The Coast Guard announced Thursday that it is extending the comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) published Jan. 15, 2021, that seeks comments on the potential use of Safety Management Systems (SMS) to improve safety and reduce marine casualties on board U.S.-flagged passenger vessels.
The Coast Guard is extending the comment period an additional 45 days, to June 1, 2021. Comments must be received by the Coast Guard on or before June 1. In the request to extend the comment period for an additional 45 days, the person cited ongoing Covid–19 impacts and that vessel owners and operators of the potentially affected population are impacted operationally.
The ANPRM published in January seeks public input and responses to specific questions on the feasibility, applicability, and nature of SMSes for potential use on U.S.-flagged passenger vessels. The Coast Guard may use this information to develop a proposed rule.
The ANPRM and public comments in response to it are available in the online docket at https://www.regulations.gov, and can be viewed by following that website’s instructions.
For more information, call or email Lt. Kimberly Gates, Vessel and Facility Operating Standards Division (CG–OES–2), U.S. Coast Guard, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20593; telephone 202– 372–1455, email: kimberly.m.gates@ uscg.mil.
