Notice2021-26878
Guidance: Change 1 to NVIC 21-14 Guidelines for Qualification for STCW Endorsement for Vessel Security Officers
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 13, 2021
Effective
October 29, 2021
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard announces the availability of Change 1 to Guidelines for Qualification for STCW Endorsements for Vessel Security Officers, Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties, and Security Awareness, NVIC 21-14. This change notice revises NVIC 21-14 to indicate that the Coast Guard has determined that certain sea service aboard military and government owned or operated vessels may be credited toward meeting the sea service requirement for the STCW endorsement for vessel security officer (VSO).
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 236 (Monday, December 13, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 236 (Monday, December 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 70856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26878]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2020-0665]
Guidance: Change 1 to NVIC 21-14 Guidelines for Qualification for
STCW Endorsement for Vessel Security Officers
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of Change 1 to
Guidelines for Qualification for STCW Endorsements for Vessel Security
Officers, Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties, and
Security Awareness, NVIC 21-14. This change notice revises NVIC 21-14
to indicate that the Coast Guard has determined that certain sea
service aboard military and government owned or operated vessels may be
credited toward meeting the sea service requirement for the STCW
endorsement for vessel security officer (VSO).
DATES: Change 1 to NVIC 21-14 is effective as of October 29, 2021.
ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this notice, search the
docket number USCG-2020-0665 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 Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division (CG-MMC-2),
Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-2357; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3974747a695655505a40794c4a5a5e17545055"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85c8c8c6d5eae9ece6fcc5f0f6e6e2abe8ece9">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: After publication of NVIC 21-14, COMDTPUB
16721, in 2014, the Coast Guard became aware of the need to address the
question of whether sea service acquired on military and government
owned or operated vessels should be allowed to be used to qualify for a
STCW endorsement as VSOs. This change notice revises NVIC 21-14 to
indicate that the Coast Guard has determined that sea service accrued
aboard certain military and government owned or operated vessels may be
credited toward the sea service requirements in 33 CFR
104.215(d)(1)(v)(A) and 33 CFR 104.215(d)(1)(v)(B).
Section 33 CFR 104.215(d)(1)(v)(A) requires 12 months of sea
service on a vessel subject to 33 CFR 104.105 to qualify for a STCW
endorsement as VSO. Section 33 CFR 104.215(d)(1)(v)(B) requires 6
months of sea service on a vessel subject to 33 CFR 104.105, and
satisfaction of a knowledge requirement to qualify for an STCW
endorsement as VSO.
The Coast Guard determined that service onboard government owned or
operated vessels, such as Military Sealift Command vessels (designated
USNS), USACE vessels, and NOAA vessels, of at least 100 gross register
tons (GRT) will be creditable toward both 33 CFR 104.215(d)(1)(v)(A)
and 33 CFR 104.215(d)(1)(v)(B). The Coast Guard will credit sea service
earned on these vessels toward the full sea service requirements
because they are operated similarly to a merchant vessel.
The Coast Guard also determined that up to 5 months of service on
military vessels will be accepted towards the 6 month minimum sea
service requirement in 33 CFR 104.215(d)(1)(v)(B). The remaining month
could be accrued on vessels subject to 33 CFR 104.105 or the government
owned or operated vessels of at least 100 GRT listed above.
The regulations at 46 CFR 10.232(d)(1) allow the use of military
service towards credentials when the Coast Guard determines it is
equivalent to sea service acquired on merchant vessels. The purpose of
the sea service requirements for a STCW endorsement as VSO is to ensure
that the mariner is familiar with general merchant vessel operations.
The Coast Guard has determined that the mariner can demonstrate the
necessary merchant vessel operational experience with a combination of
military sea service, a minimum of 30 days sea service on government
owned or operated vessels or any vessel subject to 33 CFR 104.105, and
by satisfying the knowledge requirements in 33 CFR 104.215. The policy
uses a minimum tonnage of 100 gross register tons to be consistent with
requirements for merchant mariners.
In addition, this policy supports the intent of 10 U.S.C. 2015 and
Executive Order 13860 of March 4, 2019, titled ``Supporting the
Transition of Active Duty Service Members and Military Veterans Into
the Merchant Marine,'' by supporting practices that ensure that members
of the United States Armed Forces receive appropriate credit for their
military training and experience toward merchant mariner credentialing
requirements.
As part of this change to NVIC 21-14, the Coast Guard makes some
other minor changes to provide clarity. First, we note in the list of
requirements to qualify for a VSO endorsement, the mariner must meet
the physical examination requirements in 46 CFR part 10, subpart C.
This requirement already exists and applies to this endorsement per 46
CFR 11.337(b). We are adding it to the NVIC so that it is more clear
that the physical examination requirements are also a requirement, in
addition to what is listed in 33 CFR 104.215(d). Second, we add a
statement that the evidence of knowledge of vessel operations obtained
through training or equivalent job experience required for 33 CFR
104.215(d)(3) may be documented on agency, company, or vessel
letterhead. This new instruction describes a method the mariner can use
to provide evidence of training and job experience to the Coast Guard
in their VSO endorsement application.
This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: October 29, 2021.
J.W. Mauger,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021-26878 Filed 12-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 13, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.