29296 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 102 /Thursday, May 28, 1998 / Notices

and 63 FR 9980, February 27, 1998).

These proposed rules present

appropriate measures for reducing the

likelihood of loss of control and

grounding of a tank barge based on

whether or not the barge is manned. As

a result of reducing the likelihood of

groundings, fire prevention measures

and emergency control measures are

also both part of the system to address

tank barge safety.

Another speaker commented on the

often insufficient manning on foreign

flag vessels, which makes it harder to

have safe operations. With certain

exceptions, the vessel’s Flag State

establishes the manning level for each

vessel. The Coast Guard is concerned

about the safety of foreign vessels

operating in U.S. waters and is working

with the International Maritime

Organization (IMO) to develop more upto-date guidance on the principles of

safe manning. The aim of this guidance

is to have crew complements based on

the actual crew workload, taking into

account work hour limits and rest

requirements. During Port State Control

(PSC) boardings of foreign vessels, the

Safe Manning Document is checked

against the actual manning of the vessel.

In addition, licenses, certificates, and

rest requirements are checked to ensure

compliance with the STCW. The Coast

Guard will work with representatives of

the Flag State to resolve any of the

problems. The Coast Guard may detain

the vessel in port pending the resolution

of the problems to ensure the correction

of unsafe conditions, which may

include requiring additional

crewmembers if insufficient personnel

are onboard to safely operate the vessel.

Pilotage

One speaker discussed the need for

First Class Pilot’s licenses on the inland

waterway system. The speaker indicated

that the current certification of inland

pilots on parts of the inland waterway,

which does not specify a geographic

area of expertise, is insufficient. The

speaker stated that the Coast Guard

Regional Examination Centers need to

ensure capable people can get their

license.

In 1994, the Coast Guard revised the

pilot regulations in 46 CFR 15.812 to

eliminate the requirement for a First

Class Pilot’s license on non-designated

areas of pilotage waters. Due to this

change in regulations, it is now the

companies’ responsibility to ensure that

the pilot they hire has the necessary

expertise.

Maintenance

One speaker commented on

maintenance. The speaker highlighted

problems with main propulsion failures

due to the lack of proper maintenance

of ships and equipment. Poor

maintenance of ships and equipment

has been noted in many casualties,

including the December 1996 BRIGHT

FIELD accident in New Orleans, LA,

where poor maintenance was cited as a

cause of the accident in the

investigation report, which was

published on October 31, 1997.

The speaker noted that the issue of

maintenance should receive more

attention than it has in the past. The

Coast Guard is actively pursing these

efforts through its PSC and SIP

programs, which target foreign vessels

and domestic that are not operated or

maintained properly. Additionally, the

ISM Code becomes mandatory for many

vessels on July 1, 1998, and requires

both the company and the vessel to have

a safety management system in place. A

properly implemented safety

management system will help prevent

occurrences such as the BRIGHT

FIELD’S loss of propulsion.

Conclusion

The Coast Guard is committed to PTP

as a long-term effort to address the root

cause of many of these accidents—the

human element. Through the continuing

efforts of the Coast Guard and marine

community, we can all reduce and

perhaps, eventually, eliminate these

types of accidents. The Coast Guard has

an unwavering commitment to safety,

and through PTP is undertaking many

bold initiatives. The marine community

is invited to join in this effort to

improve marine safety and

environmental protection. Visit one of

the web sites listed in this notice to

learn more.

Dated: May 18, 1998.

R.C. North,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant

Commandant for Marine Safety and

Environmental Protection.

[FR Doc. 98–14163 Filed 5–27–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Aviation Rulemaking Advisory

Committee; Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice

to advise the public of a meeting of the

Federal Aviation Administration

Aviation Rulemaking Advisory

Committee to discuss air traffic issues.

DATES: The meeting will be held on June

16, 1998, 10:00 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Air Traffic Control Association

Headquarters, 2300 Clarendon Blvd.,

Suite 711, Arlington, VA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Beth Allen, Transportation Regulations

Analyst, Airmen and Airspace Rules

Division, Office of Rulemaking (ARM–

105), 800 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20591. Telephone:

(202) 267–8199, FAX: (202) 267–5075.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant

to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal

Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–43;

5 U.S.C. App. II), notice is hereby given

of a meeting of the Aviation Rulemaking

Advisory Committee. This meeting will

be held on June 16, 1998, at 10:00 a.m.,

at the Air Traffic Control Association

Headquarters, 2300 Clarendon Blvd.,

Suite 711, Arlington, VA.

The agenda for this meeting will

include a review of the Special Visual

Flight Rules (SVFR) Working Group’s

activities.

Attendance is open to the interested

public but may be limited to the space

available. The public must make

arrangements in advance to present oral

statements at the meeting or may

present written statements to the

committee at any time. In addition, sign

and oral interpretation can be made

available at the meeting, as well as an

assistive listening device, if requested

10 calendar days before the meeting.

Arrangements may be made by

contacting the person listed under the

heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT.

Issued in Washington, DC on May 21,

1998.

Reginald C. Matthews,

Assistant Executive Director for Air Traffic

Issues, Aviation Rulemaking Advisory

Committee.

[FR Doc. 98–14167 Filed 5–27–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Aviation Rulemaking Advisory

Committee Meeting on Air Carrier

Operations

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice

to advise the public of a meeting of the

Federal Aviation Administration