[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 112 (Friday, June 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28053-28054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13773]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2009-0431]


Certificate of Alternative Compliance for the Offshore Supply 
Vessel BLN HULL 563

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative 
Compliance was issued for the offshore supply vessel BLN HULL 563 as 
required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

DATES: The Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued on May 13, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this notice is available for inspection or 
copying at the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation,

[[Page 28054]]

West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. You may also find this docket on the Internet 
by going to http://www.regulations.gov, selecting the Advanced Docket 
Search option on the right side of the screen, inserting USCG-2009-0431 
in the Docket ID box, pressing Enter, and then clicking on the item in 
the Docket ID column.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call CWO2 David Mauldin, District Eight, Prevention Branch, U.S. Coast 
Guard, telephone 504-671-2153. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background and Purpose

    The offshore supply vessel BLN HULL 563 will be used for offshore 
supply operations. Full compliance with 72 COLREGS and Inland Rules Act 
will hinder the vessel's ability to maneuver within close proximity of 
offshore platforms. Due to the design of the vessel, it would be 
difficult and impractical to build a supporting structure that would 
put the side lights within 5.6' from the greatest breadth of the 
vessel, as required by Annex I, paragraph 3(b) of the 72 COLREGS and 
Annex I, Section 84.05(b) of the Inland Rules Act. Compliance with the 
rule would cause the lights on the supply vessel BLN HULL 563 to be in 
a location which would be highly susceptible to damage from offshore 
platforms. The supply vessel BLN HULL 563 cannot comply fully with 
lighting requirements as set out in international regulations without 
interfering with the special function of the vessel (33 U.S.C. 1605(c); 
33 CFR 81.18).
    Locating the sidelights 12'-4\1/4\'' inboard from the greatest 
breadth of the vessel on the pilot house will provide a shelter 
location for the lights and allow maneuvering within close proximity to 
offshore platforms. In addition, the forward masthead light may be 
located on the top forward portion of the pilothouse 38'-2\1/4\'' above 
the hull. Placing the forward masthead light at the height required by 
Annex I, paragraph 2(a) of the 72 COLREGS would result in a masthead 
light location highly susceptible to damage when working in close 
proximity to offshore platforms. Furthermore, the horizontal distance 
between the forward and aft masthead lights may be 18'-10\9/16\''. 
Placing the aft masthead light at the horizontal distance from the 
forward masthead light, as required by Annex I, paragraph 3(a) of the 
72 COLREGS, and Annex I, Section 84.05(a) of the Inland Rules Act, 
would result in an aft masthead light location directly over the aft 
cargo deck where it would interfere with loading and unloading 
operations. Lastly, the aft anchor light may be placed 25'-1\5/16\'' 
off centerline to the starboard side of the vessel, just forward of the 
stern. Placing the aft anchor light directly over the aft cargo deck 
would interfere with loading and unloading operations.
    The Certificate of Alternative Compliance allows for the placement 
of the sidelights to deviate from requirements set forth in Annex I, 
paragraph 3(b) of 72 COLREGS, and Annex I, paragraph 84.05(b) of the 
Inland Rules Act. In addition, the Certificate of Alternative 
Compliance allows for the vertical placement of the forward masthead 
light to deviate from requirements set forth in Annex I, paragraph 2(a) 
of 72 COLREGS. Furthermore, the Certificate of Alternative Compliance 
allows for the horizontal separation of the forward and aft masthead 
lights to deviate from the requirements of Annex I, paragraph 3(a) of 
72 COLREGS, and Annex I, Section 84.05(a) of the Inland Rules Act. 
Lastly, the Certificate of Alternative Compliance allows for the 
placement of the aft anchor light to deviate from the requirements of 
Rule 30(a)(ii) of 72 COLREGS and Rule 30(a)(ii) of the Inland Rules 
Act.
    This notice is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1605(c), and 33 
CFR 81.18.

    Dated: May 15, 2009.
Verne B. Gifford,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, By Direction of the Commander, Eighth Coast 
Guard District.
[FR Doc. E9-13773 Filed 6-11-09; 8:45 am]
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