Coast Guard April 1, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is issuing a final rule requiring each owner or operator of a maritime facility regulated by the Coast Guard to implement a system providing seafarers, pilots, and representatives of seamen's welfare and labor organizations access between vessels moored at the facility and the facility gate, in a timely manner and at no cost to the seafarer or other individuals. These access procedures must be documented in the Facility Security Plan for each facility, and approved by the local Captain of the Port. This final rule, which implements a congressional mandate, ensures that no facility owner or operator denies or makes it impractical for seafarers or other individuals to transit through the facility.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the special local regulation for the Charlevoix Venetian Night Boat Parade in Michigan by increasing the length of effective period of the existing special local regulation to allow the Patrol Commander additional time to clear vessels from anchoring in the regulated area during the event. In order for the Coast Guard to clear vessel traffic to ensure safety in sufficient time in advance of the event, the Coast Guard proposes to change the effective period broadly to ``a date in late July.'' We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Missouri River from mile marker (MM) 226 to MM 360 between Glasgow, MO and Kansas City, MO. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of persons, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters as a result of increasing flood conditions on the river that is threatening to overtop levees. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.