[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48415-48417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22577]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

32 CFR Part 706


Certifications and Exemptions Under the International Regulations 
for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DoN) is amending its 
certifications and exemptions under the International Regulations for 
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended (72 COLREGS), to reflect 
that the Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General (DAJAG)(Admiralty and 
Maritime Law) has determined that USS MICHAEL MONSOOR (DDG 1001) is a 
vessel of the Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, 
cannot fully comply with certain provisions of the 72 COLREGS without 
interfering with its special function as a naval ship. The intended 
effect of this rule is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS 
apply.

DATES: This rule is effective October 18, 2017 and is applicable 
beginning October 3, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Commander Kyle Fralick, 
(Admiralty and Maritime Law), Office of the Judge Advocate General, 
Department of the Navy, 1322 Patterson Ave. SE., Suite 3000, Washington 
Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066, telephone 202-685-5040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the authority granted in 33 
U.S.C. 1605, the DoN amends 32 CFR part 706.
    This amendment provides notice that the DAJAG (Admiralty and 
Maritime Law), under authority delegated by the Secretary of the Navy, 
has certified that USS MICHAEL MONSOOR (DDG 1001) is a vessel of the 
Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot fully 
comply with the following specific provisions of 72 COLREGS without 
interfering with its special function as a naval ship: Annex I 
paragraph 2(a)(i), pertaining to the location of the forward masthead 
light at a height not less than 6 meters above the hull; Annex I, 
paragraph 2(g) pertaining to the placement of sidelights above the hull 
of the vessel; Rule 30(a)(i) and Annex I, paragraph 2(k) pertaining to 
the vertical separation between anchor lights, and the location of the 
forward anchor light at a height of not less than 6 meters above the 
hull; Annex I, paragraph 3(a), pertaining to the horizontal separation 
between the forward and after masthead lights; Annex I, paragraph 
2(i)(iii), pertaining to the vertical spacing of task lights; and Annex 
I, paragraph 3(c), pertaining to the task lights placed at a horizontal 
distance of not less than 2 meters from the fore and aft centerline of 
the vessel. The DAJAG (Admiralty and Maritime Law) has also certified 
that the lights involved are located in closest possible compliance 
with the applicable 72 COLREGS requirements.
    Moreover, it has been determined, in accordance with 32 CFR parts 
296 and 701, that publication of this amendment for public comment 
prior to adoption is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to public 
interest since it is based on technical findings that the placement of 
lights on this vessel in a manner differently from that prescribed 
herein will adversely affect the vessel's ability to perform its 
military functions.

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 706

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), Vessels.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the DoN amends part 706 
of title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 706--CERTIFICATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL 
REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA, 1972

0
 1. The authority citation for part 706 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1605.

0
2. Section 706.2 is amended by:
0
 a. In Table One, adding in alphanumerical order by vessel number, an 
entry for USS MICHAEL MONSOOR (DDG 1001);

[[Page 48416]]

0
b. In Table Three, adding in alphanumerical order by vessel number, an 
entry for USS MICHAEL MONSOOR (DDG 1001);
0
 c. In Table Four, under paragraph 15, adding in alphanumerical order 
by vessel number, an entry for USS MICHAEL MONSOOR (DDG 1001);
0
d. In Table Four, under paragraph 19, adding in alphanumerical order by 
vessel number, an entry for USS MICHAEL MONSOOR (DDG 1001);
0
 e. In Table Four, under paragraph 22 adding, in alphanumerical order 
by vessel number, an entry for USS MICHAEL MONSOOR (DDG 1001); and
0
 f. In Table Five, adding, in alphanumerical order by vessel number, an 
entry for USS MICHAEL MONSOOR (DDG 1001).
    The additions read as follows:


Sec.  706.2  Certifications of the Secretary of the Navy under 
Executive Order 11964 and 33 U.S.C. 1605.

