USCG publishes supplemental NPR on STCW implementation

The U.S. Coast Guard today announced the publication in the Federal Register of a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on implementation of the 1995 Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978, and changes to domestic endorsements.

The Coast Guard says that the proposed rule enhances maritime safety by ensuring U.S. mariners meet the standards laid out in the STCW Convention, including amendments adopted in June 2010. It also increases transparency by reorganizing, clarifying, and updating regulations regarding domestic endorsements.

“This proposed rule is a key step in our efforts to update and clarify the requirements of both the U.S. and STCW Convention, and to implement the 2010 amendments to the Convention,” said Jeffrey Lantz, director of Commercial Regulations and Standards. “Compliance with these regulations will allow mariners to become qualified in accordance with the STCW and able to find employment on vessels engaged in coastwise and foreign trade.”

The supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking revises the notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on Nov. 17, 2009, addresses comments received in response to the November 2009 proposed rule, and incorporates provisions from the 2010 STCW amendments.

The Coast Guard encourages public comment on the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking. Comments and related material must either be submitted to the online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before Sept. 30, 2011, or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.

The published supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking and related materials may be reviewed online at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number: USCG-2004-17914.

August 1, 2011