Document ID: USCG-2022-0345-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Notice
Title: Certificate of Alternative Compliance for the GUNDERSON MARINE OIL SPILL RECOVERY BARGE (OSRB–5), HULL NO 129
Posted Date: 2022-09-20T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57501-57502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20304]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2022-0345]

Certificate of Alternative Compliance for the GUNDERSON MARINE 
OIL SPILL RECOVERY BARGE (OSRB-5), HULL NO 129

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notification of issuance of a certificate of alternative 
compliance.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that the Chief, Prevention Division, 
Thirteenth Coast Guard District has issued a certificate of alternative

[[Page 57502]]

compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions 
at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), for the GUNDERSON MARINE OSRB-5, HULL NO 
129. We are issuing this notification because its publication is 
required by statute. Due to the construction and placement of the 
sidelights GUNDERSON MARINE OSRB-5, HULL NO 129 cannot fully comply 
with the light, shape, or sound signal provisions of the 72 COLREGS 
without interfering with the vessel's design and construction. This 
notification of issuance of a certificate of alternative compliance 
promotes the Coast Guard's marine safety mission.

DATES: The certificate of alternative compliance was issued on August 
10, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information or questions about 
this notice call or email Ms. Jill L. Lazo, Thirteenth District, U.S. 
Coast Guard; telephone 206-220-7232, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States is signatory to the 
International Maritime Organization's International Regulations for 
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), as amended. The 
special construction or purpose of some vessels makes them unable to 
comply with the light, shape, or sound signal provisions of the 72 
COLREGS. Under statutory law, however, specified 72 COLREGS provisions 
are not applicable to a vessel of special construction or purpose if 
the Coast Guard determines that the vessel cannot comply fully with 
those requirements without interfering with the special function of the 
vessel.\1\
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    \1\ 33 U.S.C. 1605.
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    The owner, builder, operator, or agent of a special construction or 
purpose vessel may apply to the Coast Guard District Office in which 
the vessel is being built or operated for a determination that 
compliance with alternative requirements is justified,\2\ and the Chief 
of the Prevention Division would then issue the applicant a certificate 
of alternative compliance (COAC) if he or she determines that the 
vessel cannot comply fully with 72 COLREGS light, shape, and sound 
signal provisions without interference with the vessel's special 
function.\3\ If the Coast Guard issues a COAC, it must publish notice 
of this action in the Federal Register.\4\
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    \2\ 33 CFR 81.5.
    \3\ 33 CFR 81.9.
    \4\ 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.
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    The Chief, Prevention Division, Thirteenth Coast Guard District, 
certifies that GUNDERSON MARINE OSRB-5, HULL NO 129 is a barge of 
special construction or purpose, and that, with respect to the position 
of the sidelights, it is not possible to comply fully with the 
requirements of the provisions enumerated in the 72 COLREGS, without 
interfering with the normal operation, construction, or design of the 
vessel. The unique design of the vessel did not lend itself to full 
compliance with Annex I Part 3 (b), of the 72 COLREGS, 33 CFR 83.21(b), 
and 84.03(b) of the International Navigational Rules. The Chief, 
Prevention Division, Thirteenth Coast Guard District further finds and 
certifies that the sidelights, are in the closest possible compliance 
with the applicable provisions of the 72 COLREGS.\5\
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    \5\ 33 U.S.C. 1605(a); 33 CFR 81.9.
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    This document is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 
CFR 81.18.

    Dated: September 13, 2022.
P.C. Burkett,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Prevention Division, Thirteenth Coast 
Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2022-20304 Filed 9-19-22; 8:45 am]
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