99-8024. Safety of Uninspected Passenger Vessels Under the Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 1993 (PVSA)  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 1999)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 15709-15711]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-8024]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    Coast Guard
    
    33 CFR Parts 175, 177, 179, 181, and 183
    
    46 CFR Parts 10, 15, 24, 25, 26, 28, 70, 169, and 175
    
    [USCG-1999-5040]
    RIN 2115-AF69
    
    
    Safety of Uninspected Passenger Vessels Under the Passenger 
    Vessel Safety Act of 1993 (PVSA)
    
    AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will propose regulations that implement safety 
    measures for uninspected passenger vessels under the Passenger Vessel 
    Safety Act of 1993 (PVSA). These regulations will implement the new 
    class of uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 gross tons, 
    address the confusion regarding bareboat charters, provide for the 
    issuance of special permits to certain uninspected passenger vessels, 
    and develop specific manning, structural fire protection, operating, 
    and equipment requirements for a limited fleet of PVSA exempted 
    vessels. To obtain information needed to develop appropriate rules, the 
    Coast Guard asks for comments from the public on the questions listed 
    in this document.
    
    DATES: Comments must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before 
    June 30, 1999.
    
    ADDRESSES: You may mail your comments to the Docket Management 
    Facility, (USCG-1999-5040), 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 
    Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    
    [[Page 15710]]
    
        The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
    rulemaking. Comments and documents, as indicated in this preamble, 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://www.dms.gov.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, contact 
    Lieutenant Keith B. Janssen, Office of Operating and Environmental 
    Standards, (G-MSO-2), U.S. Coast Guard, telephone 202-267-1055. For 
    questions on viewing, or submitting material to, the docket, contact 
    Dorothy Walker, Chief, Documentary Services Division, Department of 
    Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Request for Comments
    
        The Coast Guard encourages you to participate in this rulemaking by 
    submitting written data, views, or arguments. Persons submitting 
    comments should include their names and addresses, identify this 
    rulemaking (USCG-1999-5040) and the specific section of this document 
    to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. 
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the comment 
    period. 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 acknowledgment of receipt of comments 
    should enclose stamped self-addressed postcards or envelopes.
        The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. You may request a public 
    hearing by writing to the Docket Management Facility at the address 
    under ADDRESSES. The request should include the reasons why a hearing 
    would be beneficial. If it determines that the opportunity for oral 
    presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a 
    public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the 
    Federal Register.
    
