The U.S. Coast Guard has announced a series of public meetings to receive comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking entitled “Inspection of Towing Vessels” that was published in the Federal Register on August 11, 2011.
As stated in that document, the regulations proposed in the NPRM would establish safety regulations governing the inspection, standards, and safety management systems of towing vessels. The proposal includes provisions covering: Specific electrical and machinery requirements for new and existing towing vessels, the use and approval of third-party auditors and surveyors, and procedures for obtaining Certificates of Inspection. Without making a specific proposal in the NPRM regarding potential requirements for hours of service or crew endurance management for mariners aboard towing vessels, the Coast Guard also welcomes comments on these two important issues, which are discussed in the NPRM. The slate fo scheduled meetings is as follows: