Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 01-16 Change 2-Use of Electronic Charts and Publications in Lieu of Paper Charts, Maps and Publications, 31789-31791 [2020-11363]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 102 / Wednesday, May 27, 2020 / Notices
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Date: June 9, 2020.
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Tyeshia M. Roberson,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020–11276 Filed 5–26–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG–2019–0346]
Navigation and Vessel Inspection
Circular 01–16 Change 2—Use of
Electronic Charts and Publications in
Lieu of Paper Charts, Maps and
Publications
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard announces
the availability of the Navigation and
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01–16
Change 2 issued May 21, 2020, together
with a Deregulatory Savings Analysis.
The NVIC 01–16 Change 2 allows for
U.S.-flagged vessels to use previously
downloaded, electronic copies of Inland
Navigation Rules and Vessel Traffic
Service Rules, and to access voyage
planning navigation publications
electronically, including through
underway connectivity, to meet
domestic carriage and International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
certification requirements.
DATES: The NVIC 01–16 Change 2 was
issued May 21, 2020.
ADDRESSES: To view NVIC 01–16
Change 2, as well as other documents
mentioned in this notice as being
available in the docket, please search for
docket number USCG–2019–0346 on the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please address questions or feedback
concerning this policy to Lieutenant
Commander W. Christian Adams, Office
of Navigation Systems, Coast Guard;
telephone 202–372–1565, email cgnav@
uscg.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
I. Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
FR Federal Register
MARPOL International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships
NVIC Navigation and Vessel Inspection
Circular
SOLAS International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea
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VTS
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 102 / Wednesday, May 27, 2020 / Notices
Vessel Traffic Service
II. Background
Navigation publications are a
principal source of voyage planning
information. Mariners use tide tables,
the United States Coast Pilot, local
notices to mariners, and other
information sources to access relevant
information for a particular transit.
Since at least 2010, the Coast Guard has
recognized the carriage of certain
navigation publications electronically
on U.S.-flagged vessels as meeting U.S.
domestic regulations and International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS) certificate requirements. This
is an acceptance of common industry
practice.
In response to recommendations from
the Navigation Safety Advisory Council
and the public, the Coast Guard is
updating its policy on electronic
carriage of the Inland Navigation Rules,
Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Rules, and
navigation publications in general.
Currently, the Coast Guard, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and the National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency provide
marine safety information in an updated
electronic format, some of which is
graphical and geographically selectable.
Electronic devices (both hardware and
software) have improved such that a
mariner can efficiently access
navigation publications when needed.
Furthermore, the Coast Guard
recognizes that the maritime industry
and mariners in general have made
substantial investments to ensure
vessels maintain internet connectivity,
even while underway. Because mariners
use certain navigation publications
primarily for voyage planning purposes,
the Coast Guard recognizes the
practicality of accessing required
navigation information via the internet
on an as-needed basis, versus keeping a
publication or extract onboard. To
encourage the use of electronic voyage
planning products, the Coast Guard is
providing the option for vessels to meet
certain publication carriage
requirements via internet access.
Therefore, we are revising Navigation
and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC)
01–16 Change 1 and issuing Change 2 to
allow publications required by the Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 33
(parts 83, 161, and 164) and Title 46
(parts 26, 28, 78, 97, 109, 121, 130, 140,
184, and 196), and the SOLAS Chapter
V Regulation 27 to be carried
electronically, with the majority of
publications accessed via web services.
However, if a mariner chooses to use an
electronic version of the Inland
Navigation Rules and VTS Rules, which
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:59 May 26, 2020
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are designated as ‘‘ready reference’’ in
33 CFR 83.01(g) and 161.4, the mariner
must be able to display ready reference
current electronic editions on their
electronic device without internet
connectivity by producing a previously
downloaded copy.
III. Summary of Public Comments and
Changes
On September 20, 2019, the Coast
Guard published a Notice of Availability
of Navigation and Vessel Inspection
Circular 01–16 Change 2—Use of
Electronic Charts and Publications in
Lieu of Paper Charts, Maps and
Publications (84 FR 49545) that sought
public comments on any concerns
related to these proposed policy changes
and the supporting economic analysis.
