Certificate of Alternate Compliance for USS PATRICK GALLAGHER (DDG 127)

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The U.S. Navy hereby announces that a Certificate of Alternate Compliance has been issued for USS PATRICK GALLAGHER (DDG 127). Due to the special construction and purpose of this vessel, the Admiralty Counsel of the Navy has determined it is a vessel of the Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot comply fully with the navigation lights provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS) without interfering with its special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this notice is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 201 (Tuesday, October 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 20, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66319-66320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21463]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Certificate of Alternate Compliance for USS PATRICK GALLAGHER 
(DDG 127)

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of Issuance of Certificate of Alternate Compliance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Navy hereby announces that a Certificate of Alternate 
Compliance has been issued for USS PATRICK GALLAGHER (DDG 127). Due to 
the special construction and purpose of this vessel, the Admiralty 
Counsel of the Navy has determined it is a vessel of the Navy which, 
due to its special construction and purpose, cannot comply fully with 
the navigation lights provisions of the International Regulations for 
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS) without interfering 
with its special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this 
notice is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.

DATES: This Certificate of Alternate Compliance is effective October 
20, 2026 and is applicable beginning April 23, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Commander Jordan Foley, 
JAGC, U.S. Navy, Admiralty Attorney, Office of the Judge Advocate 
General, Admiralty and Claims Division (Code 15A), 1322 Patterson Ave. 
SE, Suite 3000, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066, 202-685-5040, or 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2d3d6dfdbc0d3dec6cbf2c7c19cdcd3c4cb9cdfdbde"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6b7b2bbbfa4b7baa2af96a3a5f8b8b7a0aff8bbbfba">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background and Purpose. Executive Order 
(E.O.) 11964 (42 FR 4327; January 19, 1977) and 33 U.S.C. 1605 provide 
that the requirements of the International Regulations for Preventing 
Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), as to the number, position, 
range, or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the 
disposition and characteristics of sound-signaling appliances, shall 
not

[[Page 66320]]

apply to a vessel or class of vessels of the Navy where the Secretary 
of the Navy shall find and certify that, by reason of special 
construction or purpose, it is not possible for such vessel(s) to 
comply fully with the provisions without interfering with the special 
function of the vessel(s). Notice of issuance of a Certificate of 
Alternate Compliance must be made in the Federal Register.
    In accordance with 33 U.S.C. 1605, the Admiralty Counsel of the 
Navy, under authority delegated by the Secretary of the Navy, hereby 
finds and certifies that USS PATRICK GALLAGHER (DDG 127) is a vessel of 
special construction or purpose, and that, with respect to the position 
of the following navigational lights, it is not possible to comply 
fully with the requirements of the provisions enumerated in the 72 
COLREGS without interfering with the special function of the vessel: 
Annex I, paragraph 3(a), pertaining to the position of the forward 
masthead light; Annex I, paragraph 2(f)(i) pertaining to the vertical 
position of the aft masthead light; Annex I, paragraph 3(a), pertaining 
to the horizontal distance between the masthead lights; Annex I, 
paragraph 3(c), pertaining to the horizontal distance of the ``task 
lights'' below the masthead lights; Annex I, paragraph 2(f)(ii), 
pertaining to the horizontal position of the task lights above the aft 
masthead light(s) and vertical position of the task lights between the 
forward masthead light(s) and aft masthead light(s).
    The Admiralty Counsel of the Navy further finds and certifies that 
these navigational lights are in closest possible compliance with the 
applicable provision of the 72 COLREGS.

(Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1605(c), E.O. 11964.)

M.A. Tabach,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U. S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-21463 Filed 10-19-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P


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