The Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance released policy letter 16-04 in order to provide guidance to Coast Guard Officers in Charge, Marine Inspections (OCMI) and the marine industry on the circumstances under which personnel may conditionally occupy an unmanned barge that forms part of an articulated tug barge combination.

This policy letter is applicable to barges with an unmanned load line operating beyond the Boundary Line, or on the Great Lakes.

For more information, please view the entire policy letter.

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