[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16693-16694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7861]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 95-015]


Load Lines: Barges on Lake Michigan

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to amend its current policy exempting 
unmanned, river-service, dry-cargo barges operating on Lake Michigan 
between Chicago (Calumet Harbor), Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 
from the requirement that they have a Great Lakes Load Line 
Certificate. In order to qualify for the exemption, the barges must 
meet certain specified requirements intended to provide a level of 
safety equivalent to that provided under the Great Lakes load line 
regulations. Also, the Coast Guard proposes to exempt similar barges 
under the same requirements operating between Chicago (Calumet Harbor), 
Illinois, and St. Joseph (Benton Harbor), Michigan. These changes 
should facilitate the movement of goods along these routes while 
maintaining an equivalent level of safety.

DATES: This exemption is effective March 31, 1995. Comments must be 
received on or before May 15, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council (G-LRA/3406) (CGD 95-015), U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may 
be delivered to room 3406 at the same address between 8 a.m. and 3 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is (202) 267-1477.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this 
notice. Comments will become part of this docket and will be available 
for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 
between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. William Hayden, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection, U.S. Coast Guard (G-MTH-3), room 1308, 2100 Second Street, 
SW., Washington DC 20593-0001. The telephone number is (202) 267-2988.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Changes to the Chicago to Milwaukee Route Exemption

    On September 21, 1992, the Coast Guard published a notice in the 
Federal Register (57 FR 43479) announcing that unmanned barges designed 
for river service and carrying dry, non-hazardous cargo from the 
Illinois River system, via Chicago and Lake Michigan, to Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, are exempt from the requirement that they have a Great Lakes 
Load Line Certificate under 46 CFR part 45. In order to qualify for the 
exemption, the barges must have a Limited Service Domestic Voyage Load 
Line Certificate and meet certain special operating restrictions and 
conditions. Under 46 CFR 45.15(a), Coast Guard determined that, due to 
the sheltered nature of the voyage along the coast of Lake Michigan and 
to the special restrictions and conditions imposed, it would be 
unreasonable to require these barges to have a Great Lakes load line 
under 46 CFR part 45.
    Based on experience gained since 1992, the Coast Guard is making 
the following changes to the special restrictions and conditions for 
the exemption:
    (1) The lead barge of the tow must have a raked bow. [See paragraph 
II.4. below.] Comments received at a joint Coast Guard/industry meeting 
held in Muskegon, Michigan, on October 24, 1994, indicated that using a 
box (square end) barge as the lead for the tow greatly reduces the 
transit speed, thereby increasing the transit time. Representatives 
from several companies operating barges on the Chicago to Milwaukee 
route stated that they now use a rake-end barge as the lead barge. An 
increase in speed should reduce the transit time to a harbor of safe 
refuge in the event of an adverse change in the weather.
    (2) Paragraph III.5. allows the initial load line survey for barges 
less than 10 years old to be conducted with the barge remaining in the 
water, rather than drydocked or hauled out of the water as presently 
required. A survey afloat should be sufficient in light of the 
restricted nature of the route, the relatively benign environment of 
river service, and the relatively small portion of time the barges 
would be operating on Lake Michigan. When the barge reaches 10 years of 
age or upon expiration of its Limited Service Domestic Voyage Load Line 
Certificate, whichever occurs first, the survey must include 
drydocking. [See paragraph III.6.]
    (3) Carrying cargo to a Lake Michigan port not along the designated 
route is prohibited. [See paragraph II.2.] The purpose for the 
exemption is to provide uninterrupted service between the inland 
waterway system and certain Lake Michigan ports and not to circumvent 
traditional intra-lake service provided by Great Lakes-capable barges.

Establishment of the Chicago to St. Joseph Route Exemption

    As recommended by ABS Americans (ABS) on January 9, 1995, the Coast 
Guard is granting that a similar exemption with the same restrictions 
for voyages between Calumet Harbor and Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, 
Michigan. The Coast Guard is allowing 45 days for public comment and 
may amend this exemption based on the comments received.
    To eliminate duplicative paperwork, an approval for operation on 
one route constitutes an approval for operation on both routes. [See 
paragraph I.3.]
    For the reasons set out above, the Coast Guard, under 46 U.S.C. 
5108 and 46 CFR 45.15(a), amends the exemption announced in the notice 
of September 21, 1992, (57 FR 43479) as follows: LIMITED SERVICE 
DOMESTIC VOYAGE LOAD LINE ROUTES: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, TO MILWAUKEE, 
[[Page 16694]] WISCONSIN, AND CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, TO ST. JOSEPH, 
MICHIGAN

I. General

    1. A barge operating under the following restrictions and complying 
with the following conditions is exempt, under 46 CFR 45.15(a), from 46 
CFR part 45, Great Lakes Load Lines.
    2. This exemption supersedes the exemption announced in the notice 
published in the Federal Register on September 21, 1992, (57 FR 43479).
    3. An approval for operation on either route described in paragraph 
II.2. results in an approval for operation on both routes. A load line 
certificate under paragraph II for operation on either route may be 
amended, upon written request to ABS Americans, to include operation on 
both routes.

