Offshore Supply Vessels Regulations Published
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 removed the statutory size limit previously placed on offshore supply vessels and required the Coast Guard to issue the new regulations.
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued an interim rule with regulations to mitigate the risk created by the removal of the statutory size limit previously placed on offshore supply vessels (OSVs). The new regulations were effective immediately when published Aug. 18 in the Federal Register.
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 removed the statutory size limit previously placed on offshore supply vessels and required the Coast Guard to issue these regulations, which point out the need to ensure safe transport of oil, hazardous substances, and individuals other than crew on OSVs of at least 6,000 gross tons as measured under the Convention Measurement System. The rule also affects any vessel of at least 500 gross register tons as measured under the Regulatory Measurement System, if that vessel is not assigned a measurement under the Convention Measurement System and the owner desires to have the vessel certified as an OSV.