After the public comment period closed
on November 4, 2019, the Coast Guard
reviewed and analyzed the comments
contained in the six public submissions
received. Below we summarize and
respond to these public comments.
Subchapter T inspection checklist:
One commenter suggested that we
amend the NVIC to address carriage of
46 CFR parts 166 to 199 in electronic or
paper version because a subchapter T
inspection checklist recommends that
those parts be carried on board.
Although 46 CFR parts 166 to 199 may
be carried on board in electronic or
paper versions in response to the
checklist recommendations, this NVIC
Change 2 is meant to address the
carriage of navigation-related
publications that are required by certain
parts of CFR titles 33 and 46 to be
carried on board. Since 46 CFR parts
166 through 199 are not required to be
carried on board, they are not addressed
in this NVIC. The Coast Guard did not
revise the NVIC Change 2 in response to
this comment.
Training courses on use of electronic
publications: The same commenter
suggested that the Coast Guard address
mariner credentialing in the NVIC
Change 2, and, specifically, recommend
training courses and programs that are
permitted and encouraged to train
students in the use of electronic
publications. Another commenter
recommended that approved mariner
credentialing courses and programs be
permitted to train students in the use of
electronic publications, including the
applicable CFR sections. The scope and
intent of this NVIC Change 2 is to
provide voluntary equivalency for the
purposes of carriage requirements
between paper and electronic charts and
publications required for navigation. It
is not meant to prescribe the use of
certain courses or programs, or the
content of maritime courses and
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programs. For this reason, the Coast
Guard did not revise the NVIC Change
2 in response to this comment.
However, we are forwarding the
recommendations regarding courses on
the use of electronic publications to the
Coast Guard’s Office of Merchant
Mariner Credentialing for their
consideration.
Ready reference requirements: Two
commenters raised concerns about the
NVIC interpreting the ‘‘ready reference’’
requirements of the CFR for certain
publications as meaning displayable
within 2 minutes. One of the
commenters believed it was arbitrary
and could lead to unwarranted penalties
for mariners during the Coast Guard’s
marine safety inspections and
boardings. The commenter
recommended that Section 4 of NVIC
01–16 Change 2 Memo be amended to
read, ‘‘To be eligible for the electronic
charts and publications equivalency
under this NVIC, mariners must be able
to access the Inland Navigation Rules
via the internet or produce a
downloaded copy on their electronic
device within a reasonable amount of
time of the request of the boarding
officer or marine inspector under the
given circumstances.’’ In addition, the
commenter recommended that Section
F.1 of Enclosure (2) to NVIC 01–16 also
be revised to read, ‘‘For publications
stored or accessed electronically and
which must be available for ready
reference, the publications must be
displayable within a reasonable amount
of time under the given circumstances.’’
We disagree with changing the
standard to being able to display the
publication within a reasonable amount
of time. Section 83.01 of 33 CFR
requires that the Inland Navigation
Rules be carried as ‘‘ready reference’’ on
board each self-propelled vessel 12
meters or more in length. Similarly, 33
CFR 161.4 requires each VTS user to
carry on board and maintain for ready
reference a copy of the VTS Rules.
Practical use and reference to the Inland
Navigation Rules and VTS Rules while
underway may be directly related to a
situation with vessels meeting, as well
as navigation or communication
requirements within VTS areas. A delay
in accessing these rules is a safety
concern. For this reason, we cannot
amend the standard to ‘‘within a
reasonable amount of time.’’ However,
we are amending NVIC 01–16 Change 2
to require that, if an electronic version
is to be used, those publications
designated as ‘‘ready reference’’ be
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 102 / Wednesday, May 27, 2020 / Notices
previously downloaded so as to be
accessible without internet access.1
Without the traditional requirements
of having a paper copy on board a
vessel, the proposed 2-minute standard
was intended to set a reasonable limit
on how ‘‘ready reference’’ could be
interpreted for an electronic version that
comes from a computer drive or the
internet. The proposed time standard
was also meant to reduce the inherent
and unavoidable variation which results
from marine inspections being
conducted by many different inspectors
with a variety of backgrounds and
experience. We have not set such a
specific time duration standard for
paper copies in 33 CFR 83.01 or 161.4,
and, if we are to introduce such a
standard for the electronic equivalent,
that would best be done by amending
those regulations. If a maximum time
period is to be established to access
‘‘ready reference’’ publications, it
should apply equally whether the rules
are viewed on a printed page or an
electronic screen.
