Page 13: of Marine News Magazine (April 2024)

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Q&A

We’ve still got some work to do. Despite the new guid- Looking across the industry, what are some ance, we are seeing differences in the way that the Coast other important regulatory issues that AWO is

Guard is applying crewing and life-saving requirements to currently paying attention to?

ATBs from one unit to another. Those differences don’t Subchapter M, believe it or not, we are getting ready to, seem to be driven primarily by risk, by the speci? c op- for some vessels embark on the COI renewal cycle, so we erational risks involved, but more by ambiguity in the re- want to make sure that that renewal cycle goes smoothly quirements which then leads to different interpretations and ef? ciently, that the process of dry docking and all of and different outcomes. We appreciate the Coast Guard that goes ef? ciently and, again, with a risk-based approach. taking steps to modernize its policy. We think there’s a We got through the initial push to get all of the towing ves- little bit more work to be done there. sels certi? cated, but we’re not done. We need to make sure

The previous Coast Guard guidance was old, but ATBs that as we move into this next stage, whether a company are not new. These are vessels that have a really outstand- is using the TPO option, the TSMS option or the Coast ing and long safety record of operation in the US. I think Guard option, that that policy is being applied, that the it’s really important for the Coast Guard as they modern- regulations are being applied in a practical risk-based way.

ize their guidance to really take that risk-based lens that We hope to see a Coast Guard Authorization Bill and we’ve talked about on cyber and other issues and make a Water Resources Development Act enacted this year. sure that it is tailored. There is a need on the regulatory side for some clari? ca- www.marinelink.com MN 13|