* * * * *

                                                    Table One
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          Distance in meters of
                                                                                         forward masthead light
                    Vessel                                      Number                   below minimum required
                                                                                               height Sec.
                                                                                             2(a)(i)Annex 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
USS MICHAEL MONSOOR...........................  DDG                                                        2.33
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

                                                                       Table Three
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                                                                                         Side lights    Stern light,                     Anchor lights
                                                  Masthead   Side lights  Stern light     distance        distance     Forward anchor   relationship of
                                                 lights arc     arc of       arc of      inboard of      forward of     light, height     aft light to
            Vessel                  Number           of      visibility;  visibility;   ship's sides      stern in      above hull in   forward light in
                                                visibility;   rule 21(b)   rule 21(c)  in meters 3(b)   meters; rule    meters; 2(K)   meters 2(K) annex
                                                 rule 21(a)                                annex 1          21(c)          annex 1             1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USS MICHAEL MONSOOR...........  DDG 1001        ...........  ...........  ...........  ..............  ..............             5.3  2.99 below.
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
* * * * *
    15. * * *

                               Table Four
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Horizontal
                                                          distance from
                                                        the fore and aft
            Vessel                      Number            centerline of
                                                          the vessel in
                                                         the athwartship
                                                            direction
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
USS MICHAEL MONSOOR...........  DDG 1001                FWD Lower:
                                                         \1\0.33 meters.
                                                        FWD Middle:
                                                         \1\0.31 meters.
                                                        FWD Upper:
                                                         \1\0.30 meters.
                                                        AFT Lower:
                                                         \1\1.05 meters.
                                                        AFT Middle:
                                                         \1\1.05 meters.
                                                        AFT Upper:
                                                         \1\1.05 meters.
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ On DDG 1000, the ship does not have a traditional mast. To achieve
  the effect of a ``single, all-around light,'' multiple sets of task
  lights are embedded into each of the four faces of the ship's
  superstructure. Except when viewing the ship from dead ahead, dead
  astern or broadside, two deckhouse surfaces are visible; consequently,
  two sets of task lights are visible simultaneously. Because the
  deckhouse surfaces are sloped, unless the lights are viewed dead-on,
  the three task lights do not present as being in a vertical line.

* * * * *
    19. * * *

[[Page 48417]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Distance in
                                                            meters of
            Vessel                      Number          sidelights above
                                                         maximum allowed
                                                             height
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USS MICHAEL MONSOOR...........  DDG 1001                2.23 PORT.
                                                        2.52 STBD.
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    22. * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Vertical
                                                          Separation of
                                                         the task light
                                                          array is not
                                                         equally spaced,
                                                         the separation
                                                           between the
            Vessel                      Number          middle and lower
                                                           task light
                                                           exceed the
                                                           separation
                                                           between the
                                                        upper and middle
                                                            light by
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
USS MICHAEL MONSOOR...........  DDG 1001                FWD: 0.01 meter.
                                                        AFT: 0.00 meter.
                                                        PORT: 0.17
                                                         meter.
                                                        STBD: 0.24
                                                         meter.
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

                                                                       Table Five
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                                                                                                                        After  masthead
                                                                                          Masthead         Forward         light less
                                                                                         lights not    masthead  light     than \1/2\       Percentage
                                                                                      over all  other   not in forward   ship's  length     horizontal
                    Vessel                                     Number                    lights and      quarter  of    aft of  forward     separation
                                                                                       obstructions;   ship;  annex I,      masthead         attained
                                                                                       annex I,  sec.      sec. 3(a)     light;  annex
                                                                                            2(f)                          I,  sec.3(a)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
USS MICHAEL MONSOOR..........................  DDG 1001                                            X                X                X             77.2
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Approved: October 3, 2017.
 A.S. Janin,
Captain, JAGC, U.S. Navy, Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate, General 
(Admiralty and Maritime Law).
    Dated: October 10, 2017.

A.M. Nichols,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy,Federal 
Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-22577 Filed 10-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P