Notice2026-09498
Certificates of Alternative Compliance for the Coast Guard Heartland District
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
May 13, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard announces that the Coast Guard Heartland District's Prevention Division has issued certificates of alternative compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), to vessels of special construction or purpose that cannot fully comply with the light, shape, and sound signal provisions of 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's design and construction. We are issuing this notice because its publication is required by statute. This notification of issuance of a certificate of alternative compliance promotes the Coast Guard's marine safety mission.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27073-27075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09498]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2026-0216]
Certificates of Alternative Compliance for the Coast Guard
Heartland District
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notification of issuance of a certificates of alternative
compliance.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that the Coast Guard Heartland
District's Prevention Division has issued certificates of alternative
compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions
at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), to vessels of special construction or
purpose that cannot fully comply with the light, shape, and sound
signal provisions of 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's
design and construction. We are issuing this notice because its
publication is required by statute. This notification of issuance of a
certificate of alternative compliance promotes the Coast Guard's marine
safety mission.
DATES: The Certificates of Alternative Compliance were issued between
July 2025 and January 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information or questions about
this notice call or email Lieutenant Natalie Cordes, Heartland
District, Prevention Division, U.S. Coast Guard, telephone 571-608-
4791, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6c220d180d000509423e422f031e08091f2c191f0f0b42010500"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b755a4f5a57525e1569157854495f5e487b4e48585c15565257">[email protected]</span></a>.
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, or sound signal provisions of the 72
COLREGS. Under statutory law, however, specified 72 COLREGS provisions
are not applicable to a vessel of special construction or purpose if
the Coast Guard determines that the vessel cannot comply fully with
those requirements without interfering with the special function of the
vessel.\1\
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\1\ 33 U.S.C. 1605.
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The owner, builder, operator, or agent of a special construction or
purpose vessel may apply to the Coast Guard District Office in which
the vessel is being built or operated for a determination that
compliance with alternative requirements is justified,\2\ and the Chief
of the Prevention Division
[[Page 27074]]
will then issue the applicant a certificate of alternative compliance
(COAC) if he or she determines that the vessel cannot comply fully with
72 COLREGS light, shape, and sound signal provisions without
interference with the vessel's special function.\3\ If the Coast Guard
issues a COAC, it must publish notice of this action in the Federal
Register.\4\
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\2\ 33 CFR 81.5.
\3\ 33 CFR 81.9.
\4\ 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.
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The Heartland District has issued COACs to the following vessels
from July 2025 to January 2026:
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Year Vessel name Details
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2025................................. VOYAGER................ This certificate authorized the placement of the
vessel's after masthead light to be on the main
mast, 20-11\1/2\'' aft and 27'-3\1/8\'' above
the forward masthead light; the sidelights to
be on the pilothouse 21'-6'' outboard from the
centerline of the vessel; and the stern light
to be placed on the starboard quarter of the
stern 4'-2'' above the main deck.
2025................................. THOMAS C. MORAN........ This certificate authorized the placement of the
vessel's masthead light to be centerline on the
elevated pilothouse, 40'-3\1/2\'' above the
main deck when upright, and 27'-2'' above the
main deck when mast is in the lowered position
during ship assist work to prevent damage when
working in close proximity to a ship's bow/
stern flare; the sidelights to be on the
elevated pilothouse 13'-2'' from the side of
the vessel and 21'-1'' above the main deck; the
stern light to be placed on the aft side of the
elevated pilothouse, 1'-4'' starboard of
centerline and 6'-9\1/2\'' aft of amidships;
and the restricted in ability to maneuver and
not under command (RAM/NUC) lights placed 6''
forward of the masthead lights starting at 28'-
9\11/16\'' above the main deck and vertically
spaced at 3'-3\3/8\''.
2025................................. NEWT MORAN............. This certificate authorized the placement of the
vessel's masthead light to be centerline on the
elevated pilothouse, 40'-3\1/2\'' above the
main deck when upright, and 27'-2'' above the
main deck when mast is in the lowered position
during ship assist work to prevent damage when
working in close proximity to a ship's bow/
stern flare; the sidelights to be on the
elevated pilothouse 13'-2'' from the side of
the vessel and 21'-1'' above the main deck; the
stern light to be placed on the aft side of the
elevated pilothouse, 1'-4'' starboard of
centerline and 6'-9\1/2\'' aft of amidships;
and the restricted in ability to maneuver and
not under command (RAM/NUC) lights placed 6''
forward of the masthead lights starting at 28'-
9\11/16\'' above the main deck and vertically
spaced at 3'-3\3/8\''.