    Background and Purpose
    
        The Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 1993 (PVSA) (Pub. L. 103-206) 
    was signed on December 20, 1993. The PVSA makes several changes to the 
    laws for uninspected passenger vessels. First, the PVSA requires 
    vessels less than 100 gross tons to be inspected as a small passenger 
    vessel if they are:
         Carrying more than 6 passengers, at least one of whom is a 
    passenger for hire, whether chartered or not;
         Carrying more than 6 passengers when chartered with the 
    crew provided or specified; or
         Carrying more than 12 passengers when chartered with no 
    crew provided.
        Second, the PVSA establishes a new class of uninspected passenger 
    vessel of at least 100 gross tons. This new class of uninspected 
    passenger vessel is limited to:
         Carrying no more than 12 passengers, at least one of whom 
    is a passenger for hire, whether chartered or not;
         Carrying no more than 12 passengers when chartered with 
    the crew provided or specified; or
         Carrying no more than 12 passengers when chartered with no 
    crew provided.
        Uninspected passenger vessels, greater than 100 gross tons, that 
    carry more than 12 passengers for hire are to be inspected as a 
    passenger vessel under 46 CFR Subchapter H.
        Third, the PVSA requires the Coast Guard to develop equipment, 
    construction, and operating standards for uninspected passenger vessels 
    greater than 100 gross tons.
        Fourth, the PVSA allows the Coast Guard to develop regulations for 
    special permits that allow the operation of uninspected passenger 
    vessels as authorized in section 511 of the PVSA. These special 
    circumstances and conditions were described in Senate Report 103-198 
    and include among other items that:
         Special permits for uninspected passenger vessels will 
    only be issued for charitable purposes;
         That a certain vessel may only be granted a special permit 
    a maximum of four times per year; and
         That an application for a special permit must be made to 
    and approved by the cognizant Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection 
    prior to the voyage.
        Fifth, and finally, the PVSA eliminates confusion regarding the use 
    of bareboat charter agreements for the carriage of passengers for hire. 
    The previous statutory definition of 'passenger' did not limit a vessel 
    from having an unlimited number of charterers (owners). Therefore, 
    vessels that were not certificated by the Coast Guard were able to 
    carry large numbers of people. The PVSA's narrow definition of 
    `passenger' subjected some formerly chartered vessels to Coast Guard 
    inspection for certification for the first time. The PVSA allowed these 
    vessels to apply for inspection with a phase-in period for compliance. 
    The period for application expired June 21, 1994, and the period for 
    compliance expired on December 21, 1996. With widespread public 
    notification, several hundred charter vessels applied for and met the 
    conditions for certification with the requirements of the PVSA and 
    policy guidance of Navigation and Inspection Circular (NVIC) 7-94. This 
    NVIC is available on the Internet at www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/
    index90.htm. Additionally, the PVSA authorizes the Coast Guard to 
    develop specific operating and equipment requirements for 16 charter 
    vessels greater than 100 gross tons that met exemption criteria 
    contained in the PVSA and NVIC 7-94.
        The Coast Guard plans to develop regulations that will implement 
    the new class of uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 gross 
    tons, address the confusion regarding bareboat charters, provide for 
    the issuance of special permits to certain uninspected passenger 
    vessels, and develop specific operating and equipment requirements for 
    a limited fleet of PVSA exempted vessels.
    
    Assistance for Small Entities
    
        In accordance with section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory 
    Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), the Coast Guard 
    wants to assist small entities in understanding this notice so that 
    they can better evaluate the effects of any future rule on them and 
    participate in the rulemaking process. If your small business or 
    organization is affected by the PVSA and you have questions concerning 
    its provisions or options for compliance, please contact Lieutenant 
    Keith B. Janssen, Office of Operating and Environmental Standards, (G-
    MSO-2), U.S. Coast Guard, telephone 202-267-1055.
    
    Questions
    
        The Coast Guard asks the public for input on the issues discussed 
    in this document. To help develop a proposed rule, the Coast Guard 
    requests comments on the following questions, although comments on 
    other issues addressed in this document are also welcome. When 
    responding to questions, please explain your reasons for each answer 
    and follow the instructions located under REQUEST FOR COMMENTS.
    
    Questions 1 through 16 refer to uninspected passenger vessels of at 
    least 100 gross tons
    
        (1) The Coast Guard is seeking information regarding the size of 
    the fleet of uninspected passenger vessels of
    
    [[Page 15711]]
    
