
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 22 (Friday, February 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 9215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02248]



[[Page 9215]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2016-1010]


Certificate of Alternative Compliance for the M/V TURTLE

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that the District Five Prevention 
Division (Dp) has issued a Certificate of Alternate Compliance (COAC) 
from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 
1972 (72 COLREGS) for the M/V TURTLE as required by statue. Due to the 
construction and placement of the pilothouse aft and starboard of 
amidships it cannot fully comply with the masthead light provisions of 
the 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's operations as an 
open deck vehicle ferry as there are no structures forward of amidships 
to affix a masthead light. This notice promotes the Coast Guard's 
maritime safety and stewardship missions.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in the preamble are part of docket USCG-
2016-1010. To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, type the docket number in the ``SEARCH'' box and 
click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associate 
with this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information or questions about 
this notice call or email: CDR Scott W. Muller, District Five, Chief, 
Inspections and Investigations, U.S. Coast Guard, telephone 757-398-
6389, email: Scott.W.Muller@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States is signatory to the 
International Maritime Organization's International Regulations for 
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), as amended. The 
special construction or purpose of some vessels makes them unable to 
comply with the light, shape, and sound signal provisions of the 72 
COLREGS. Under statutory law \1\ and Coast Guard regulation,\2\ a 
vessel may instead meet alternative requirements and the vessel's 
owner, builder, operator, or agent may apply for a COAC. For vessels of 
special construction, the cognizant Coast Guard District Office 
determines whether the vessel for which the COAC is sought complies as 
closely as possible with the 72 COLREGS, and decides whether to issue 
the COAC. Once issued, a COAC remains valid until information supplied 
in the COAC application or the COAC terms become inapplicable to the 
vessel. Under the governing statute \3\ and regulation,\4\ the Coast 
Guard must publish notice of this action.
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    \1\ 33 U.S.C. 1605(c).
    \2\ 33 CFR 81.3.
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    The Prevention Division, Fifth Coast Guard District hereby finds 
and certifies that M/V TURTLE is a vessel of special construction or 
purpose, and that, with respect to the position of the masthead light, 
it is not possible to comply fully with the requirements of the 
provisions enumerated in the 72 COLREGS, without interfering with the 
operations of the vessel as an open deck vehicle ferry. The Prevention 
Division, Fifth Coast Guard District, further finds and certifies that 
the proposed placement of the masthead light is in the closest possible 
compliance with the applicable provisions of the 72 COLREGS and that 
full compliance with the 72 COLREGS would not significantly enhance the 
safety of the vessel's operation.
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    \3\ 33 U.S.C. 1605(c).
    \4\ 33 CFR 81.18.
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    This notice is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 
CFR 81.

    Dated: January 24, 2017.
Capt. Jerry R. Barnes,
Chief, Prevention Division, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2017-02248 Filed 2-2-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


