[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1648-1649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-535]
[[Page 1648]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[USCG-1998-4951]
Cargo Securing on Vessels Operating in U.S. Waters
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will hold a public meeting to discuss
potential cargo securing standards for vessels operating in U.S. waters
carrying general cargo and hazardous materials while engaged in
international and U.S. domestic coastwise trade. Potential standards
would reduce the risk of serious injury or death, vessel loss, property
damage, and environmental damage caused by improperly secured cargo
aboard a vessel. The Coast Guard encourages interested parties to
attend the meeting and submit comments for discussion during the
meeting. In addition, the Coast Guard seeks written comments from any
party who is unable to attend the meeting.
DATES: The Coast Guard will hold this public meeting on February 3,
1999, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. This meeting may close early if all
business is finished. Written material for discussion during the
meeting should reach the Docket Management Facility on or before
January 29, 1999. Other written comments must reach the Docket
Management Facility on or before February 28, 1999.
ADDRESSES: The Coast Guard will hold this public meeting at the U.S.
Coast Guard Headquarters Transpoint Building, room 2415, 2100 Second
Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. The telephone number is 202-267-
1181. You may mail your comments to the Docket Management Facility
(USCG-1998-4951), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to room
PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at the same address
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for Federal
holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this
notice. Comments, and documents as indicated in this notice, will
become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or
copying at room PL-401, on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at
the same address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. You may also access this docket on the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For questions on this notice, contact Mr. Bob Gauvin, Project Manager,
Vessel and Facility Operating Standards Division (G-MSO-2), Coast
Guard, telephone 202-267-1053. For questions on viewing, or submitting
material to the docket, contact Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets,
Department of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Requests for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written
data, views, or arguments. Persons submitting comments should include
their names and addresses, identify this notice (USCG-1998-4951), and
give the reason for each comment. Please submit all comments and
attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches,
suitable for copying and electronic filing to the Docket Management
Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting
acknowledgement of receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-
addressed postcards or envelopes.
The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the
comment period.
Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities
For information on facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact
Mr. Bob Gauvin at the address or phone number under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible.
Background Information
Several maritime incidents during the early 1990's underscored the
risk of serious injury or death, vessel loss, property damage, and
environmental damage caused by improperly secured cargo abroad vessels.
The most well-known incident occurred off the New Jersey coast in early
1992. The incident involved the M/V SANTA CLARA I, which lost 21
containers overboard, including 4 containers of the hazardous material
arsenic trioxide.
The Coast Guard convened a Board of Inquiry to investigate the M/V
SANTA CLARA I incident. The Board found that the incident was caused by
cargo securing failures in connection with bad weather and human error.
Based on its findings, the Board recommended adopting the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) voluntary guidelines on cargo securing
manuals as regulations in the International Convention for the Safety
of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). The Commandant approved the Board's
recommendation. With the support of other IMO member governments, the
U.S. led a proposal to include new requirements for cargo securing
manuals in SOLAS. These requirements were adopted as part of the 1994
amendments to SOLAS. These requirements are located in SOLAS Chapters
VI/5.6 and VII/6.6.
Under SOLAS, all cargo vessels engaged in international trade and
equipped with a cargo securing system or an individual securing
arrangement must have an approved cargo securing manual on board by
December 31, 1997. The vessel's flag state administration must approve
the cargo securing manual. Under SOLAS and Title 46, Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) 90.05-10, these requirements for a cargo securing
manual apply to all U.S. flag cargo vessels of 500 gross tons or more,
engaged in international trade. Vessel types affected include general
cargo vessels, cellular containerships, roll-on/roll-off vessels,
passenger/cargo vessels, supply vessels, bulk vessels capable of
carrying non-bulk cargo, heavy lift ships, freight ships carrying
packaged or break-bulk cargoes, and other similar vessels. Any vessel
engaged solely in the carriage of bulk solids or liquid cargo is exempt
from the requirements for a cargo securing manual.
Approved cargo securing manuals must provide up-to-date information
and guidance to assist a vessel's master and crew regarding the proper
use of the equipment available to adequately stow and secure the
vessel's cargo.
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 10-97 (NVIC 10-97),
``Guidelines for Cargo Securing Manual Approval'', provides interim
guidance for U.S. flag vessel compliance with the SOLAS requirements
for a cargo securing manual. The NVIC includes interim cargo securing
manual submittal, review, approval, and appeal procedures. A copy of
the NVIC is available in the public docket or in the Internet at http:/
/www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/.
Problems with cargo securing are not limited to vessels engaged in
international trade. There have been a number of cargo-related marine
casualties (such as loss overboard of containerized hazardous material)
involving U.S. flag vessels engaged in U.S. domestic coastwise trade.
The majority of domestic marine casualties were caused by poor cargo
securing methods, inadequate equipment, and poor planning and
management of cargo
[[Page 1649]]
securing personnel. Because of this trend and the resulting risk to the
public and the environment, the Coast Guard is considering the need for
cargo securing requirements for U.S. vessels engaged in U.S. domestic
coastwise trade.
Public Meeting
This meeting is open to the public. Please note that the meeting
may close early if all business is finished. Members of the public may
make oral presentations during the meeting. If you would like to make
an oral presentation at the meeting, please notify the Coast Guard
point of contact listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later
than January 29, 1999.
The Coast Guard will begin the public meeting with a brief
presentation discussing the primary causes and contributing factors of
cargo-related marine casualties occurring in U.S. waters during the
last 5 years. The presentation will highlight the need to comply with
and enforce applicable SOLAS regulations for vessels engaged in
international trade, and explore potential standards for vessels
engaged in U.S. domestic coastwise trade.
Dated: January 5, 1999.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Envionmental
Protection.
[FR Doc 99-535 Filed 1-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M