In terms of the time it takes to display
an electronic version of the publication,
the ‘‘ready reference’’ standard applies
to an electronic version as if it were a
paper version of the publication on a
vessel. In consideration of the decision
to allow ‘‘carriage via internet access,’’
the Coast Guard recognizes that many of
the navigation publications required to
be carried are used primarily for voyage
planning. These publications must be
current and accessible, but not ready
reference.
Depending on vessel heading, masts
or other topside obstructions may block
antennas from receiving a signal.
Additionally, connectivity may be
intermittent or unavailable for short
durations of a voyage. This temporary
unavailability may not interfere with
voyage planning activities, but even
brief periods of unavailability could
result in an unacceptable delay in
accessing the Inland Navigation Rules
and VTS Rules that are required to be
ready reference. Maintaining
downloaded copies will also ensure
continuous access while maneuvering
through close quarters situations when
these ready reference publications may
be most needed.
It should be noted that NVIC 01–16
Change 2 provides a voluntary
equivalency for the purposes of carriage
requirements between paper and
electronic charts, and between paper
and electronic versions of the Inland
Navigation Rules and VTS Rules
required for navigation. Vessel operators
may continue to meet carriage
requirements for all publications,
including VTS Rules and the Inland
Navigation Rules, in the traditional
fashion by maintaining a paper (hard
copy) reference.
Publication subscription service:
Another commenter suggested that his
company could sell a specific
subscription service that provides up-todate electronic versions of all the
publications required for the purpose of
carriage, but they were unable to obtain
Coast Guard approval for this service at
the time it was originally proposed. The
Coast Guard does not require the use of
any fee-based service to access these
rules and publications. Nor does the
Coast Guard prohibit the establishment
of fee-based services to aid with the
carriage of publications. However, all
publications required for carriage under
the CFR titles referenced by this NVIC
are available free of charge from their
respective governmental agencies’
public websites.
Citing an example of issues his
company encountered relating to
providing printed oil record books, the
same commenter stated that there is a
need for the Coast Guard to clearly state
what it wants with respect to this NVIC
Change 2. We believe that the NVIC 01–
16 Change 2 policy is very clearly
written, so that companies seeking to
offer products to enable mariners to use
electronic charts and publications, as
well as Coast Guard inspectors, will
understand exactly what is required to
meet NVIC 01–16 Change 2 equivalency
standards. Regarding the commenter’s
example, we note that oil record books,
which are required under the
International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships
(MARPOL) Annex I, and 33 CFR part
151, are outside the scope of this NVIC.
The Coast Guard did not revise the
NVIC Change 2 in response to this
comment.
Support for proposed action: Two
other commenters were supportive of
the proposed NVIC announced in
September 2019 and of allowing certain
navigation publications to be accessed
electronically.
The Coast Guard appreciates all the
comments received. We will continue to
study this issue in light of the comments
received and our experience with
mariners’ implementation of this policy
before issuing other notices or policy
letters on this matter.
1 This was the only substantive change to NVIC
01–16 Change 2 we made from the version we
posted in the docket when we invited comments in
September 2019.
IV. Cost Savings Analysis
The Coast Guard prepared a
Deregulatory Savings Analysis for the
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16:59 May 26, 2020
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31791
September 2019 initial notice of
availability of NVIC 01–16 Change 2
that identified and examined the
potential costs and cost savings
associated with implementing the new
equivalency determination for carriage.
The Coast Guard received no comments
on this analysis, but we did receive
comments on the NVIC that caused us
to change our ready reference
equivalency standard. Changing this
standard impacts the estimated cost
savings. Additionally, the Coast Guard
identified typographical and other
grammatical errors that have been
corrected in the final version along with
updating the cost savings estimates
based on the changes to the final notice.
This analysis is available in the docket,
where indicated under the ADDRESSES
portion of this document.
V. Public Availability of NVIC 01–16
Change 2
A version of NVIC 01–16 Change 2
with an issue date of May 21, 2020, will
be placed in the docket for this notice.
