Navigating the Regulatory Seas

Here is the latest from the Holland and Knight newsletter regarding Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) for all you passenger vessels out there.

The US Coast Guard promulgated its final rule requiring certain ships to report identifying and position data electronically, utilizing the Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) system. The rule requires transmission of the LRIT data, effective December 31, 2008 for the following ships, while engaged on an international voyage: (1) passenger ships, including high speed passenger craft; (2) cargo ships, including high speed craft, of 300 gross tonnage or more; and (3) mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) while underway and not engaged in drilling operations.

For the rest of the document, click 73 Fed. Reg. 23310

The American Boating Congress two-day legislative conference will be held in Washington, DC this year on April 27-29. Presented by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the seminars will address public policy and present on issues relevant to the maritime industry.

More information after the jump American Boating Congress

The DOT will hold a public meeting on April 8–9, 2008, in connection with its NPRM on passenger vessel disability access guidelines.
DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on January 23, 2007 (72 FR 2833), is reopened April 8,2008, through April 23, 2008, to allow for the posting of comments related to the meeting held on April 8–9, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
(more…)