Maritime Administration June 25, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice serves to inform interested parties and the public of the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) new policy on certification of cruise vessel security and safety training providers. As required by the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, Public Law 111-207 (July 27, 2010) (codified at 46 U.S.C. sections 3507-08) (CVSSA), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in consultation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and MARAD developed training standards and curricula (the ``Model Course'') to allow for the certification of passenger vessel security personnel, crewmembers, and law enforcement officials on the appropriate methods for the prevention, detection, evidence preservation and reporting of criminal activities in the international maritime environment. In addition, the CVSSA provided the Maritime Administrator with the discretionary authority to certify organizations in the United States and abroad that offer the curriculum for training and certification. On May 23, 2013, the agency published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on a draft policy under which such certification would be carried out (78 FR 30956). In response, the agency received four separate comments to which it provides its responses below. The agency is now announcing its voluntary certification program for training providers to assure the general public that passenger cruise vessel security and safety personnel have received training that is in strict compliance with the CVSSA mandated Model Course. MARAD certification will serve to assist the cruise industry in identifying and obtaining qualified training services.