Alternate Inspection Compliance Programs for the U.S. Maritime Industry

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Ch. I

[CCD 94-080]

Alternate Inspection Compliance Programs for the U.S. Maritime

Industry

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its Maritime Regulatory Reform Initiative, the U.S.

Coast Guard is developing programs to provide alternatives by which the

U.S. maritime industry can demonstrate compliance with applicable

vessel design, construction, equipment and operational requirements. A

number of concepts are under consideration, including a program to

accept tests and examinations performed by vessel owners or operators

who employ a rigorous system of safety management. The Coast Guard

desires input from the maritime industry on the safety management

systems now in use and their value in assuring vessel safety. The Coast

Guard will conduct a public meeting to obtain information from members

of the regulated community and the general public on this issue.

DATES: The meeting will be held November 7, 1994 from 9 a.m. to 4:30

p.m. Written material should be submitted not later than November 21,

1994.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 2415, Coast Guard

Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20593. Written

comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety

Council (G-LRA), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20593-0001, or may be delivered to room 3406 at the

same address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

LCDR David L. Scott, Project Manager, Commandant (G-MVI-1), U.S. Coast

Guard, 2100 Second Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20593, telephone

(202) 267-1464.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast Guard has been actively engaged in

maritime policy reforms designed to enhance the competitiveness of the

U.S. maritime industry. One aspect of maritime policy reform is to

provide efficient and cost effective alternatives by which owners and

operators of inspected vessels can demonstrate compliance with

applicable laws and regulations. One concept under consideration is to

credit tests and examinations of a vessel's systems, components or

equipment performed by the vessel's owners, operators or authorized

third parties as satisfying Coast Guard inspection requirements. This

concept can provide vessel owners and operators with greater

flexibility in complying with Coast Guard inspection requirements and

may significantly reduce the time necessary to complete, or may

eliminate, certain periodic Coast Guard inspections.

Under such a program, vessel owners, operators or authorized third

parties would conduct periodic tests and examinations in accordance

with written procedures acceptable to the Coast Guard. These procedures

would indicate the purpose and methodology of the test, as well as the

qualifications of the personnel who perform and validate the test. They

would also indicate how the test is to be documented. Periodic Coast

Guard inspections would involve verifying the company's inspection

records for the vessel and assessing the crew's ability to respond to

likely shipboard emergencies.

This concept is predicated on the vessel owner or operator

employing a rigorous system of safety management. The Coast Guard is

seeking to establish the characteristics for a safety management system

which should be recognized under this program. There are many ways to

support the quality of safety management systems, such as the ISO 9000

series, the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of

Ships and for Pollution Prevention (International Safety Management

[ISM] Code), the International Ship Managers Association Code of Ship

Management Standards, or company specific in-house safety management

systems, all of which if properly implemented and maintained, may

provide a basis for Coast Guard acceptance of owner, operator or third

party testing.

To aid the Coast Guard's efforts to establish the criteria for a

recognized safety management system, and establish guidelines for

alternative compliance inspection programs, views are solicited on the

following questions:

1. What are the essential elements of a shipboard safety management

system?

2. How should the effectiveness of a company's safety management

system be measured?

3. How does a company get its safety management system qualified?

4. Should a company's safety system be certified by an independent

quality system registrar as a condition for recognition by the Coast

Guard?

5. What specific qualifications may be required of company

personnel, including shipboard personnel, involved in the

implementation and maintenance of a safety management system?

6. What other conditions should a company meet in order to

participate in an alternative inspection compliance program?

7. Should the interval of Coast Guard inspections for vessels

operating under a recognized safety management system be random

boardings or fixed dates?

8. Should the scope of periodic Coast Guard inspections be modified

based upon a company's voluntary certification to the ISM Code?

9. Must third parties who perform tests and inspection services on

inspected vessels establish their own quality management system in

order for vessel operators to receive Coast Guard inspection credit for

third party activities?

10. What constitutes satisfactory test and inspection procedures?

11. What constitutes satisfactory documentation of tests and

inspections?

12. What qualifications are required for personnel performing tests

and inspections, and validating tests and inspections?

13. Which systems and equipment may be suitable for periodic

testing by vessel owners, operators or third parties, and which should

be retained by the Coast Guard?

14. How much Coast Guard oversight is necessary for a company with

a safety management system?

Attendance is open to the public. With advance notice, and as time

permits, members of the public may make oral presentations during the

meeting. Persons wishing to make oral presentations should notify the

person listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than

the day before the meeting. Written material may be submitted prior to,

during, or after the meeting.

Dated: September 29, 1994.

E. L. Ziff,

Acting Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental

Protection.

[FR Doc. 94-24531 Filed 10-3-94; 8:45 am]

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