USCG: POLICY LETTER 01-14 - LIFEBOAT RELEASE MECHANISMS & NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP - IGF Code

SUMMARY: The United States Coast Guard will hold a public workshop in Washington, DC on topics related to the development of the International Maritime Organization’s International Code for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code). Various safety topics will be discussed including design, equipment, operational and training requirements. This workshop is intended to be an interactive exchange of information between policymakers, industry experts, and interested members of the public.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, beginning at 9 a.m., Eastern Time and ending at 4 p.m., Eastern Time. This workshop is open to the public.

ADDRESSES: The public workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Conference Center, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001, approximately 1 block from the Navy Yard Metro Station. Due to building security requirements, each visitor must present two forms of government-issued photo identification in order to gain entrance to the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions concerning the workshop, please call or email Mr. Timothy Meyers, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 202–372–1365, email timothy.e.meyers@uscg.mil.
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The policy letter found here provides guidance to assist U.S. flag ship owners and operators in complying with recent SOLAS amendments requiring all ships subject to SOLAS, regardless of build date, to identify and replace existing on-load release mechanisms (release hooks) that do not comply with specific provisions of the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code.  Ships subject to SOLAS or which carry a SOLAS Safety Equipment Certificate are required to comply with the new SOLAS requirement in Chapter III no later than the applicable compliance date, or they will not meet the requirements in 46 CFR 2.01-25 for maintenance of a SOLAS Safety Equipment Certificate, and may also be subject to detention by foreign port state officials and other administrative action by port states.

Questions concerning this policy and guidance should be directed to Commandant (CG-ENG-4), Commercial Regulations and Standards Directorate, Office of Design and Engineering Standards, Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division at TypeApproval@uscg.mil.