September 4, 2009
PVA vessels that carry or discharge ballast water may be affected by a rule proposed by the Coast Guard and published in the Federal Register of August 28, 2009. Entitled “Standards for Living Organisms in Ships’ Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. Waters,” the proposal would implement federal laws that direct the Coast Guard to develop ballast water management rules for vessels. Ballast water is widely accused of transporting aquatic invasive species into and throughout U.S. waters. (more…)
September 4, 2009
Vessel operators required to comply with the EPA Vessel General Permit (VGP), and that meet any of the criteria outlined below, must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to EPA beginning June 19 and no later than September 19. (Vessels subject to the VGP are commercial vessels that operate in U.S. domestic waters, 79 feet or greater in length and all vessels that discharge ballast water.) A new vessel delivered after September 19 must submit an NOI 30 days prior to any discharge.
April 6, 2009
This entry is a continuation of the post entitled “COMMENT NOW On Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Notice Of Arrival and Departure (NOAD ) Rulemaking” . Here are suggestions for writing your comments. Remember to submit by Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Instructions for filing comments to the docket are found below. (more…)
April 6, 2009
On December 16, 2008, the Coast Guard issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Vessel Requirements for Notices of Arrival and Departure (NOAD) and Automatic Identification System (AIS). With regard to vessels operated by Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) members on the navigable waters of the U.S., this NPRM proposes that all vessels with a capacity of 50 or more passengers must carry and use AIS, as must any commercial passenger vessel (regardless of passenger capacity) with a length of 65 feet or more. In addition, certain PVA members with vessels that travel on international routes or that travel between Captain of the Port (COTP) zones would be subject to the expansion of notice of arrival and departure requirements. (more…)
September 4, 2009
Oil Spill Response Plan Standards Proposed for Non-Tank Vessels
Posted by Erin under Comment Periods, Federal Regulations, Passenger Vessel Association, United States Coast GuardLeave a Comment
Certain larger PVA vessels may be affected by a rule on vessel oil spill response plans proposed by the Coast Guard and published in the Federal Register of August 31, 2009. Entitled “Non-Tank Vessel Response Plans and other Vessel Response Plan Requirements,” the proposal would implement a 2004 amendment to the Oil Pollution Act to require that some Non-Tank vessels obtain Coast Guard approval for and implement oil spill contingency plans.
Most vessels operated by PVA members would not be affected, but any vessel of 400 gross tons (as measured by the standards of the international tonnage convention) would have to comply. (more…)