Also, NVIC 01–16 Change 2 will be
located on the following Commandant
website: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/OurOrganization/NVIC/. This version
contains the NVIC’s enclosures—
Enclosure (1), Equivalency
determination for ‘‘Marine Charts,’’
‘‘Charts,’’ or ‘‘Maps;’’ ‘‘Publications;’’
and navigation functions; and Enclosure
(2), Guidelines for inspecting and using
electronic charts and publications.
Dated: May 21, 2020.
R.V. Timme,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant
Commandant for Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020–11363 Filed 5–26–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG–2019–0877]
National Merchant Mariner Medical
Advisory Committee; Initial Solicitation
for Members
U.S. Coast Guard, DHS.
Request for applications.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard is requesting
applications from persons interested in
serving as a member of the National
Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory
Committee (‘‘Committee’’). This recently
established Committee advises the
Secretary of the Department of
Homeland Security on matters relating
to: Medical certification determinations
for the issuance of licenses, certification
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\27MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31789-31791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11363]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2019-0346]
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 01-16 Change 2--Use of
Electronic Charts and Publications in Lieu of Paper Charts, Maps and
Publications
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Navigation
and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-16 Change 2 issued May 21,
2020, together with a Deregulatory Savings Analysis. The NVIC 01-16
Change 2 allows for U.S.-flagged vessels to use previously downloaded,
electronic copies of Inland Navigation Rules and Vessel Traffic Service
Rules, and to access voyage planning navigation publications
electronically, including through underway connectivity, to meet
domestic carriage and International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea certification requirements.
DATES: The NVIC 01-16 Change 2 was issued May 21, 2020.
ADDRESSES: To view NVIC 01-16 Change 2, as well as other documents
mentioned in this notice as being available in the docket, please
search for docket number USCG-2019-0346 on the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please address questions or feedback
concerning this policy to Lieutenant Commander W. Christian Adams,
Office of Navigation Systems, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1565,
email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
FR Federal Register
MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from
Ships
NVIC Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular
SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
[[Page 31790]]
VTS Vessel Traffic Service
II. Background
Navigation publications are a principal source of voyage planning
information. Mariners use tide tables, the United States Coast Pilot,
local notices to mariners, and other information sources to access
relevant information for a particular transit. Since at least 2010, the
Coast Guard has recognized the carriage of certain navigation
publications electronically on U.S.-flagged vessels as meeting U.S.
domestic regulations and International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea (SOLAS) certificate requirements. This is an acceptance of
common industry practice.
In response to recommendations from the Navigation Safety Advisory
Council and the public, the Coast Guard is updating its policy on
electronic carriage of the Inland Navigation Rules, Vessel Traffic
Service (VTS) Rules, and navigation publications in general. Currently,
the Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency provide marine safety
information in an updated electronic format, some of which is graphical
and geographically selectable. Electronic devices (both hardware and
software) have improved such that a mariner can efficiently access
navigation publications when needed.
Furthermore, the Coast Guard recognizes that the maritime industry
and mariners in general have made substantial investments to ensure
vessels maintain internet connectivity, even while underway. Because
mariners use certain navigation publications primarily for voyage
planning purposes, the Coast Guard recognizes the practicality of
accessing required navigation information via the internet on an as-
needed basis, versus keeping a publication or extract onboard. To
encourage the use of electronic voyage planning products, the Coast
Guard is providing the option for vessels to meet certain publication
carriage requirements via internet access.
Therefore, we are revising Navigation and Vessel Inspection
Circular (NVIC) 01-16 Change 1 and issuing Change 2 to allow
publications required by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 33
(parts 83, 161, and 164) and Title 46 (parts 26, 28, 78, 97, 109, 121,
130, 140, 184, and 196), and the SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 27 to be
carried electronically, with the majority of publications accessed via
web services. However, if a mariner chooses to use an electronic
version of the Inland Navigation Rules and VTS Rules, which are
designated as ``ready reference'' in 33 CFR 83.01(g) and 161.4, the
mariner must be able to display ready reference current electronic
editions on their electronic device without internet connectivity by
producing a previously downloaded copy.
