USCG Issues Two Final Rules

Final Rule on Vessel Documentation Renewal Fees

On August 12^th, the USCG published its final rule on vessel documentation renewal fees, amending its regulations to list separately an annual fee for renewals of endorsements upon Certificate of Documentation. The USCG is required to set up user fees for all services relating to the documentation of vessels.

This new final rule separately lists a $26 fee to cover the costs of the documentation services. It will subsequently increase the annual Certificate of Documentation fee to more accurately reflect the costs to the USCG of providing these services.

The USCG establishes fees at amounts based on calculations to recover the costs of providing services, which is consistent with the user charges principle laid out in OMB Circular A-25, requiring the USCG to charge a fee for services, but limiting the charges to no more than the cost of the program. Fees become effective 90 days following publication of the rule.

You can read the final rule in its entirety here.

Final Rule for Offshore Supply Vessels of at Least 6,000 GT ITC

On August 18^th, the USCG issued an interim rule with regard to regulations to mitigate risks associated with removing the statutory size limit that previously existed for offshore supply vessels. The new regulations were effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register.

The statutory size limit previously placed on offshore supply vessels was removed by the Authorization Act of 2010, requiring the USCG to issue further regulations to mitigate the resulting risks.The USCG noted the need to ensure safe carriage of hazardous substances, oil, and individuals other than OSV crews on vessels of at least 6,000 gross tonnage.

In addition, this rule affects vessels of at least 500 gross register tons (as measured under the Regulatory Measurement System), if the vessel is not assigned a measurement under the Convention Measurement System, and the owner wishes to have the vessel certified as an OSV.

You can read this final rule in its entirety here.