Their burning wrecks served as navigation markers that day.
  • Fifteen Coast Guardsmen died in the invasion on D-Day. Most were crewmen from the LCIs and landing craft that participated in the Omaha Beach assault. Six of those who were killed in action are buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France.
  • Coast Guardsmen who participated were awarded one Navy Cross, 11 Silver Stars and one British Distinguished Service Cross.

 

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21 May 2014

Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger relieves Vice Adm. John Currier as vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard

By U.S. Coast Guard HQ Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger relieved Vice Adm. John Currier as Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard during a change of watch ceremony at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C., Tuesday.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp presided over the ceremony and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson attended.

"It has been my honor to serve our nation as the vice commandant," said Currier. "Thanks to all of my shipmates in this great organization and semper paratus."

The change-of-watch ceremony is a time-honored event preserved by rich heritage of naval tradition. It is a formal custom that is designed to strengthen the respect of authority, which is vital to any military organization.

The ceremony marked the completion of a distinguished military career that began at Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, Va., in 1976. He was designated a naval aviator in 1977 and an aeronautical engineer in 1982. Currier served at six Coast Guard Air Stations throughout his career, highlighted by command of Air Stations Detroit and Miami. Subsequently, he was assigned as Pacific Area Chief of Operations then Pacific Area chief of staff. Currier was promoted to flag rank in 2005. He then served as Assistant Commandant for Acquisition at Coast Guard Headquarters, then as commander of the 13th District. He assumed the duties of the Coast Guard's chief of staff in 2009, later transitioning to the service's first Deputy Commandant for Mission Support. Following the ceremony, Currier formally retired from the Coast Guard after nearly 38 years of service.

"Vice Admiral Currier has served our nation with distinction for nearly 38 years and the Coast Guard is safer, more proficient and more capable due to his exceptional leadership," said Neffenger.  "I am truly humbled to follow his impeccable service as vice commandant. I wish him fair winds and following seas."

Neffenger became the 29th vice commandant of the Coast Guard after serving as the Deputy Commandant for Operations, responsible for establishing and providing operational strategy, policy, guidance and resources as needed to meet national priorities for Coast Guard missions, programs and services. He was commissioned in 1982 at Officer Candidate School. Neffenger commanded Sector Los Angeles - Long Beach, Calif.; served as a fellow to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee; as the Coast Guard liaison officer to the Territory of American Samoa; as an engineer on the Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin;  and as chief of the Office of Budget and Programs at Coast Guard Headquarters. As a flag officer, Neffenger served as director of the Strategic Management Directorate, was the Deputy National Incident Commander for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the largest and most complex oil spill in the nation's history and as commander of the 9th District, where he oversaw Coast Guard operations throughout the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway region.

For imagery of the ceremony, please go to https://www.dvidshub.net/.

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14 May 2014

U.S. Coast Guard releases 2013 Recreational Boating Statistics Report

By U.S. Coast Guard HQ Public Affairs

WASHINGTON ? The U.S. Coast Guard released its 2013 Recreational Boating Statistics Wednesday, revealing that boating fatalities that year totaled 560 ? the lowest number of boating fatalities on record.

From 2012 to 2013, deaths in boating-related accidents decreased 14 percent, from 651 to 560, and injuries decreased from 3,000 to 2,620, a 12.7 percent reduction. The total reported recreational boating accidents decreased from 4,515 to 4,062, a 10 percent decrease.

The fatality rate for 2013 of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reflected a 13 percent decrease from the previous year's rate of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Property damage totaled approximately $39 million.

"We are pleased that there have been fewer accidents on waterways in recent years and thank our partners for their work," said Capt. Jon Burton, director of inspections and compliance at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. "Together we will continue to stress the importance of life jacket use, boating education courses and sober boating."

The report states alcohol use was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 17 percent of deaths. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed and machinery failure ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

Where the cause of death was known, 77 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned; of those drowning victims, 84 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Where boating instruction was known, 20 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received boating safety instruction. The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats.

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to boat responsibly while on the water: wear a life jacket, take a boating safety course, get a free vessel safety check and avoid alcohol consumption.

To view the 2013 Recreational Boating Statistics, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/AssetManager/2013RecBoatingStats.pdf. For more information on boating responsibly, to go the Boating Safety Resource Center at http://www.uscgboating.org.

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Date: May 14, 2014

U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters

Contact: Headquarters Public Affairs

Office: (202) 372-4620

Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.

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