2025................................. J THEMISTOCLIS MORAN... This certificate authorized the placement of the
vessel's masthead light to be centerline on the
elevated pilothouse, 40'-3\1/2\'' above the
main deck when upright, and 27'-2'' above the
main deck when mast is in the lowered position
during ship assist work to prevent damage when
working in close proximity to a ship's bow/
stern flare; the sidelights to be on the
elevated pilothouse 13'-2'' from the side of
the vessel and 21'-1'' above the main deck; the
stern light to be placed on the aft side of the
elevated pilothouse, 1'-4'' starboard of
centerline and 6'-9\1/2\'' aft of amidships;
and the restricted in ability to maneuver and
not under command (RAM/NUC) lights placed 6''
forward of the masthead lights starting at 28'-
9\11/16\'' above the main deck and vertically
spaced at 3'-3\3/8\''.
2025................................. JANE................... This certificate authorized the placement of the
vessel's masthead light to be centerline on the
elevated pilothouse, 40'-3\1/2\'' above the
main deck when upright, and 27'-2'' above the
main deck when mast is in the lowered position
during ship assist work to prevent damage when
working in close proximity to a ship's bow/
stern flare; the sidelights to be on the
elevated pilothouse 13'-2'' from the side of
the vessel and 21'-1'' above the main deck; the
stern light to be placed on the aft side of the
elevated pilothouse, 1'-4'' starboard of
centerline and 6'-9\1/2\'' aft of amidships;
and the restricted in ability to maneuver and
not under command (RAM/NUC) lights placed 6''
forward of the masthead lights starting at 28'-
9\11/16\'' above the main deck and vertically
spaced at 3'-3\3/8\''.
2025................................. JILL................... This certificate authorized the placement of the
vessel's masthead light to be centerline on the
elevated pilothouse, 40'-3\1/2\'' above the
main deck when upright, and 27'-2'' above the
main deck when mast is in the lowered position
during ship assist work to prevent damage when
working in close proximity to a ship's bow/
stern flare; the sidelights to be on the
elevated pilothouse 13'-2'' from the side of
the vessel and 21'-1'' above the main deck; the
stern light to be placed on the aft side of the
elevated pilothouse, 1'-4'' starboard of
centerline and 6'-9\1/2\'' aft of amidships;
and the restricted in ability to maneuver and
not under command (RAM/NUC) lights placed 6''
forward of the masthead lights starting at 28'-
9\11/16\'' above the main deck and vertically
spaced at 3'-3\3/8\''.
2026................................. MARAUDER............... This certificate authorized the placement of the
vessel's masthead light to be aft centerline on
the pilothouse, 40'-3\1/8\'' above the main
deck when upright, and 23'-7'' above the main
deck when mast is in the lowered position
during ship assist work to prevent damage when
working in close proximity to a ship's bow/
stern flare; the sidelights to be on the
pilothouse 14'-6\1/2\'' from the side of the
vessel and 20'-6\1/4\'' above the main deck;
the stern light to be placed on the aft side of
the pilothouse, 4'' starboard of centerline;
and the restricted in ability to maneuver and
not under command (RAM/NUC) lights placed 18''
starboard and 10'' aft of the masthead lights
starting at 25'-9'' above the main deck and
vertically spaced at 6'-7''.
2026................................. MAX CHOUEST............ This certificate authorized the placement of the
vessel's forward masthead light on the forward
portion of the helicopter landing deck,
positioned 78'-5'' forward of the vessel's
pilothouse and 58'-3\7/8\'' above the main
deck; the aft masthead light positioned on the
main mast, 106'-8\7/8\'' aft of the forward
masthead light, and 26'-7'' above the forward
masthead light; and the stern light positioned
centerline on the top part of the pilothouse.
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The Chief of Prevention Division of the Heartland District, U.S.
Coast Guard, certifies that the vessels listed above are of special
construction or purpose, and are unable to comply fully with the
requirements of the provisions enumerated in the 72 COLREGS, without
interfering with the normal operation, construction, or design of the
vessel. The Chief of Prevention Division further finds and certifies
that the listed vessels are in the closest possible compliance with the
applicable provisions of the 72 COLREGS.\5\
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\5\ 33 U.S.C. 1605(a); 33 CFR 81.9.
[[Page 27075]]
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This notice is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and
33 CFR 81.18.
Dated: May 8, 2026.
J.B. Wheeler,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief of Prevention, Coast Guard Heartland
District.
[FR Doc. 2026-09498 Filed 5-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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