    at least 100 gross tons. Therefore, the Coast Guard requests 
    information regarding the total number of this type of vessel at port, 
    regional, and national levels.
        (2) At which ports are these vessels located? Do these vessels 
    operate out of some specific port all year? If not, from which 
    additional port(s) do they operate? Please identify some specific 
    port(s) rather than a region. That helps the Coast Guard identify any 
    port(s) with a large population of this class of vessel. Please 
    indicate what percentage of the year these vessels are in each 
    location.
        (3) What type of safety equipment do these vessels ordinarily 
    carry? What type of safety equipment, at a minimum, should the Coast 
    Guard require these vessels to carry? Examples of safety equipment 
    include, but are not limited to: Type I personal flotation devices; 
    ring life buoys; life rafts; auxiliary vessels; emergency position 
    indicating radio beacon (EPIRB); high water alarms; fire and smoke 
    alarms/detectors; and other fire fighting equipment or systems. What 
    standard(s) should the safety equipment meet? Examples of existing 
    standards for safety equipment include, but are not limited to: 
    American Yacht and Boat Council (AYBC); National Fire Protection 
    Association (NFPA); or American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
        (4) What generally accepted construction standard(s) should these 
    vessels meet? Examples of generally accepted construction standards 
    include, but are not limited to: AYBC, NFPA, or ABS. Do any 
    applications or systems on these vessels currently meet generally 
    accepted standards? Which generally accepted standards normally apply 
    to which application or systems? Examples of applications and systems 
    include, but are not limited to: lifesaving equipment, heating/cooling 
    facilities, marine sanitation devices, structural fire-protection 
    devices, and electrical wiring.
        (5) Do owners, operators, or charter brokers require a minimum 
    level of licensing and experience for a vessel operator? If so, what 
    are those requirements? What licensing requirements should the Coast 
    Guard require for operators of uninspected passenger vessels of at 
    least 100 gross tons?
        (6) How many businesses operate a full-time or part-time charter or 
    passenger-for-hire service operation for this type of vessel? What 
    portion of these businesses employ less than 500 people?
        (7) Are these vessels operated in passenger-for-hire service on a 
    full-time or part-time basis? How often are these vessels used in 
    personal or recreational service compared to the time these same 
    vessels are used in passenger-for-hire service? Please indicate the 
    time on an annual basis by days.
        (8) What are current, advertised daily or weekly charter rates for 
    this class of vessel? What are current, advertised daily or weekly 
    passenger-for-hire service rates for this class of vessel? How will the 
    implementation of the PVSA impact charter or passenger-for-hire service 
    rates?
        (9) How many days per year do these vessels currently operate in 
    charter or passenger-for-hire service? How will the implementation of 
    the PVSA impact the number of days per year that these vessels operate 
    in charter or passenger-for-hire service?
        (10) On average, how many hours per day do these vessels spend 
    underway with at least one passenger for hire aboard?
        (11) Are these vessels underway in the passenger-for-hire service 
    more than 12 hours during a 24-hour period? If so, is this 
    representative of normal operations or the occasional voyage? If 
    possible, please identify the annual breakdown of passenger-for-hire 
    service voyages less than and more than 12 hours duration in a 24-hour 
    period. Please indicate this information by percentage.
        (12) On which route(s) do these vessels operate routinely? On which 
    route(s) do these vessels operate occasionally? Do traditional routes 
    exist? If so, where?
        (13) Are the majority of voyage itineraries for these vessels 
    individually (custom) planned or are they regularly scheduled?
        (14) What is the percentage breakdown between domestic and 
    international voyages? Please indicate percentages on an annual basis.
        (15) What are the major areas of concern regarding the impact that 
    the implementation of the PVSA might have on the vessel fleet? Are 
    there any generally recognized problems within the vessel fleet that 
    should be addressed by regulation?
        (16) What are other general areas of concern regarding possible 
    regulatory action to implement the PVSA?
    
    Question 17 refers to any uninspected passenger vessel
    
        The PVSA allows the Coast Guard to develop regulations for special 
    permits that allow the operation of uninspected passenger vessels as 
    authorized in section 511 of the PVSA. These special circumstances and 
    conditions were described in Senate Report 103-198 and include among 
    other items that:
         Special permits for uninspected passenger vessels will 
    only be issued for charitable purposes;
         That a certain vessel may only be granted a special permit 
    a maximum of four times per year; and
         That an application for a special permit must be made to 
    and approved by the cognizant Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection 
    prior to the voyage.
        (17) Based on this criteria, should the Coast Guard develop 
    regulations to allow a special permit for uninspected passenger 
    vessels? Please identify the reason(s) for your answer(s).
    
        Dated: March 26, 1999.
    R.C. North,
    Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
    [FR Doc. 99-8024 Filed 3-31-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-15-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
04/01/1999
Department:
Coast Guard
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
Document Number:
99-8024
Dates:
Comments must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before June 30, 1999.
Pages:
15709-15711 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
USCG-1999-5040
RINs:
2115-AF69: Safety of Uninspected Passenger Vessels Under the Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 1993 (USCG-1999-5040)
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2115-AF69/safety-of-uninspected-passenger-vessels-under-the-passenger-vessel-safety-act-of-1993-uscg-1999-5040
PDF File:
99-8024.pdf
CFR: (14)
33 CFR 175
33 CFR 177
33 CFR 179
33 CFR 181
33 CFR 183
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