The Coast Guard has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding maneuvering performance standards for new U.S.-flag vessels — oceangoing tankers and product carriers, passenger ships, cargo ships, miscellaneous vessels, and Great Lakes bulk carriers.
With regard to tankers, the regulatory action would implement portions of the 1978 Port and Tanker Safety Act. Accompanying the standards will be standardized trial maneuvers designed to verify the vessel's performance, and to provide the information on maneuvering already required to be posted in the pilothouse.
The proposed standards would supplement the existing operation-oriented requirements for the display of maneuvering information in the pilothouse.
The Coast Guard anticipates basing the standards on the performance of existing vessels, and would provide shipowners, designers, builders, pilots, masters, port authorities, and law enforcement officials with a method to assess a vessel's inherent maneuverability.
The Coast Guard stated that the use of tugs has been investigated in joint Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, and industry programs. Tugs are not considered a substitute for inherent maneuvering capabilities, although the Coast Guard says tugs show promise for propulsion and rudder system assistance in emergency situations at low speeds.
The Coast Guard listed 14 specific points it considered important in the development of the regulations, including the feasibility of tug utilization. Comments on the standards must be submitted by January 12, 1982, to Commandant (G-CMC/44) (CGD 80-136), U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C. 20593. The proposals were published in the September 14 issue of the Federal Register.