Notice2021-18956
Guidance: Change 2 to NVIC 02-18 Guidelines on Qualification for STCW Endorsements as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT
Primary source
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Published
September 2, 2021
Effective
August 26, 2021
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard announces the availability of change 2 to Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-18, Guidelines on Qualification for STCW Endorsements as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT. This NVIC provides guidance to mariners concerning regulations governing endorsements to Merchant Mariner Credentials for service on vessels of less than 500 Gross Tons (GT) (i.e., not limited to near-coastal waters). This change notice revises NVIC 02-18 to indicate that the Coast Guard will not enforce the 3 month maximum allowable substitution for credible sea service in a rating capacity.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 168 (Thursday, September 2, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 168 (Thursday, September 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49340-49341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18956]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2021-0407]
Guidance: Change 2 to NVIC 02-18 Guidelines on Qualification for
STCW Endorsements as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of
Vessels of Less Than 500 GT
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of change 2 to
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-18, Guidelines on
Qualification for STCW Endorsements as Officer in Charge of a
Navigational Watch of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT. This NVIC provides
guidance to mariners concerning regulations governing endorsements to
Merchant Mariner Credentials for service on vessels of less than 500
Gross Tons (GT) (i.e., not limited to near-coastal waters). This change
notice revises NVIC 02-18 to indicate that the Coast Guard will not
enforce the 3 month maximum allowable substitution for credible sea
service in a rating capacity.
DATES: The policies announced in Change-2 to NVIC 02-18 are effective
as of August 26, 2021.
ADDRESSES: To view documents and CH-2 NVIC 02-18 mentioned in this
notice, search the docket number USCG-2021-0407 using the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document,
contact the James Cavo, Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division
(CG-MMC-2), Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1205; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e0adada3b08f8c898399a095938387ce8d898c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ade0e0eefdc2c1c4ced4edd8dececa83c0c4c1">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NVIC 02-18 describes the Coast Guard's
policy for merchant mariners to qualify for and renew Standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
endorsements to Merchant Mariner Credentials under 46 CFR 11.319 for
service as officer in charge of a navigational watch (OICNW) on vessels
of less than 500 GT upon all waters (i.e., not limited to near-coastal
waters). The Coast Guard has become aware that mariners seeking an
endorsement as OICNW of vessels of less than 500 GT are experiencing
difficulties meeting the bridge watchkeeping requirements for the
endorsement in a rating capacity.
As specified in Sec. 11.319(a)(2), mariners must obtain at least
six months of service performing bridge watchkeeping duties. This
section also limits the amount of service in a rating capacity that can
be used to meet this requirement to not more than 6 months of
experience, which is accepted as a maximum of three months of
creditable service. The mariner would have to obtain three additional
months of service performing bridge watchkeeping duties in a non-rating
capacity, such as an officer capacity. The OICNW of vessels less than
500 GT is considered a first certificate of competence, in that it may
be the first STCW officer endorsement a mariner obtains, mariners
typically qualify by serving as a rating such as able seaman. It is
often impossible for these mariners to meet the 6 month bridge
watchkeeping requirement with the 3 month limit on credible rating
service because they cannot serve as an officer to accrue the remaining
3 months of bridge watchkeeping without this OICNW first certificate of
competence.
This CH-2 will remedy that barrier to qualifying for the OICNW of
vessels less than 500 GT endorsement by not enforcing the 3 month
maximum allowable substitution for service as a rating to meet the
required service performing bridge watchkeeping duties. This change
notice revises NVIC 02-18 to indicate that the Coast Guard will accept,
on a day for day basis and without limitation, service in any capacity
performing bridge watchkeeping duties under the supervision of an
officer holding the STCW endorsement as Master, Chief Mate, or OICNW.
Allowing mariners to accrue bridge watchkeeping service in a
[[Page 49341]]
rating capacity on a day for day basis provides additional avenues for
qualification as an OICNW of vessels less than 500 GT and reduces the
regulatory burden on these mariners.
We compared the requirements for OICNW of vessels less than 500 GT
in 46 CFR 11.319 with those for OICNW of vessels of 500 GT or more in
46 CFR 11.309. For the endorsement for OICNW on vessels 500 GT or more,
a mariner can satisfy the bridge watchkeeping requirements with six
months of rating service. The OICNW on vessels of 500 GT or more
endorsement has no cap on rating sea service and rating service is
credited on a day for day basis.
The rating limitation on the OICNW of vessels less than 500 GT was
included because of an oversight during development of the final rule
``Implementation of the Amendments to the International Convention on
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers,
1978, and Changes to National Endorsements'' that published on December
24, 2013. (78 FR 77796). The Coast Guard had the three month rating
limitation in both Sec. Sec. 11.309(a)(2) and 11.319(a)(2) in the
notice of proposed rulemaking (74 FR 59354, Nov. 17, 2009) and
supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (76 FR 45908, Aug. 11,
2011). In the final rule, the Coast Guard removed the limitation in
Sec. 11.309(a)(2) for endorsements as OICNW for 500 GT or more stating
we ``revise[d] section to reduce redundant language from other sections
of this subpart.'' (79 FR at 77799). However, the Coast Guard neglected
to make the same change to 46 CFR 11.319(a)(2) for the lower tonnage
regulation for OICNW of vessels less than 500 GT.
The rating limitation was carried over from previous editions of
the regulatory text, but was not intended to be a limit on either of
the STCW OICNW endorsements. It is unnecessarily burdensome to limit
the rating capacity bridge watchkeeping to three months in the
endorsement that is that is for a lesser tonnage.
For these reasons, the Coast Guard will not enforce the limitation
on the rating capacity service in 11.319(a)(2), as reflected in CH-2 to
NVIC 02-18 Guidelines on Qualification for STCW Endorsements as Officer
in Charge of a Navigational Watch of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT.
This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: August 26, 2021.
J.W. Mauger,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021-18956 Filed 9-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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