
[Federal Register: March 23, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 55)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 13715]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23mr10-32]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 10, 11, 12, and 15

[Docket No. USCG-2004-17914]
RIN 1625-AA16

 
Implementation of the 1995 Amendments to the International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers, 1978

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; next stage.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that it is revisiting the approach 
proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the 
Implementation of the 1995 Amendments to the International Convention 
on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 
1978, as published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2009.

DATES: The Coast Guard published its NPRM on the Implementation of the 
1995 Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of 
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, in the 
Federal Register on November 17, 2009 (74 FR 59354). Comments on the 
NPRM were due by February 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this rulemaking is available for inspection 
or copying at the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this 
docket on the Internet by going to http://www.regulations.gov, 
inserting USCG-2004-17914 in the ``Keyword'' box, and then clicking 
``Search.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
document, call or e-mail Mayte Medina, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 202-
372-1406, e-mail Mayte.Medina2@uscg.mil. If you have questions on 
viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, 
Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    The United States ratified the International Convention on 
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 
1978 (STCW Convention), on June 10, 1991. On November 17, 2009, the 
Coast Guard published a NPRM on the Implementation of the 1995 
Amendments to the STCW Convention. The Coast Guard held five public 
meetings and received a large number of comments to the rulemaking 
docket in response to the NPRM.
    The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is currently 
developing amendments to the STCW Convention that are expected to be 
adopted at a diplomatic conference in June 2010. If adopted, these 
amendments will change the minimum training requirements for seafarers. 
They are expected to enter into force in accordance with Article XII of 
the Convention on January 1, 2012 for all countries that are party to 
the STCW Convention.
    In response to feedback we have received and to the expected 
adoption of the 2010 amendments to the Convention under development at 
the IMO, the Coast Guard is reviewing the approach outlined in the 
NPRM. As such, we are considering publishing a Supplemental NPRM 
(SNPRM) as a next step. The SNPRM would describe any proposed changes 
from the NPRM, and seek comments from the public on those proposed 
changes.
    This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: March 17, 2010.
F.J. Sturm,
Deputy Director, Office of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. 
Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2010-6297 Filed 3-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