III. Summary of Public Comments and Changes
On September 20, 2019, the Coast Guard published a Notice of
Availability of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 01-16 Change
2--Use of Electronic Charts and Publications in Lieu of Paper Charts,
Maps and Publications (84 FR 49545) that sought public comments on any
concerns related to these proposed policy changes and the supporting
economic analysis. After the public comment period closed on November
4, 2019, the Coast Guard reviewed and analyzed the comments contained
in the six public submissions received. Below we summarize and respond
to these public comments.
Subchapter T inspection checklist: One commenter suggested that we
amend the NVIC to address carriage of 46 CFR parts 166 to 199 in
electronic or paper version because a subchapter T inspection checklist
recommends that those parts be carried on board. Although 46 CFR parts
166 to 199 may be carried on board in electronic or paper versions in
response to the checklist recommendations, this NVIC Change 2 is meant
to address the carriage of navigation-related publications that are
required by certain parts of CFR titles 33 and 46 to be carried on
board. Since 46 CFR parts 166 through 199 are not required to be
carried on board, they are not addressed in this NVIC. The Coast Guard
did not revise the NVIC Change 2 in response to this comment.
Training courses on use of electronic publications: The same
commenter suggested that the Coast Guard address mariner credentialing
in the NVIC Change 2, and, specifically, recommend training courses and
programs that are permitted and encouraged to train students in the use
of electronic publications. Another commenter recommended that approved
mariner credentialing courses and programs be permitted to train
students in the use of electronic publications, including the
applicable CFR sections. The scope and intent of this NVIC Change 2 is
to provide voluntary equivalency for the purposes of carriage
requirements between paper and electronic charts and publications
required for navigation. It is not meant to prescribe the use of
certain courses or programs, or the content of maritime courses and
programs. For this reason, the Coast Guard did not revise the NVIC
Change 2 in response to this comment. However, we are forwarding the
recommendations regarding courses on the use of electronic publications
to the Coast Guard's Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing for their
consideration.
Ready reference requirements: Two commenters raised concerns about
the NVIC interpreting the ``ready reference'' requirements of the CFR
for certain publications as meaning displayable within 2 minutes. One
of the commenters believed it was arbitrary and could lead to
unwarranted penalties for mariners during the Coast Guard's marine
safety inspections and boardings. The commenter recommended that
Section 4 of NVIC 01-16 Change 2 Memo be amended to read, ``To be
eligible for the electronic charts and publications equivalency under
this NVIC, mariners must be able to access the Inland Navigation Rules
via the internet or produce a downloaded copy on their electronic
device within a reasonable amount of time of the request of the
boarding officer or marine inspector under the given circumstances.''
In addition, the commenter recommended that Section F.1 of Enclosure
(2) to NVIC 01-16 also be revised to read, ``For publications stored or
accessed electronically and which must be available for ready
reference, the publications must be displayable within a reasonable
amount of time under the given circumstances.''
We disagree with changing the standard to being able to display the
publication within a reasonable amount of time. Section 83.01 of 33 CFR
requires that the Inland Navigation Rules be carried as ``ready
reference'' on board each self-propelled vessel 12 meters or more in
length. Similarly, 33 CFR 161.4 requires each VTS user to carry on
board and maintain for ready reference a copy of the VTS Rules.
Practical use and reference to the Inland Navigation Rules and VTS
Rules while underway may be directly related to a situation with
vessels meeting, as well as navigation or communication requirements
within VTS areas. A delay in accessing these rules is a safety concern.
For this reason, we cannot amend the standard to ``within a reasonable
amount of time.'' However, we are amending NVIC 01-16 Change 2 to
require that, if an electronic version is to be used, those
publications designated as ``ready reference'' be
[[Page 31791]]
previously downloaded so as to be accessible without internet
access.\1\
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\1\ This was the only substantive change to NVIC 01-16 Change 2
we made from the version we posted in the docket when we invited
comments in September 2019.
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Without the traditional requirements of having a paper copy on
board a vessel, the proposed 2-minute standard was intended to set a
reasonable limit on how ``ready reference'' could be interpreted for an
electronic version that comes from a computer drive or the internet.
The proposed time standard was also meant to reduce the inherent and
unavoidable variation which results from marine inspections being
conducted by many different inspectors with a variety of backgrounds
and experience. We have not set such a specific time duration standard
for paper copies in 33 CFR 83.01 or 161.4, and, if we are to introduce
such a standard for the electronic equivalent, that would best be done
by amending those regulations. If a maximum time period is to be
established to access ``ready reference'' publications, it should apply
equally whether the rules are viewed on a printed page or an electronic
screen.