II. Operating Restrictions

    Each barge must have a Limited Service Domestic Voyage Load Line 
Certificate under 46 CFR part 44. The following restrictions apply and 
must appear on the certificate:
    1. The certificate is valid only for unmanned, river-service, dry-
cargo barges.
    2. Barge operation is limited to voyages between Calumet Harbor, 
Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and between Calumet Harbor 
and Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Michigan. Barges may make stops at 
intermediate ports along a route; however, they may not carry cargo 
directly from a Lake Michigan port on one route to a Lake Michigan port 
on the other route without first entering the river system at Calumet 
Harbor.
    3. Hazardous materials, as defined in 46 CFR part 148 and 49 CFR 
chapter 1, subchapter C, may not be carried as cargo. Cargo is limited 
to dry commodities, such as steel products, heavy machinery, dry bulk 
fertilizer, grain, bulk cement, scrap materials, and forest products.
    4. The towing vessel must have adequate horsepower to handle the 
size of the tow, with a minimum of 1,000 horsepower. The tow is limited 
to a maximum of three barges, with the lead barge having a raked bow.
    5. Before beginning each voyage, the towing vessel operator shall 
ensure that each barge of the tow meets the following requirements:
    (a) Deck and side shell plating is free of visible holes, 
fractures, or serious indentations, as well as damage that would be 
considered in excess of normal wear.
    (b) The cargo box side and end coamings are watertight.
    (c) All manholes are covered and secured watertight.
    6. The towing vessel operator shall maintain radio contact with the 
local weather radio network.
    7. Before getting underway, the towing vessel operator shall 
determine the weather expected along the proposed route. If the 
following wind speed and wave height limits are expected to be exceeded 
at any time during the course of the planned voyage on Lake Michigan, 
the towing vessel may not leave harbor:
    (a) When operating between Chicago and Milwaukee.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Continous                       
            Wind direction               velocity        Wave height    
                                         (knots)                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SE, E, NE............................           15  4 feet (1.2 m).     
N, S, W, NW, SW......................           20  4 feet (1.2 m).     
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) When operating between Chicago and St. Joseph.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Continuous                      
            Wind direction               velocity        Wave height    
                                         (knots)                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
N, W, NW, SW.........................           15  4 feet (1.2 m).     
E, S, NE, SE.........................           20  4 feet (1.2 m).     
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While underway, if the wind speed and wave height exceed the limits 
above, the towing vessel must proceed immediately to the nearest harbor 
of safe refuge.
    8. The distance from shore during the course of a voyage may not 
exceed 5 nautical miles.
    9. Towing is permitted only if ice conditions are such that 
operation of the vessel is not imperiled.
    10. Precautions must be taken to prevent shifting of cargo.
    11. The operational requirements in paragraph II are in addition to 
other applicable requirements for operation on the Great Lakes.

III. Barge Conditions

    A barge that meets the following requirements is eligible for a 
Limited Service Domestic Voyage Load Line Certificate. ABS Americas is 
authorized to issue these certificates on behalf of the Coast Guard.
    In determining a barge's suitability for assignment of a limited 
service load line, the following variances apply:
    1. The barge length to depth ratio must not exceed 22.
    2. The barge must be built and maintained to the minimum scantlings 
of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) River Rules in effect at the 
time of construction. ABS must be provided with evidence demonstrating 
compliance with the ABS River Rules.
    3. The freeboard assigned to the barge must be at least 24 inches 
(610 millimeters). For an open-hopper barge, the operating freeboard 
combined with the height of the cargo box coamings must be at least 54 
inches (1372 millimeters).
    4. An initial load line survey under 46 CFR 42.09-25 and subsequent 
annual surveys under 46 CFR 42.09-40 are required to determine 
compliance with the requirements of this notice, the condition of all 
watertight openings and closures, and the structural integrity of the 
barge.
    5. At the request of the owner, a light-vessel structural survey 
may be conducted with the barge remaining in the water, rather than 
drydocked or hauled out as required by 46 CFR 42.09-25(a), if the barge 
is less than 10 years old and the following are met:
    (a) The draft during the survey does not exceed 15 inches (380 
millimeters).
    (b) The barge is empty and thoroughly cleaned of all debris, 
excessive rust, scale, mud, and liquids.
    (c) Gaugings are taken to the extent necessary to verify that the 
scantlings are in accordance with approved drawings.
    (d) The bottom and side shell plating below the light waterline are 
closely examined internally. If the surveyor determines that sufficient 
cause exists, the surveyor may require that the barge be drydocked or 
hauled out and further external examination conducted.
    6. When the barge reaches 10 years of age or upon the expiration of 
the Limited Service Domestic Voyage Load Line Certificate, whichever 
occurs first, the barge must be drydocked or hauled out and examined 
externally.

    Dated: March 24, 1995.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Marine Safety, 
Security, and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-7861 Filed 3-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-P