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The Coast Guard published a direct and final rule to the Federal Register to amend merchant regulations to allow oilers, serving on certain vessels, to be divided into at least two watches.

On October 26, 2015, the Coast Guard published a direct final rule, which notified the public of our intent to amend merchant mariner manning regulations to align them with statutory changes made by the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014.

The Act allows oilers serving on certain offshore support vessels, towing vessels and barges to be divided into at least two watches. The change would increase the sea service credit affected mariners are permitted to earn for each 12-hour period of work from one day to one and a half days. The rule will go into effect as scheduled.

The effective date of the direct and final rule is January 25, 2016.

View the final rule for full details.

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