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New rule expanding US AIS carriage and requirements

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TIN news:          The US Coast Guard (USCG) posted a Fact Sheet regarding the recent final rule expanding the carriage and utilization requirements for the automatic identification system (AIS) so as to be consistent with provisions of the SOLAS Convention.
 
On July 1st, 2003 (68 FR 39953) the Coast Guard published an Interim Rule, followed by soon followed by a Final Rule on October 22nd, 2003 (68 FR 60564) that implemented the 2002 AIS mandates of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (Regulation V/19.2.4, as amended in 2004), which requires AIS on all tankers, large passenger vessels, and most commercial ships on international voyages (bound for the U.S.), and, per the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA), the following participants in a Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service/Vessel Movement Reporting Systems (listed in Table 33 CFR 161.12(c)):
 
    Any commercial self-propelled vessels of 65 feet or more in length 
        Except fishing vessels or those certificated to carry less than 150 passenger for hire
    Any towing vessels of 27 feet or more in length and more than 600 hp
    Any passenger vessel certificated to carry 150 or more passengers
 
On December 16th, 2008 (73 FR 76295) the Coast Guard proposed to amend these rules (33 CFR 164.46), and, subsequently published a Final Rule on January 30th, 2015 (80 FR 5281) which, effective March 2nd, 2015, amends 33 CFR §164.46 and expands AIS carriage to all U.S. navigable waters, on vessels denoted above, and, adds:
 
    Any commercial self-propelled vessels of 65 feet or more in length, regardless of service
    Any self-propelled dredge operating in or near a commercial channel
    Any self-propelled vessel moving certain dangerous cargoes, flammable or combustible liquids in bulk
 
Noteworthy Changes to the Final Rule in Response to Comments Received to the Proposed Rule
 
Extending the implementation period to 13 month vice 7 months,
 
Excepting moored vessels of its continuous operations,
 
Omitting floating plants and allowing exemptions for vessels that lack onboard power, or that operate solely within a very confined area, or on only short scheduled routes; or that are not likely to encounter other users,
 
Extending exemption periods to 5-years,
 
Prohibiting the use of mobile AIS on aircraft, unmanned craft or from shore, and
 
Allowing the use of lower cost AIS Class B devices, in lieu of Class A devices, on dredges, fishing industry vessels, and, on vessels certificated to carry less than 150 passengers that do not operate in a Vessel Traffic Service area or at speeds in excess of 14 knots.
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