[Federal Register: September 29, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 188)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 55826]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29se03-18]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Parts 26, 161, 164, and 165
[USCG-2003-14757]
RIN 1625-AA67
Automatic Identification System; Vessel Carriage Requirement
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Policy statement.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is announcing its policy and intent to
establish one uniform compliance date for U.S. domestic vessels subject
to Automatic Identification System carriage regulations while
transiting a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) area. On July 1, 2003, the
Coast Guard published a temporary interim rule that established 3
different compliance dates, depending on particular VTS areas. This
policy statement aligns these dates with the deadline date of the
Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.
DATES: This policy is effective on September 29, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this Policy
Statement, contact Mr. Jorge Arroyo, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Vessel
Traffic Management (G-MWV), by telephone 202-267-6277, toll-free
telephone 1-800-842-8740 ext. 7-6277, or electronic mail JArroyo@comdt.uscg.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 1, 2003, we published a temporary interim rule with request
for comments and notice of public meeting titled ``Automatic
Identification System; Vessel Carriage Requirement'' in the Federal
Register (68 FR 39353). This temporary interim rule was one of a series
of temporary interim rules on maritime security published in the July
1, 2003, issue of the Federal Register. On July 16, 2003, we published
a document correcting typographical errors and omissions in that rule
(68 FR 41913). The temporary interim rule established an Automatic
Identification System (AIS) compliance date that varies depending upon
VTS area. They are as follows:
(1) For VTS St. Marys River, not later than December 31, 2003;
(2) For VTS Berwick Bay, VMRS Los Angeles/Long Beach, VTS Lower
Mississippi River, VTS Port Arthur and VTS Prince William Sound, not
later than July 1, 2004; and
(3) For VTS Houston-Galveston, VTS New York, VTS Puget Sound, and
VTS San Francisco, not later than December 31, 2004.
These deadline dates were established to coincide with anticipated
AIS-capability at each of these respective ports via our Ports and
Waterways Safety System (PAWSS) upgrades. PAWSS is an effort to
establish a national transportation system that collects, processes,
and disseminates information on the marine operating environment and
maritime vessel traffic in major U.S. ports and waterways. Work
continues on schedule in our PAWSS process; however, we recognize that
having differing deadline dates has caused unwarranted confusion and
may place certain vessels at a disadvantage of reaping market benefits.
Therefore, the Coast Guard will amend its temporary interim rule, by a
forthcoming final rule, that will adopt December 31, 2004, as the
compliance date for all VTS users, not on international voyage, that
are subject to the provisions of 33 CFR 164.46(b).
Policy Statement
Until the Coast Guard publishes its final rule regarding AIS
carriage requirements, the following policy applies:
The Coast Guard will not enforce the deadline dates as stated in 33
CFR 164.46(c)(1) through (4).
How Long Will This Policy Remain in Effect?
This policy will remain in effect until publication of the final
rule regarding AIS carriage [USCG 2003-14757], that we anticipate
publishing prior to October 25, 2003. In the final rule we intend to
adopt December 31, 2004, as the deadline date for domestic AIS carriage
for those vessels denoted in 33 CFR 164.46(b).
Dated: September, 22 2003.
T.H. Gilmour,
Rear Admiral, Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety,
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 03-24571 Filed 9-26-03; 8:45 am]
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