Regulatory Matters » Maritime Administration
Proposed Rulemakings
November 29, 2010 The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations for certain lifesaving equipment, including launching appliances (winches and davits), release mechanisms, survival craft (lifeboats, inflatable liferafts, and inflatable buoyant apparatuses), rescue boats, and automatic disengaging devices. The proposed rules would harmonize the Coast Guard’s design, construction, and performance standards for this lifesaving equipment with international standards. In addition, the proposed rules would provide for the use of qualified independent laboratories, instead of Coast Guard inspectors, during the approval process and for production inspections of certain types of lifesaving equipment. Comments accepted. 75 FR 53457, (August 31, 2010), (USCG-2010-0048).
Final Rulemaking
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Agency Notices
September 26, 2010 The purpose of this notice is to invite interested, qualified U.S.-flag vessel operators that are not currently enrolled in the VISA program to participate. The annual enrollment is intended to link the VISA enrollment cycle with DOD’s peacetime cargo contracting to ensure consideration for DOD awards of cargo. Alignment of VISA enrollment and eligibility for VISA priority will solidify the linkage between commitment of contingency assets by VISA participants and receiving VISA priority consideration for the award of DOD peacetime cargo. This is the only planned enrollment period for carriers to join the VISA program and derive benefits for DOD peacetime contracts during the time frame of October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. The only exception to this open season period for VISA enrollment will be for a non-VISA carrier that reflags a vessel into U.S. registry. That carrier may submit an application to participate in the VISA program at any time upon completion of reflagging. Applications accepted. 75 FR 52594, (August 26, 2010).
October 25, 2010 In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration’s intention to request extension of approval for three years of a currently approved information collection entitled “War Risk Insurance”. Comments accepted. 75 FR 52588, (August 26, 2010), (MARAD-2010-0076).
Meetings
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