The Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards published an FAQ document for the Offshore Supply Vessels, of at least 6,000 GT ITC, interim rule.

The interim rule was announced today, to ensure the safe carriage of oil, hazardous substances and individuals other than crew by requiring U.S.-flagged OSVs of at least 6,000 GT ITC to comply with existing regulatory requirements and international standards for design, engineering, construction, operations and manning, inspections and certification.

“Maritime oil exploration and production is growing increasingly complex and moving even further offshore. The newest Offshore Support Vessels are larger, more technically advanced and carrying more personnel than earlier designs. Using the authority Congress provided in the Coast Guard’s 2010 Authorization Act, we have updated our offshore vessel regulations and incorporated new standards for safe design and operation to account for these changes. However, these new technical and operating standards don’t replace the need for strong safety management practices and a visible safety culture from the deckplates to the boardroom,” said Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, assistant commandant for prevention policy.

If you have specific questions regarding the content of the interim rule, please call or email the Office of Design & Engineering Standards (202) 372-1362.

If you have commentary on the interim rule for consideration prior to finalization, please see the Federal Register Notice.

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.