In terms of the time it takes to display an electronic version of
the publication, the ``ready reference'' standard applies to an
electronic version as if it were a paper version of the publication on
a vessel. In consideration of the decision to allow ``carriage via
internet access,'' the Coast Guard recognizes that many of the
navigation publications required to be carried are used primarily for
voyage planning. These publications must be current and accessible, but
not ready reference.
Depending on vessel heading, masts or other topside obstructions
may block antennas from receiving a signal. Additionally, connectivity
may be intermittent or unavailable for short durations of a voyage.
This temporary unavailability may not interfere with voyage planning
activities, but even brief periods of unavailability could result in an
unacceptable delay in accessing the Inland Navigation Rules and VTS
Rules that are required to be ready reference. Maintaining downloaded
copies will also ensure continuous access while maneuvering through
close quarters situations when these ready reference publications may
be most needed.
It should be noted that NVIC 01-16 Change 2 provides a voluntary
equivalency for the purposes of carriage requirements between paper and
electronic charts, and between paper and electronic versions of the
Inland Navigation Rules and VTS Rules required for navigation. Vessel
operators may continue to meet carriage requirements for all
publications, including VTS Rules and the Inland Navigation Rules, in
the traditional fashion by maintaining a paper (hard copy) reference.
Publication subscription service: Another commenter suggested that
his company could sell a specific subscription service that provides
up-to-date electronic versions of all the publications required for the
purpose of carriage, but they were unable to obtain Coast Guard
approval for this service at the time it was originally proposed. The
Coast Guard does not require the use of any fee-based service to access
these rules and publications. Nor does the Coast Guard prohibit the
establishment of fee-based services to aid with the carriage of
publications. However, all publications required for carriage under the
CFR titles referenced by this NVIC are available free of charge from
their respective governmental agencies' public websites.
Citing an example of issues his company encountered relating to
providing printed oil record books, the same commenter stated that
there is a need for the Coast Guard to clearly state what it wants with
respect to this NVIC Change 2. We believe that the NVIC 01-16 Change 2
policy is very clearly written, so that companies seeking to offer
products to enable mariners to use electronic charts and publications,
as well as Coast Guard inspectors, will understand exactly what is
required to meet NVIC 01-16 Change 2 equivalency standards. Regarding
the commenter's example, we note that oil record books, which are
required under the International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex I, and 33 CFR part 151, are outside
the scope of this NVIC. The Coast Guard did not revise the NVIC Change
2 in response to this comment.
Support for proposed action: Two other commenters were supportive
of the proposed NVIC announced in September 2019 and of allowing
certain navigation publications to be accessed electronically.
The Coast Guard appreciates all the comments received. We will
continue to study this issue in light of the comments received and our
experience with mariners' implementation of this policy before issuing
other notices or policy letters on this matter.
IV. Cost Savings Analysis
The Coast Guard prepared a Deregulatory Savings Analysis for the
September 2019 initial notice of availability of NVIC 01-16 Change 2
that identified and examined the potential costs and cost savings
associated with implementing the new equivalency determination for
carriage. The Coast Guard received no comments on this analysis, but we
did receive comments on the NVIC that caused us to change our ready
reference equivalency standard. Changing this standard impacts the
estimated cost savings. Additionally, the Coast Guard identified
typographical and other grammatical errors that have been corrected in
the final version along with updating the cost savings estimates based
on the changes to the final notice. This analysis is available in the
docket, where indicated under the ADDRESSES portion of this document.
V. Public Availability of NVIC 01-16 Change 2
A version of NVIC 01-16 Change 2 with an issue date of May 21,
2020, will be placed in the docket for this notice. Also, NVIC 01-16
Change 2 will be located on the following Commandant website: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/NVIC/. This version contains the
NVIC's enclosures--Enclosure (1), Equivalency determination for
``Marine Charts,'' ``Charts,'' or ``Maps;'' ``Publications;'' and
navigation functions; and Enclosure (2), Guidelines for inspecting and
using electronic charts and publications.
Dated: May 21, 2020.
R.V. Timme,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020-11363 Filed 5-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
